Wire for a Good Cause

Tonight I'm giving a demonstration of the wire working as part of Art in Action, a fundraiser sponsored by Henrico CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) at Crossroads Art Center. 

Getting ready for this demo has forced me to think more about what I do and why I do it, and to finally put some things down on paper.

Yes, this is the same image from yesterday but I wanted you all to look at it again.  As you can see, I use a variety of wires--some purchase, but most salvaged.   Trimmings of picture hanging wire, violin strings, phone cables, spiral notebook bindings--whatever I can find.

As you can see, this piece has a much more thickly worked surface.

Full view of the previous closeup.  This piece is from a series I did called Universe in Perspective.  I used found wire to illustrate the connectedness of all life, from the cellular to planetary to the galactic.

I work with spheres (rather than creating more representational works) for two main reasons.  First, because I feel that the sphere is a very elemental shape and I feel very connected with the earth (a great big sphere) when I make these balls.  Second, and on a more practical level, I feel like I have not finished exploring the possibilities of this shape.  Its simplicity allows me to experiment with structure and surface in a way I couldn't if I were concerned with making a specific image.

I have a feeling I will be having more to say on this subject.  I'm looking forward to getting some interesting feedback from the visitors to my demo tonight!