It is always a true pleasure when the opportunity arises to see firsthand the work of a renowned sculptor that has made his mark on American Art History.  David Smith is just that person with his metal sculptures from the 30′s, 40′s, 50′s and even into the 60′s.  Collaborating first with Picasso,  then taking the welded pieces to whole new levels within the Abstract Expressionist generation of which he belonged.  Smith was a prolific sculptor and an artist to truly be inspired by.  By the end of the 1940′s and early 50′s when the Abstract Expressionism era was reaching its inevitable romantic endpoint, Smith continued to explore the shapes and figures of three dimensionality.  His sculptures are now considered a turning point in American sculpture, from figurative to contemporary.  The St. Louis Art Museum is fortunate to have 2 fairly large stainless steel David Smiths in their grand entry.  What a great way to start a museum tour by standing next to a David Smith!

Comments (0) Feb 22 2012

Not as much as the 15 ton of illegal drugs that was confiscated this last week!  There’s a number that can’t even be fathomed!  The first step to estimating the weight of a large scale sculpture is to look at the materials are being utilized and the quantity.  Then it’s just basic math.  A 4×8 sheet of 10 gauge stainless steel weighs 181 lbs so if a 6 foot sculpture utilizes 2 sheets – 382 lbs.  As the sculptures become larger, the material needs to be of a heavier gauge for strength and support.  Also, the larger the sculpture, the more internal support must be used and all of a sudden the weight starts to add up in a hurry.  “Sailing Into The Sky” at 11 feet in height is only 280 lbs.  On the other hand, “Playing Ball”

"Playing Ball" with Kevin and Bobo

"Sailing Into The Sky"

at 16 feet is 770 lbs.  The bottom line is that it’s nearly impossible to guess the exact weight of any sculpture that is one of a kind and hand fabricated;  the design, the size, the cut outs, the angles that bend into one another  play a role in the final weight.  It’s easy to estimate, difficult to calculate exactly, so each sculpture needs to be weighed upon completion.

Comments (0) Feb 13 2012

A maquette is often required for a public art project, and rightly so.  Any time the public is acquiring a piece of art work the public has the right, and obligation, to know exactly what it will be receiving for its monies, and this is just the reason there are so many meetings, committees and processes established.  Enter the maquette – a three dimensional sculpture upon itself.  Will a maquette guarantee what the final sculpture will look like?  Not necessarily.  A maquette in one size doesn’t necessarily translate to a larger size.  It requires the artist to oversee every aspect of the building of the larger, final sculpture to assure the “look” he is envisioning.  A truly awesome sculpture will have the feel and emotion of the artist as part of its very being, and these ethereal aspects aren’t always translated from small to large.  It takes the experienced, fully engaged, artist to tweak here and tweak there to assure the true beauty of the final, installed sculpture.

Comments (0) Feb 06 2012

“The arts are not a luxury but an essential part of life.  They probe the very essence of what it means to be human, taking us on emotional journeys that bring us face to face with our weaknesses and sorrows, but that also lift us to incredible heights of joy.” This quote from Kyle MacMillan was in his final column as the Fine Arts Writer for the Denver Post.  Thank you Kyle for your years of service to the community!

Comments (2) Dec 05 2011

10. The shadows are awesome!  The sharpness of contemporary metal sculptures contrasted with the softness of the shadows.

9. The shapes draw you in.

8. Interesting and fascinating shapes 360 degrees.  H

Shadows from "Whimsical Dances", a 10 foot stainless steel sculpture.

ow about a large scale sculpture in a roundabout?

7. The moonlight dances off the angles of the contemporary metal sculpture.

6. The flowers reflect their colors up onto the stainless steel sculpture.  It never looks the same!

5. Wonderful conversation piece.

4. Enhances an environment into a vibrant area.  Perfect for public art arenas.

3. Minimal maintenance with stainless steel sculptures; keeps your life simple.

2. Creates a distinctive look and feel for your home.

1. And the number one reason, and most important reason, to buy a contemporary stainless steel sculpture?  It just feels good to have a beautiful metal sculpture in your life!

Comments (2) Nov 21 2011

The beauty of a sculpture, particularly a contemporary sculpture, is that it can look so different in any number of situations.  The metal is the same, the sizes of the elements are the same, yet different views at different times provide a fresh beauty.  Capturing the Moon, an 8 foot bronze sculpture, has provided a prime example of this during the past month.  A

"Capturing the Moon" in the snow

"Capturing the Moon"

professional photographer can catch the angles, shadows, and the physical essence of the sculpture without being inhibited by its environment.  A picture taken during a snow storm provides a whole different feel of the same sculpture.  A photo taken by Rick McFarland of the Little Rock Democrat Gazette takes this same sculpture to a whole new level, offering up to the Gods its arms and soul.  Sculpture, whether in a public art arena or in a private garden can provide so much enjoyment as its beauty is expounded by the ever changing environment.

Comments (1) Nov 03 2011

There is nothing more heartwarming than walking into a person’s home that has original art work on the walls, atop tables and filling the corners.  And it doesn’t matter if the art work is contemporary sculptures, western bronzes, or beautiful pastel landscapes.  A home with original art feels like a home with a soul!  Walking through a garden that displays sculpture brings that same sense of warmth.  Many times a public art project will try to accomplish just this feeling.  Placing a contemporary bronze sculpture along a parkway invites a person to stop and enjoy the moment.  A soaring stainless steel sculpture can bring true interest to an area;  a gathering spot can now be a point of conversation.  The beauty of living with original art work is the beauty of a soul!

Comments (2) Sep 19 2011

Sculpture placement is always part of the fun in acquiring a new piece.  Should the contemporary metal sculpture be forward facing, be able to be viewed 360 degrees, should it be viewed from afar or up close?   Public art acquisitions usually start with a location and then the sculpture is purchased to fill that specific need.  Private collectors on the other hand can either have a designated space that requires a specific shaped sculpture to complete the space or the collector will come upon a metal sculpture that really excites their senses and the location becomes secondary.  Then, there are the accidental treasures.

One of these accidental treasures came to my attention having coffee with the neighbor on her deck this weekend.  The fence and bushes keep our sights separate from one another and hide any activity that is less than 6 feet in height.  “Playing Ball”, a large scale sculpture is the main focal point of Kevin Robb Studios sculpture garden and we enjoy the full view of this sculpture on a daily basis.  At 16 feet in height it is demanding in its presence and all of its elements are present to give the viewer the full benefit of the total piece.  Sitting on the neighbor’s deck I witnessed a hint of the back side of this sculpture as it rose above the fence and bush sight line.  Only a partial view of one of the elements of this contemporary stainless steel sculpture could be seen -

Neighbor's View "Playing Ball"

and it was breath taking.  Surrounded by the green of the trees and the bright blue sky, the stainless steel peaked through and was a treasure in itself.

Comments (2) Jul 27 2011

After a very rainy spring, the gardens are finally in full bloom and it is a true pleasure meandering through the flowers, bushes and grasses.  Contemporary metal sculpture in the garden enhances this total experience!

How about a large scale sculpture as the main focal point in your garden?  It is the one thing that a person sees when they turn that corner into the gardens; but it is just not the sculpture – it is

"Playing Ball" and Bobo the dog

Stainless Steel Sculptures in the gardens of Kevin Robb Studios

the total experience.  The colors, the aroma, the feeling of awe in witnessing the beautiful, graceful shapes of a contemporary stainless steel sculpture enhancing the ambience of the total garden experience.

Public parks have utilized large scale sculpture for years to enhance the experience of their parks.  Individuals can experience that same awe-inspiring feeling by placing contemporary stainless steel sculpture in their own personal gardens.

Comments (1) Jul 07 2011

One of the unsung benefits of using stainless steel in the creation of contemporary metal sculptures is the fact that almost all stainless steel manufactured today is made using scrap stainless steel. In an era where recycling is at the top of everyone’s mind, this is truly a benefit.  And in fact, the stainless steel industry prides itself on having an estimated End of Life recycling ratio of anywhere from 80-92%.  The makeup of stainless steel, which consists of iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum and other valuable raw minerals, is what makes recycling of this steel so viable.  Also, when stainless steel is recycled, the end result has no loss of quality.

Looking for an edge in acquiring your LEED certification?  Try stainless steel sculptures!  A large, monumental sculpture in front of an office building or in a public art arena can be such a defining element to a project.  How awesome to be creating contemporary sculpture using stainless steel and knowing thatthis particular metal industry has such an excellent environmental track record.

Comments (2) Jun 29 2011