The artist of this sculpture is Alex Sanson, and the name of this piece is Soar.
Immediate Responce:
When I look at this sculpture without thinking I am immediately reminded of a bird. The feathers right off the bat create this reaction. I am immediately intrigued by this piece because of its balance, yet realism. The feathers stand out in contrast to the simple wire skeleton of the sculpture. The sculpture seams free, with its wings spread open wide.
Objective Description:
This sculpture is made up of two parts, the stand, and the figure that is balancing on the stand from one fulcrum point. From tee fulcrum point there are what looks like two legs that extend down ward and one is curled in, while the other has a half circle at the end. The other two arms the extend from the fulcrum make up what look like wings spread wide open, and had real feather attached to them.
Technical Decisions:
Everything about this sculpture is free and open. The craftsmanship is simple and clean, yet unique. Starting with the title of the sculpture “Soar”, it is clear that there is a lively open and free idea to this sculpture. Next there is the fact that it so resembles a bird flying. There are actual feathers which immediately remind me of a bird, but there are also what seam to be distinctive wings that the feathers are attached to. These wings are spread apart, as if it is a bird flying. Additionally it is balancing on a stand from one point, allowing it to move around and balance freely with the wind or from a slight nudge. This as well, adds to the free ness or open soaring of the sculpture.
The Work In The World:
This type of balancing and moving artwork intrigued me because of the skill and engineering that was involved with its creation. But this was the first time I have seen a sculpture that balanced like that with actual feathers, or anything other than just metal. These feathers not only reminded me of a bird, but also of something that would be included in Native American Artwork, or something like a dream catcher. I wonder if there was a Native American inspiration of if that natural flying that the motion of the sculpture makes was what influenced the touch of the bird feathers.
The Story It Tells:
This sculpture is open and free. It allows the viewer to observe the general layout and see something that is generally familiar. A bird is generally a symbol for freeness. But there is also a sense of peaceful ness. the feathers are soothing, and are something that seam like would be used to clean. Just like the clean design of this sculpture, the detail of feathers adds to that. Additionally, this serenity goes along with Native American, and their coexistence. Despite the artificial metal used to create the sculpture, and the contrast there is with the natural feathers, they coexist in a very natural and peaceful way throughout this sculpture.