SASSY AND CLASSY

This wire mask sculpture “Sassy and Classy” contains well over 500 wire strands. The hand shaped aluminum, colored aluminum and colored copper wire in different lengths and gauges are shaped into intricate patterns and twisted together without soldering or welding. When finished the sculpture then is framed using a custom black shadow box with black suede and uv glass. Artist statement My subject matter originates from my memory and imagination. As the process begins, I visualize the subject, colors to be used and the sculpture size. I allow what I have visualized to direct the process and I only sketch if it becomes unclear. Most of the time the sculpture presents and develops itself as I work. My special and self-developed unique technique is called Webbing. The “Webbing technique” is a process of connecting wire together without using welding or soldering. Strands of wire are shaped by hand into intricate patterns. Each strand is then connected by twisting them together using needle nose pliers. As the sculpture begins to take shape, many layers of wire are then applied in this lengthy process. When finished, an average sculpture can contain 500-800 wire strands of varying lengths, gauges and colors. I use a variety of wire materials such as Aluminum, Artistic, Copper, Stainless Steel and Magnet wire. I choose to use mainly small to medium gauges. While aluminum and copper are my base wires, the colored artistic and magnet wire used is also manufactured to remain permanent. No other materials are used. My Mask series which I descript as “Futuristic Primitive Expressionism” is defined as a fusion of primitive symbols and a futuristic style. I envision what intricate patterns, textures and colors would fully express the meaning of the term. The finished subject resembles an abstract Human face which then flows into a mask sculpture.