NW Irving and Third

Katie Clemens

MW Art 117

Jan 9, 2011

Due to my crazy schedule of school and work I didn't get the chance to experience the work displayed on First Thursday and by the time I had free time to venture downtown all of the galleries were closed. Therefore 3-D composition that I viewed and will respond to was found on the corner of NW Irving and Third. This sculpture is made up of oversized metal pieces contoured to look like the basic outlining of an eye, an eyelid, and eyelashes. Through the pupil of the eye a steering wheel and circular seat with cutout roman numerals could be seen. These elements are referring to a particular part of the human form, repeating them as they exist defining itself as figurative. This sculpture could also be defined as freestanding because it is placed upon a street corner, supported by itself and reliant upon its form and construction. The negative space depicts key parts of the sculptures form, such as the pupil of the eye and the empty space from the suggested lens to the corner of the eyelid. This lacks balance but if there is any implied it would most likely be radial balance. This would be a result of the fact that the sculpture is heavily dependent on the circular center as a mail focal point. In way of for and content this sculpture is completely without either attribute. This sculpture feels as though it was simply made per request of a paid job and not intended to have any deeper meaning or purpose. The only way that this has any meaning is due to the mass space of the objects creating hollows and voids within itself. The scale is less than that of a monumental work but larger than that of an exaggerated work making it nothing other than simply big. In way of unity and harmony the only thing taking place within this work is continuity and simplicity. Continuity can be seen in the large curve of the lid in which the curves of the lashes protruding from. Simplicity is depicted in the few lines and pieces making the sculpture overall. The largest focal point of the sculpture is the circular pupil from which the roman numerals and steering wheel can be seen through the negative space. Although this piece lacks many positive qualities I feel as though it is fairly strong in direction. The placement of the lashes from the pupil naturally leads your eyes to read the piece from right to left. It also seems as though there are many simplistic attributes and implied lines in helping create this natural reading of the sculpture. Overall in the review of this sculpture it is minimalistic, emotionless, and more of a piece of metal taking up sidewalk than what I would consider “art”.