Hey Paul,

I really like this mirror! Very cool idea...I wish you luck with it! What was your inspiration in the creation of this piece?? Please share more!

Cheers!

Jamie Santellano

I have looked at this a couple of times now, and I keep saying one thing to myself.

WAY COOL. I don't think I have ever used that expression in the last 15 years. I really do like the piece and my wife ask me if I could make one. I said not like that. Excellent work

Rick Sidebottom
Aspiring Metal Artist

thanks for posting about your inspiration and starting point of the piece. it adds to my enjoyment of the piece
and makes me go back and look again.

i can't imagine anyone responding negatively to this mirror,
that central rectanglar cast iron piece has handsome proportions, and you've kept it lively and alive with the split faces of mirror.

thanks for the glimpse into an artist's eye.

charley

Hi Paul: I made a decorative piece in wood for a pub, and had some negative reactionas as well as positive ones. Later on I found out that some people reacted to the pointed design of my work too, it is not unusual to get those reaction to the agresiveness that points represent. Excellent work. Nelson.

Paul

I am new to the site. I have been trying to take some time to check out peoples work. You really work in a variety of styles.

The detail in the fish piece is amazing. It almost reminds me of the body/science show going around, the way you see layers in the form. I especially like the prodigal and your recent piece about fuel. It reminds me of some of Robert Rosenbergs mixed media pieces. I do believe Doris Salcedo stacked oil tanks in one of her scultures, creating a barekade.

I use to do real complex jewelry and metal work, but the detail of your work is amazing on a much larger scale. Who are your favorite artists?

In grad school I had to speak about artists that I felt connected to in some way.Thru my research and trips to Museums to Cleveland, New York, and San Fracisco, I had the opportunity to experience them first hand. My favorite are: Louise Bourgeois (early formal work), Doris Salcedo, Jim Hodges (who works in metal some times, but uses just about anything, incredible detail), Rachael Whiteread (absolutly the most amazing minimal sculpture, check out house), of course Richard Serra, Steven Siegal who came to Kent and everyone helped build his installation (still there), Sharin Neshat (who is I believe Persian, she is a video artist who uses women and men to create social commentary on her faith-very powerful and moving), especially... Eva Hesse (absolutely breathtaking), any of you formal sculptures, check these artists out, Kiki Smith...also as many of you probably know archetect Frank Gehry. Some painters: Johns, (Mixed media, especially),Rothco and Motherwell, etc.

Some of the pieces I am working on now reference Eve Hesse and Louise Bourgeois. It will be a while yet for those.

I am trying to think of the guy who does male figures off the ceiling, etc, cool stuff. Reminds me of your prodigal.

Looking forward to seeing what you are up to now. What Is your backround in metals?

Kim

Paul

Your approach to working the metal with such fine detail in your fish sculpture reminded me of Lee Bontecou. I absolutely love her early work in welded steel with military canvas. The forms just take my breath away. She is in Pittsburg.

Have you seen her work lately? She had work in NY Museums, Chicago and I believe San Francisco, etc. But the later work is hung work, like your approach to install. It probably inspired me to hang allot of those installation pieces I did. I looked at a bunch of artists to think about space, light and how to bring the viewer into the work. Earth art is very cool too.

Hope to hear from you,

Kim