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A sculpture of extraordinary size and power, The Psalmist epitomizes the recent oeuvre of sculptor Larry Estridge. The powder-coated welded steel is intense and dramatic; the sculpture's curves and angles exemplify the fundamental shapes with which the artist works to get to the essence of natural forms. Geometric abstraction seems to be Estridge's mode of expression, combining these elements in pieces of steel in curvilinear and angular forms. While the sculpture may appear non-representational, it is the reduction of visual imagery that allows Estridge to explore spatial concepts, giving vision to his personal sensibilities. The application of color only heightens the impact of these monumental works, which results in pieces that are totemic in their simplicity while conveying a sense of serenity and peace.
The artist says of The Psalmist that it "is an outgrowth of, and departure from, a recent group of large scale abstract sculptures that explore expressive possibilities of bent and curved steel and aluminum plate... The Psalmist, a more abstract work, draws on my experience as a musician, in which player and played are one thing, bound in silence the moment before song."
Larry Estridge was born in 1948 in New York City and spent his youth on Long Island. He received a B.A. from Harvard in 1970. His life has always been involved with the arts, be they performing, literary or visual. He devoted his twenties and early thirties to careers in music and journalism; he was a songwriter and performer and wrote articles that dealt with political realities. At the age of 35, he discovered painting. From the beginning, his sensibilities led him to large-scale canvases filled with geometric shapes. His original canvases evoked his interest in color and tone, harmony and spirituality. He later turned his interest to sculpture, using steel as his primary medium. Estridge lives in New York City and Key West, Florida. His works, both painting and sculpture, are included in many private and public collections throughout the United States. |
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The Psalmist, 2006
powder coated steel
96" x 66" x 24"
Courtesy of The Sculpture Foundation, Inc.
Gift of Joyce and J. Seward Johnson
Photo: RicardoBarros.com |
