Spring/Summer Season 2009

May 10 - September 27, 2009

Jesus Moroles Concepts in Granite Jesús Moroles, born in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1950 and currently residing in Rockport, Texas, is a sculptor known worldwide for his work in granite. He works with the basic shape of the stone in order to create a natural and impressive aesthetic. A recipient of the 2008 National Medal of Arts, awarded by President George W. Bush, Moroles displays, through his work in stone, his sensitivity to natural elements while subjugating them to his own sensibilities. "In Carrara, Italy, where I lived and worked in 1979-1980, the marble quarries have been worked by man for centuries. Yet the mountain retains its integrity; nature has reclaimed parts of the quarries while man proceeds to excavate in others. The two agents, nature and man, ultimately collaborate in the overall result. Parts of what I attempt with my sculpture are to bring the quarry into the gallery – to make the stone important by drawing attention to it, and to show the finished piece as the result of its interaction with the context. The stone itself is the starting point. I always choose pieces that already suggest their final form. By working directly in response to the character of the stone, I hope to expose the truth of the material." - Jesús Moroles, 2009

Black Moonscape, 2004 black granite 63 3/4" x 63 3/4" x 12" Photo Courtesy of the Artist

Steve Madsen A World in Wood Steve Madsen, born on December 4, 1947 in Oxnard, California, and now residing in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a self-taught woodworker who has received national acclaim for both his furniture and his sculpture. Madsen’s work displays Art Deco and Surrealist influences and incorporates these elements into imaginative and functional furniture and often fanciful sculpture. "We live as if in a dream. Information and images race through our lives so fast that we never really gain purchase on them. Everything is high-energy, high strength, high maintenance, high stress, high volume, high-pressure, high test…even high speed internet isn’t fast enough anymore. But when I am in my studio everything becomes orderly and controllable. As the concept becomes more focused, the ideas and possibilities expand, coming so fast it is difficult to choose one path. Ultimately the end result is a ‘snap shot’ of the momentum of the moment. Nothing ever resembles the original drawings but rather a journey to the final conclusion. Inspired by everything around me, I still try to retain my own unique personal vision. My work has always focused on craftsmanship and joinery but lately I have been much more interested in imagery and content. Trying to tell a story by making observation or statement through the pieces I’m working on has become essential." - Steve Madsen, 2009

Night Stalker, 1982 wood, cowhide, ivory, silver and oil finish 39 1/2" x 22 1/2" x 22 3/4" Photo Courtesy of Frances Lewis