- Statement
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My goal for exploring sculpture, from the very beginning, has been to learn what can be accomplished for understanding higher dimensions.
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The difficulty of course, lay in convincing myself that this was an allowable pursuit within the context of "Art".
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It wasn't until I had struggled sufficiently that I understood what the other artists kept telling me: "Screw it. Make art that you like."
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So...I like engineering and feel much of it warrants being considered for its relation to our sense of aesthetics.
- Background
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The transition from engineering to art is not as abrupt as it might appear.
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First, I quit my job as an aerospace engineer in order to help my wife get tenure in an academic job and to take some time to actually make something physical--a house for us to live in seemed like a practical thing to make.
That took a lot longer than the six months I had promised and ultimately ruined me for the corporate world by teaching me a whole lot of unrelated skills.
What job description fits with Computational Fluid Dynamics, carpentry, plumbing, and stone masonry?
Art seemed flexible enough to encompass any odd collection of skills and backgrounds.
It seemed about time that I changed my major--never got around to it in college.
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Next, I figured I should know something about "Art", techniques and materials.
Being an engineer, I started with the techniques and materials part.
Stone is fun (a bit messy but that part is kind of satisfying).
Wood is easier in some ways but has a whole different set of human associations.
Cardboard can be good. Found materials... I wasn't really getting any closer to my goal of using art to explore higher dimensions.
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I started reading about sculpture and discovered some of the early greats.
I made a few derivitive pieces to understand them better but this also has serious limits.
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When I encountered more confusion than satisfactory answers I decided to take some classes and apprenticed with a sculptor.
I am indebted to Jim Respess and Robert Bricker for getting me started and directing me to VCU.
I really enjoyed my time at VCU despite being a couple of decades older than the rest of the students.
I knew it was time to move on when my interests veered decidedly away from the paths the school was interested in.
It was devestating to find that I had worked so hard to make myself unsuitable for their vision but there it was.
Naturally I pouted for a good long time and used the frustration to finish building our house.
Not a total loss, my wife is grateful, but it did take a bit of time to consolidate my thoughts.
I think I will always look a little closer at the periods when artists were officially unproductive for the true source of their commitment and inspiration.
- Shows
- May - Jun 2005 - Piedmont Virginia Community College, Solo-exhibition:
"Dan Pearce Hypothetical Perception"
Early Work
Self portrait Life On I64
- 34"x27"x33" concrete, tire scraps, carbon - 2004
Dancing in Space
7"x14"x8", wax, antique oak, aluminum, gears, electric motor - 2004.
Self portrait Life On I64
- 34"x27"x33" concrete, tire scraps, carbon - 2004
I Omega - 100"x57"x26" - Expanded Polystyrene - 2004
Totem I The Beaver Myth - 48"x48"x96" - Poplar - 2004
Totem II The Creation Myth - 48"x48"x96" - Poplar - 2004
Totem III The Genesis Myth - 48"x48"x96" - Red Oak - 2004
Floppy - 29"x11"x18" Rag doll with sappy expression, computer, wire - 2004.
Nine - 76"x106"x70" - recycled cardboard and lots of glue - 2004
Iapetus - 6.5"x11"x9" - VA Black Marble - 2003
Barbara - 6"x8"x25" - Limestone, Stainless, Soapstone - 2003
Barbara - 6"x8"x25" - Limestone, Stainless, Soapstone - 2003