Sculpture II: Brancusi to Potrc Quiz

Answer: Bird in Space

Brancusi created sixteen "Bird in Space" sculptures in bronze and marble. In the 1920s the US Customs Service refused to allow one of the "Birds" to enter duty-free as artwork, reclassifying it as a propeller blade. Brancusi had to settle the dispute in court.
"Microsoft Xbox 360 designer, Jonathan Hayes, based look of the Xbox on Brancusi's Bird In Space series of sculptures.
"It traces a bird's flight. It captures the essence of upward thrust," he says." (quote from Wikipedia)

When Brancusi ended his apprenticeship with his mentor Rodin, he famously gave as his reason "Nothing grows under large trees".

Answer: Henry Moore

Moore, born in 1898, was a prolific sculptor of monumental works, primarily in bronze. He preferred simple titles, and at least six of his works are called "Reclining Figure".

Do not leave Toronto without visiting the stunning Moore gallery at AGO!

Answer: Stabile

Calder trained as an engineer, and this influence is apparent in the balance of his mobiles and stabiles. The original intent of the Calder mobile was to give motion to paintings, not to supply grade-school teachers with assignment fodder, but the mobile is part of world culture now in both incarnations.

A stabile is like a mobile brought to earth with no moving parts. Calder also created works with moving mobiles mounted on top of stationary stabiles.

In 1998, for the hundredth anniversary of Calder's birth, the National Gallery (Washington DC) sponsored an impressive retrospective of the artist's work, which I was lucky enough to visit. Go see a Calder for yourself ... They are seemingly everywhere, and you might find you are a devotee.

Answer: Louise Nevelson

Although she knew she wanted to be a sculptor from childhood, Louise Nevelson had to fight for acceptance in the male-dominated field. Her first major exhibition wasn't until the 1940s, when she herself was over 40 years old. However, her work, done primarily in the wood she loved, gradually gained acceptance. Ms. Nevelson lived to be 88 years old and continued to create monumental sculptures well into her eighties!

Answer: Alberto Giacometti

An Existentialist and Surrealist, Giacometti was considered a leading sculptor of his time. Although he also sculpted busts and some abstract forms, he is primarily remembered for his long, thin human figures, often in bronze.

Answer: All of these

Isamu Noguchi, one of the greatest sculptors of the second half of the 20th century, became Brancusi's assistant in 1927, carrying on the sculptural tradition of Brancusi's teacher, Rodin.

"Momo Taro" is a gorgeous, contemplative piece. Well may it look as though it simply happened at the top of its Hudson Valley hill; Noguchi designed both sculpture and hill. Storm King Art Center has a stunning collection that also includes works by Nevelson, Moore and Calder; a visit is highly recommended.

Answer: Love

Indiana created the first of his monumental "LOVE" sculptures in 1966, in aluminum. Since that time they have cropped up seemingly everywhere, displayed proudly in Kansas, Philadelphia, Utah, etc. Indiana never copyrighted the design, which places LO over VE and tilts the O. Because of this, LOVE, it seems, truly gets around. The sculpture has even been reinterpreted in Hebrew letters; this design is beautiful as well.

Answer: True

The artists, who are married, have been creating and installing oversize trowels, spoons, tools and other objects in public spaces since the 1970s. The objects are designed to harmonize with their settings, such as Miami's "Dropped Bowl with Scattered Slices and Peels", Venice's "Lion's Tail", and 2002's beautiful "Cupid's Span", overlooking San Francisco Bay.

Answer: Elephant Dung

Art lives and breathes controversy, and no artist is more controversial than UK-born Chris Ofili, whose work has often celebrated his Afro-Caribbean heritage. Ofili's use of dung has decreased in recent years, but he still retains a scatologic bent--his 2005 Berlin exhibit "Blue Rider" featured two modern sculptural interpretations of the caganer, a Catalan-inspired squatting figurine answering nature's call.

Answer: Bringing water to villages with less effort

I'm truly fascinated by Potrc's Hippo Water Roller, since bringing water to villages without wells is largely a task performed by women and children. The Hippo Roller, a large (20 gallon/90 liter) heavy-duty plastic barrel with a steel handle, enables almost anyone to transport five times the water in less time and with much less effort. It is truly a melding of art and function.

Please read more about this wonderful project at www.hipporoller.org.

Thank you for joining me on this sculpture tour; I hope you have enjoyed it.