Sharon Spencer

(keep clicking on arrow for more photos of Sharon’s work)

Artist Statement August 2011 Show

“What is real is not the external form but the essence of things.”

Brancusi

I am dedicating my part of this show to Raggs… my longtime companion who passed in early May.  He graced my life and my studio with his wonderful spirit and his essence is present in much of my work.  He is soulfully missed and some of the pieces in this show reflect that loss. A portion of my sales from this show will be donated to WAIF in his name.

 

I am still sculpting in paper (as well as bronze) and find it to be very exciting and challenging.  “The Offering”, a work presented in this show, is an example of a piece sculpted in paper and then cast in bronze.   I seem to keep pushing the edge to see what I come up with. That can be frustrating as well as very exhilarating.   I have included a couple of ”stick nests” in this exhibit that have been an architectural challenge at times, but very rewarding and FUN!!  They also allow me to be a ”hunter/gatherer”.   I find that introducing this new media, after sculpting in stone and then bronze, for the past 36 years, has brought a lot of JOY back into carving for me.  I hope that you find pleasure in viewing and TOUCHING this new work.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank: Mark Fessler for his collaboration and construction of the

metal bases and stands & Skip Smith for his wonderful photograph of Raggs and me.

General Artist’s Statement

“Everything is sculpture. Any material, any idea born without

hindrance into space, I consider sculpture”   —Noguchi

Carving for me is very exciting.  It can be very deliberate and thought out or it can be totally free, with no idea in mind as to the direction I might go.  The latter is very exciting and magical in that it is always a mystery as to what will emerge.  The spirit of the piece seems to be within the material as well as within me-although, at times it seems as if some one outside myself is doing the carving.

I have used stone exclusively up until recently.  I am now venturing into other carving materials as well.  Most of my carvings have become models for my bronze pieces, which are also being enlarged into life-size sculptures.  I enjoy the resistance the material gives me just as life resists when I push too hard.

The real challenge for me is to make my pieces appear soft and sensuous with very simple, elegant lines-the art of “Shubui”.

My pieces are figurative, abstract and representational.  In my animal forms, for example, I try to capture the essence of the animal’s spirit.  My sculptures represent the joys, the tragedies and spiritual in life.

I am exploring a material new to me…. paper. I first started using paper as texture on my carved pieces and casting it into bronze.  I have now started to create, one-of-a-kind, mixed media pieces using handmade paper.

Inspiration comes to me in many forms, through nature, which opens me, and in doing so I can create.  Animals are another source of inspiration for they are our salvation and without them we will become lost and empty.  The tragedies and joys in life touch me as well and push me to create.  There is a spirit that runs throughout all that I crave and I would like you to feel that spirit.  Hopefully it will enhance your life.

Resume

Education
2001 Participant in The American School of Japanese Arts Seminar, Japan
1996 Participant in Splitrock Arts Program, Minnesota
1991 Participant in Japanese Arts Seminar, Green Gulch Zen Center, Marin, CA
1990 Participant in International Sculpture Conference, Washington, D.C.
1979 Participant in International Sculpture Conference, Oakland, CA.
1975 Left teaching to become a full-time professional Sculptor
1965 B.S. in Education, San Jose State University, San Jose, CA

Selected Exhibitions:  One and Two Person Shows

2010 Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA.  Two Person Show
2009 The Open Door Gallery, Langley, WA. Two Person Show
“ The Poetry of Paper and Bronze”
1996 The Artful Eye, Calistoga, CA – Two Person Exhibit
1995 Ren Brown Collection Gallery, Bodega Bay, CA – One Woman Exhibit
1992-1993 Sho-en Outdoor Sculpture Gallery, Ramona, CA – Stone & Bronze Water Sculpture
1992 Ren Brown Collection Gallery, Bodega Bay, CA – One Woman Exhibit
1990 Rookie-To Gallery, Boonville, CA – One Woman Exhibit
1984 Scott Gallery, Orinda, CA – Two Person Exhibit
1982 Potlatch Gallery, Incline Village, NV – One Woman Exhibit
1977 Potlatch Gallery, Incline Village, NV – Two Person Exhibit

Selected Exhibits: Group Shows

2010 Froggwell Garden Invitational Print and Sculpture Show, Whidbey Island, WA

2010 Brackenwood Gallery, “Simple Pleasures”, Langley, WA
2009 Art On The Avenues Sculpture Show, Wenatchee, WA
2008 Froggwell Garden Invitational Print and Sculpture Show, Whidbey, Is. WA
2007-2008 Art on the Avenues Sculpture Show, Wenatchee, WA
2007 Museo Gallery, “Garden Show”, Langley, WA
2007 Museo Gallery, “Torso Show”, Langley, WA.
2004-2010 Mowen/Solinsky Gallery, Nevada City, CA
2003 International Sculpture Exhibit, Big Rock Garden Park, Bellingham, WA
2002- 2004 (Ongoing) Bayview Gallery, Langley, WA
2001- 2004 (Ongoing) Artique Ltd., Anchorage, AK
2001 Gallery at Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta, Canada
2001-2004 Art on the Avenues, Wenatchee, WA
1996- 2007 (Ongoing) Savage/Stephens Contemporary Fine Art, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
1997 “Womanhood”, The Artful Eye, Calistoga, CA
1995 Rookie-To Gallery, Northcoast Sculpture/Bronze & Stone, Boonville, CA
1994 “True Emptiness”, California Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA
1993 “Shape of Things”, Signature Gallery, San Diego, CA
1993 “Earthwatch”, Barbara Anasazi Gallery, Freestone, CA
1993 “Sculpture, Rooms & Garden Blooms”, Fenwick Estate, Los Altos Hills, CA
1993 California Small Works, California Museum of Art, Santa Rosa, CA
1992 “Offerings, Shrines & Alters”, Arts Guild of Sonoma, Sonoma, CA
1989 “Sonoma Stone II”, California Museum of Art, Santo Rosa, CA
1989 Paul Luster Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1989 3 Com Corporation, Santa Clara, CA
1988 International Art Exposition, Los Angeles, CA
1988 “In the Beginning There Were Maquettes”,  Syntex Gallery, Palo Alto, CA
1987 “California Concepts”, North Central Washington Museum, Wenatchee, WA
1982 “Medley ‘82”, Designs Recycled Art Gallery, Fullerton, CA
1979 California Women’s Art Guild, Santa Rosa, CA
1979 Design Center, San Francisco, CA
1978 Northern California Arts, Sacramento, CA

Awards
2007-2008 Art On The Avenues Sculpture Show, Wenatchee, WA – Best Of Show
2005 La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA – Artists Award of Merit
2003- International Sculpture Exhibit, Bellingham, WA – Best of Show
2003 International Sculpture Exhibit – Best of Show
2000 La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA – People’s Choice Award
1999 La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA – People’s Choice Award
1999 Los Altos Rotary Fine Art-in-the-Park, Los Altos, CA – Mayor’s Award
1998 Los Altos Rotary Fine Art-in-the-Park, Los Altos, CA – Mayor’s Award
1991 La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA – Award of Excellence
1990 “Affair in the Garden”, Beverly Hills, CA – First Place in Sculpture
1990 La Quinta Arts Festival, La Quinta, CA – Best of Show
1989 Saratoga Art Show, Saratoga, CA – Award of Excellence in Sculpture
1986 Saratoga Art Show, Saratoga, CA – Award of Excellence in Sculpture
1986 Seymour Polk Award for Excellence in Sculpture, Saratoga, CA
1979 California Women’s Art Guild, Santa Rosa, CA – Best of Show

Collections/Installations/Commissions

2010  Enumclaw Regional Hospital, Enumclaw, WA – Large Sculpture

2009 Carol Milgard Breast Center, Tacoma, WA - Large Sculpture
2008 Sculpture Park, Wenatchee, WA - Large Sculpture
2008 Art On The Avenues, Wenatchee, WA- Sculpture Purchased For Permanent Collection
2007 Yampa Botanical Park, Steamboat Springs, CO –

Sculpture For The “Hidden Garden”(children’s garden)
2007 Corporex Company, Covington, KY
- Large Sculpture For The Ascent At Roeblings Bridge
2006 The Reserve at Lake Keowee, North Carolina – Large Outdoor Sculpture
2006 The Hideaway, La Quinta, CA -Large Indoor Sculpture (Fountain)
2006 Clinton Beach Park, State Ferry Dock, Whidbey Island, WA- Large Sculpture for Park

2004 St. Agnes Medical Center, Heart and Vascular Tower, Fresno, CA
- Large Sculpture for Tower

2004  David Tyler, Los Altos, CA – Large Sculpture

1999 Scripps Green Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA
1995 La Quinta Arts Foundation, La Quinta, CA

1995  Angelo Sangiacomo, Trinity Properties – Sculpture for Chapel in Italy

1993 Mercy South West Hospital, Bakersfield, CA

1990  Norm Matteoni, San Jose, CA – Sculpture for Law Office

1990 Alice Walker – Writer, Philo, CA
1990 Scripps Green Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA

1989  Marge Abel, Pacific Grove, CA – Large Stone Sculpture for Garden
1988 Howard Edwards – President of Atlantic Richfield Co., Los Angeles, CA

1987  David Martin Company, Bay Center, Emeryville, CA

Large Outdoor Sculpture for Plaza

1987 Lempres & Wolfberg Law Offices, Kaiser Center, Oakland, CA
1986 Crofton Paper Company, Menlo Park, CA

1986  McCondery Lane, San Francisco, CA – Sculpture for Outdoor Garden

Selected Publications
2003 Herald News, Bellingham, WA
1997 Coast Magazine, Spring
1992 San Diego Arts, January (Vol. 7, No. 1)
1992 “Local Talent”, Where/San Francisco, September
1992 San Diego Home & Garden, December
1992 Art Scene, December (Vol. 12, No. 4)
1990 “Best Award Helps Sculpt Artist’s Career”, The Desert Sun, March
1987 “California Concepts”, Westart, October (Vol. 26, No. 3)
1987 “How Abstract Art Finds a Foundation in Nature”, The Wenatchee World

Lectures/Workshops Given by Artist
1999 SPECTRA Program (teaching school children), Santa Cruz, CA
1993 Stone Carving Symposium, Sho-en Outdoor Sculpture Gallery, Ramona, CA
1992 “An Introduction to Stone Carving”, Bodega Arts Build, Bodega Bay,, CA
1992 “Marketing Your Work”, Krenov Woodworking School, Ft. Bragg, CA
1992 “An Introduction to Stone Carving”, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA