Betty Gerich, Artist, Painter and Sculptor

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Can stationary art suggest motion?

Looking at Art:

We have kinetic sculptures today which are designed to move. The most remarkable I have seen, are Theo Jansen’s wind-powered sculptures that actually walk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj-NqWDH2qE However, motion has been in stationary art for a long time. Perhaps everyone is aware of Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night painting, in which brush strikes make the sky swirl around in violent turmoil and continuous motion. Umberto Boccioni (1882-1916) is one of my favorite painters and sculptors because of the way he made his work so dynamic. His paintings seem to vibrate with motion. His sculpture, Unique forms of continuity in space, has had a profound impact on my sculpture. https://www.theartstory.org/artist/boccioni-umberto/

Work in the Studio:

Motion is a prime consideration when I create a sculpture. If the piece implies movement, I find it more engaging. Since the work often suggests something organic, like a figure, this type of design is fitting. My hollow clay sculptures are built from the bottom up, so each addition should add to the feeling of motion as it grows. While I work, the piece will sometimes seem to suggest what should happen next in the building process. As soon as I split the sculpture below into two parts, two abstract birds started to emerge, who circle around each other.

Mating Ritual, Ceramic Sculpture, 12” x 9” x8”