A New Dimension
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Carole Feuerman's current work incorporates digital interactive moving heat sensitive media and sound with her painted resin swimmers. This has taken her art to an entirely different level. By projecting video and combining multi media, Carole has managed to turn what would normally be a mere viewing of the piece into a wholly immersive and interactive experience.
Brooke’s Play, 2010-2011
Oil on Resin, Interactive Projection, Dimensions Variable, Collection of the artist
*Click the title of each piece in the caption to view a video of the installation
The projection not only alters the look of the sculpture, but actually swallows it whole to make it part of the video. Inseparable, the sculpture and video unite on a plane just between their respective medium categories.
Tree with Leaves, 2011
Oil on Resin Sculpture with Interactive Projection, Dimensions Variable, Courtesy of Jim Kempner Fine Art
This hybrid breed of artwork also serves to convert the exhibition space. What would normally be regarded as 'the room in which the sculpture resides' is now an environment which takes you to a new dimension. The surrounding darkness disallows the viewer's effort to locate themselves in the space; the artwork as your focal point becomes the only locus available for spatial relation.
Birth/Geyser, 2013
Oil on Resin and Interactive Video Projection, a collaboration between Carole A. Feuerman & Michelangelo Bastiani, Dimensions Variable. Courtesy of Jim Kempner Fine Art
Sand Cast Bronze: Madonna and Magda
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Carole Feuerman first gained notoriety for her pristine hyperreal swimmers. Since establishing herself as a master of painted resin, she has expanded her repertoire and forged ahead to new types of media. One fantastic direction Carole has taken is to sand cast bronze, of which she has made numerous gorgeous impressions of the human body.
Madonna, 2002
Bronze, 31 x 16 x 5 inches, Private collection
The chance marks of the cast sand form a lacy, luxurious pattern across the surface. The patina finish provides a striking color palette which radiates a most alluring glow. The piece retains immense detail in certain areas without sacrificing its gestural beauty. An aesthetic such as this is a tough balance to strike, but successfully met in these works.
Madonna (rear), 2002
Bronze, 31 x 14 x 8 inches, Private collection
Magda II, 2008
Bronze, 32 x 26 x 11 inches, Collection of the artist
Carole's sand cast bronzes of Magda and Madonna celebrate the human form and its natural beauty. The randomized patterning on the surface reminds us that we humans are in fact of the Earth, a wondrous product of chance. The sculptures seem to be emerging or even born from the clay, reconnecting us to our primal essence.
Magda I, 2008
Bronze, 37 x 22 x 11 inches, Private collection
This short video below has captured Carole painting with fire, creating these bronze masterpieces.
Slow Down
by Kelsey Zalimeni
In this day and age, it seems we're always on the go. Our smartphones connect us to everything, everywhere and unplugging even for a moment threatens to deprive us of vital information or updates. Whatever happened to meditation, to stepping away for just a minute to breathe? Through her Balance series, Carole Feuerman reminds us to do just that.
Despite her busy schedule and demanding career, Carole has never lost sight of the importance of rest and reflection. In Balance, we see the evocation of sound mind and soul- the figure is fixed in a state of repose and reverie. Her literal posture is set in Lotus, a classic meditation position for physical stability. The ease of her curving silhouette reflects a powerful tranquility.
Balance, 2008-2011
Oil on Resin, 36 x 32 x 18 inches, Collection of Lois Robbins, New York, NY
Matisse once called art 'the armchair of life,' an experience through which people could escape their everyday worries. The mere act of observing a work like Balance can take us to that place, stealing away to retreat if only for a few moments.
A Monumental Statement
by Kelsey Zalimeni
As a successful female artist, Carole Feuerman stands as a model figure for younger aspiring women of all concentrations and career paths. A large part of Carole's success can be attributed to her unwavering persistence and work ethic. These traits along with her natural artistic talent make for an unstoppable combination. In line with her character, a strong theme in Carole's works is indeed that of feminine power and strength, as can best be seen in a piece like 'Grande Catalina,' a monumental female bust which stands proudly at five feet tall.
'Grande Catalina' emerges from her hanging place, as though the wall were the surface of a swimming pool. With eyes closed and head tilted back, Catalina is in a state of total serenity and contentment. Her straightforward orientation reflects idyllic confidence and feminine strength. Towering over the viewer, the piece is rather imposing despite the lack of any violent gestures or expressions.
Carole spent countless hours perfecting the painted surface of this cast resin piece, a true testament to her diligence and mastery of her craft. However, no matter how great her accomplishments may be, Carole will be the first to say that her development is nowhere near complete. She is constantly working to expand and improve with each piece she produces. A truly great artist is always looking to outdo themselves, and Carole continues to do just that.
Carole's Picks: Shan Shan Sheng
by Kelsey Zalimeni
This month’s feature in the Carole’s Picks series is Chinese artist Shan Shan Sheng. Coming to America in 1982, Sheng attended Mount Holyoke College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where she earned her Master of Fine Arts Degree, and continued to Harvard University as an artist-in-residence for two years. While she produces a range of works from Venetian glass to painting, Sheng is most well known for her public installations in major cities across the globe.
Sheng's sweeping installations are made of a colorful, specially cast glass; the arrangement of its parts evokes and imaginative take on the ethereal space above and within our reach. Witnessing a large-scale Sheng in person awakens a viewer to a higher awareness of their own body, in relation to the artwork itself and to the room which they both occupy. Nature and its many wonders are a grand inspiration for the artist, as reflected in the organic composition of her works.
Shan Shan Sheng’s paintings are a near perfect embodiment of her sculptural works, giving off the same mystical, weightless feel through the language of color and movement. Like her public pieces, Sheng’s paintings are grand in scale and of a similar palette to her cold-cast glass panes.
More Than Mere Fabrication
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Carole Feuerman’s Kendall is cast in the likeness of Mana Contemporary’s marketing director, Kendall Tichner. For the sculpture, Kendall donned a swimsuit by Chromat, a designer brand whose mantra is ‘Structural Experiments for the Human Body.’
The contemporary feel of the work (completed this year) is bolstered by Kendall’s confident yet casual pose and the fashion-forward swimsuit. A piece like this exhibits the artist’s tap on the vein of current trends in fashion and art.
A common practice for greats such as Warhol and Rauschenberg was to involve and integrate figures they met through the art scene, into their works. This took shape in many forms; for example, critic Henry Geldzahler appearing in a Warhol film or Rauschenberg collaborating with dance legend Merce Cunningham in a performance. The spirit of this union between the artist and art enthusiast is paralleled in Kendall- an act of homage on Carole’s part, and a showing of loyalty from the model’s end.
The Double Diver
Carole has very recently completed one of her most dynamic works to date, the Double Diver. This incredible bronze features two divers connecting to form what eighteenth-century art theorist William Hogarth called 'the line of beauty': that curving serpentine silhouette found in all things naturally beautiful.
The gestural application of bronze on the surface reflects the effortless flow of the entire piece; the smallest details are conveyed perfectly in the faces, hands, and feet.
The unveiling of Carole's Double Diver is set for April in Sunnyvale, California. Be sure to see it in person, should you have the chance.
SUBMIT YOUR ART
ATTENTION ARTISTS!
We are looking for 30-40 pieces of art to be rented for 6-12 months. The due date to submit is Sunday, March 30th!
Themes can include healing and healthcare. We will also consider abstract or unique landscapes. We are looking for large-scale pieces to fill large walls in a corporate space.
Please send all submissions to deb19@me.com