New Swimmer Triptych

by Kelsey Zalimeni

Carole Feuerman's latest 2D works feature more bright and beautiful prints of her patented swimmers. This trio is the latest addition to her expansive print series. Here we have Capri, Catalina, and Moran, each smoothly rendered before a pastel background tiled with sketches of their likeness. The group adds even more breadth and depth to Carole's ambitious print project. 

"Capri", 2014, Giclée with Silkscreen, 20 x 30 inches

"Catalina", 2014, Giclée with Silkscreen, 20 x 30 inches

"Moran", 2014, Giclée with Silkscreen, 20 x 30 inches

The swimmers are photorealistic, a conscious choice by Carole to keep them stylistically separate from her hyperreal sculptures.  The details are just enough to convey the their supple skin and the unique texture of the shiny suits and caps.  The saturated figure sits perfectly before the wash background. The two planes are thematically bound by the repetition of the swimmer's portrait in each. These new prints further affirm the span of Carole's versatile talent. 

Showing Promise

by Kelsey Zalimeni

With Spring in full bloom, there's no better time to consider a work like "Monumental Cocoon."  Like a burgeoning butterfly ready to burst from its safe haven, this gigantic marble figure lies powerfully in wait. Here the fetal position loses its typical connotation of infantile weakness. Instead, the pose reflects dormant potential, a showing of promise.

"Monumental Cocoon", 2010

Marble, 40 x 80 x 42 inches, Waterfall Gallery & Mansion, New York, NY

As a figure made of marble, "Cocoon" is in dialogue with Classical sculpture, the most lauded artform within the hierarchy of genres.  The pose is neither upright nor heroic, yet it still conveys a sense of power and authority. Her smoothly rendered countenance shows peace and contentment.  

"Monumental Cocoon", (detail) 2010

Marble, 40 x 80 x 42 inches, Waterfall Gallery & Mansion, New York, NY

This piece can be seen as an allegorical device through which the artist comments on her own potential. Despite her established career, Carole still sees herself on the verge of that critical bloom.  This mindset is what makes creators great, what keeps them pushing for growth and constant innovation.

Infinity

by Kelsey Zalimeni

Carole Feuerman's striking "Infinity" swimmers are suspended from the ceiling, floating weightless within a silver ring. The title suggests both the timeless quality of the piece and the literal symbol of the circle, an infinite shape. Grace and poise emanate from the sculpture despite the difficult pose of the model.  Humans may not live forever, but these hyperreal castings create a surrogate through which immortality is achieved. 

"Infinity", 2012

Oil on Resin with Polished Stainless Steel, 37 x 37 x 21 inches, Collection of the artist

The decadent Swarovski cap lends a lavish element to the luxurious swimmer, hinting at ideals of success and leisure.  Her posture within the ring is acrobatic yet effortless, a combination that most can only aspire to.  

"Infinity", 2014

Oil on Resin with Polished Stainless Steel, 37 x 37 x 21 inches, courtesy of Jim Kempner Fine Art

What a feat, to defy time and gravity... to sit quietly in stasis without fear of aging or falling.  The "Infinity" swimmer accomplishes this, leaving us to wonder if we, too can reach such a state.

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.