FEUERMAN'S MONUMENTAL SCULPTURE INSTALLED BY TECH GIANT NETAP
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Carole Feuerman's spectacular 'Double Diver' towers high, gleaming in a bronze patina finish. Finally, this magnificent sculpture will be unveiled for the public on NetApp's grounds in Sunnyvale, California on May 30 at 2pm, Building 9. This piece is NetApp's gift to the community, recognizing Sunnyvale's relationship with the company and their stalwart collective values.
'Double Diver', 2014- Bronze with patina finish- on site at NetApp headquarters, Sunnyvale, CA
This highly anticipated event is free and open to the public; NetApp encourages all who are able to attend. Be sure to watch this short video below to see Carole's process with creating the 'Double Diver.' This behind-the-scenes feature is narrated by Carole as she takes you through the inception and execution of her magnificent masterpiece, step by step.
The 'Double Diver' in Carole's words, seeks to achieve the 'desirable balance between two extremes, symbolizing perseverance, trust and grace.' This sculpture more than reflects these grand ideals- it embodies them.
Next Summer
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Summertime arrives with promises of rest and relaxation. Carole Feuerman's 'Next Summer' brings the season's joys to life in the form of one very content poolgoer. Decked out in a zesty printed suit, the figure revels in the luxury of her chrome inner tube.
'Next Summer', 2012, Painted Bronze and Polished Chrome
The illusion of flotation is cleverly achieved by installing the dense sculpture at the water level height. The pool display not only makes contextual sense, but creates a dynamic visual interplay between the water and chrome tube.
'Next Summer', 2012, Painted Bronze and Polished Chrome
The tube's reflective surface also invites the viewer into the piece, allowing one to literally see themselves in paradise. The audience can thus become apart of 'Next Summer,' joining into the poolside dreamworld of the figure before them.
Focused Ambition
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Carole Feuerman's 'Hannah' goes off the beaten path of the other resin swimmers, preferring athletic competition over leisurely floating. Adorned with an 'Olympic Cascade Aquatics' swim cap and a purple-strapped suit, the sculpture bears a solemn countenance of focused ambition.
'Hannah', 2014
Oil on Resin, 12 x 14 x 11 inches, Collection of the artist
This sculpture's purpose is not simply to look beautiful or stand as a muse. 'Hannah' embodies dedication and preparation, athletic prowess and power. The figure emulates qualities much like her creator, a tenacious woman aiming straight for the top of her game. Consider 'Hannah' as ode to anyone with the grit and focus of an olympic competitor, regardless of their occupation.
Great Anticipation
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Mother's Day is right around the corner, and as a nod to moms everywhere, this post considers Carole's 'Mona Lisa.' This painted resin swimmer is basking in the glory of her pregnancy, proudly displaying her figure in a bikini. Her easy yet mysterious smile resembles that of Leonardo Da Vinci's famous 'Mona Lisa.'
"Mona Lisa", 2014
Oil on Resin, 37 x 42 x 66 inches, Collection of the artist
To bring a child into this world is a great privilege and honor. Such a wondrous and precious experience bonds mothers everywhere. 'Mona Lisa' pays homage to the majesty of motherhood, capturing the female form in the peak of pregnancy. Although resting, the figure is vibrant and robust; her aura glows bright in anticipation.
Carole's Picks: Alyssa Monks
by Kelsey Zalimeni
Carole's Pick for this month is an American painter named Alyssa Monks. Her hyperreal pieces are just as luscious as they are convincing. The surfaces are rich with a wavy impasto texture; every aspect of her paintings incites the desire to touch.
"Squid", 2012- Oil on linen
Water is a staple element in Monks' oeuvre, whether the figure is submerged in, emerging from, or obscured by its presence. Her ability to convey the glistening subtleties of water's interaction with human skin is truly remarkable. The vast range within her palettes infer a mastery of color theory.
"Comply", 2013 -Oil on panel
By virtue of their wetness, Monks' figures are overtly sexual and tantalizing. Their gaze is often set to engage the viewer directly, peering out from the canvas in search of intimate interaction.
"Loss", 2014- Oil on linen
Carole first grew fond of Alyssa Monk's work when the two showed together in Germany at Kunstmuseum Ahlen. Both were featured in in the exhibition Intimacy! Bathing in Art, as well as the show's resulting monograph. Explore more of Alyssa Monks' paintings on her website here.
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.