Between the rock and a natural place

By Dawson Raspuzzi Herald Staff

Much of the property behind the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center in West Rutland will be transformed into an outdoor art exhibit Saturday — hosting 10 statues in the midst of the surrounding landscape from which each sculptor drew inspiration.

The theme of SculptFest08 — “Human Interventions and the Industrial Landscape” — allows artists to create works to complement the sound, smell, feel and look of the historic marble industry grounds.

SculptFest08 runs through Oct. 28p>

“We’re trying to make sculpture relevant to the public … and highlight the amazing history of this area,” Driscoll said.

With this year’s theme, the focus is on nature, particularly abundant around the Carving Studio with inactive quarries, antique equipment and machinery, decaying structures and the modified landscape itself.

“SculptFest draws attention to what happened here before people arrived and that’s highlighted in part by the theme,” Dorrien said.

Although many of the artists chose to create their pieces with inspiration from physical aspects in the area, Meghan Rigali said it is the sounds of the land behind the studio that has always stuck out to her. The church bells heard from St. Bridget Church, in particular, are the inspiration for her piece modeled after an old-time animal snare with the tip of a thin birch tree pulled down to the ground ready to snap.

Rigali, from Barnard, plans to hang bells the length of the bent tree “dripping down from the foliage.” The inspiration for the bells, Rigali said, came from the church bells she hears at dusk each day around the same time she finishes her day’s work.

“They are a significant part of the landscape for me,” she said, “I’m really drawn in by it.”

Rigali’s musical muse is the first time, Driscoll said, an individual has admitted to drawing inspiration from the sounds within the area, adding extra intrigue to the finished product.

The 10 artists incorporate all sorts of materials in their projects, from yarn and wool on one, to wood, rock and Styrofoam on another and steel, paper and plants on others.

“Anything to do with sculpture is kind of our mission, so SculptFest brings that all together,” Driscoll said.

Rick Rothrock of Wilmington, Del., incorporates water in one of the abandoned quarries for his piece that is half a mandala carved into a quarry wall just above water level, completed by its reflection.

The almond-shaped mandala has deep meaning to Rothrock, who said his piece demonstrates the relation between art, carved into the marble, and nature, as seen in the water.

“It’s an idea of meeting nature halfway,” Rothrock said, “and it shows that two separate things can coexist.”

Rothrock said he still remembers first looking at reflections in the water of Proctor’s quarries 20 years ago and being mesmerized by the rippling reflections.

“I want it to appear like it just showed up … I want people to wonder how it got there and to seem like there’s some magic involved.”

Rothrock said he’s also drawn to his project because unlike many artists’ pieces, his will remain on display for much longer than the end of the exhibit.

“It’s going to be part of the geography and part of the geology of the area,” Rothrock said.

As a sculptor who generally creates art for private satisfaction, Rothrock said, he enjoyed making this piece for the public.

“It belongs to everybody, because it’s public. It’s like sharing something really important for free,” Rothrock said. “To make it accessible to everybody is the least I can do.”

Beside all the deep meaning, there’s another reason Rothrock was drawn to the piece of relying on a reflection to complete the mandala. “It’s half the work,” he said with a laugh.

For more information, contact the Carving Studio at info@carvingstudio.org or call 438-2097.
Contact Dawson Raspuzzi at dawson.raspuzzi@rutlandherald.com.