The Hatley show was the debut of the latest sculpture in our collection of cast stone pieces. I wanted to make a special entry for it on the blog.
I’m always intrigued by Eric’s sculptures and the way he approaches sculpting. He doesn’t draw studies first. He just seems to sit down and start pushing and adding clay until it starts to resemble something. The things he comes up with are fantastical. By that I mean they are creatures or beings that are coming from a fantasy world based in myth and history usually.
Satyr Mask ("Lambchops")
This latest creature is horned and happy. He has the mouth of a ram and the horns as well. His face is crinkled up in mirth. I mean you have to use the word mirth, because that just seems to be the best word, a word that to me comes from medieval times I’m sure. And so does this creature, I think. He goes by a little nickname that Eric has assigned him of Lambchops. We’re not sure if this is going to be his final name or not.
Oak Greenman
Bill and I love watching the reactions of people to these sculptures. It’s never a benign reaction either and it seems to split from positive to negative along gender lines, especially with the Oak Greenman. Men, almost always love the Oak Man, they especially love the his curling oak leaf tongue. Women find him scary and some seem to cringe as though they are feeling the Oak Man’s angst as he looks in fear to his left to some unknown terror. Men just love the grotesque-ness of these pieces.
Now Lambchops elicited a positive reaction from both genders yesterday. Women and men both, I think, were affected by his look of mirth. The same thing happens with the Grape Satyr. He’s smiling too, almost lecherously I think, but women like him too. So what is it? Are women imagining coming upon smiling laughing face in the garden, something soothing and positive? Do men like something strong and a bit more unusual? Who knows?
The Grape Satyr
I always enjoy imagining these pieces in their new spots in the buyer’s garden, slowly aging and moss covered, waiting to surprise and provoke a reaction from visitors as they peer out from amongst the vines.
Orchids, weathering in
And speaking of looking aged and mossy, Eric has just taken a photo of one of my pieces, Orchids, that’s been residing outside for the last two winters. It’s grown it’s mossiness naturally. No help from spraying it with a mixture of yoghurt and moss from the blender.
Tags: creature, fantasy, Garden, grape satyr, greenman, grotesque, hatley, history, lambchops, mirth, moss, myth, orchids, satyr, satyr mask, sculptures
These sculptures are wonderful and whimsical and I so look forward to placing them in our garden and continuing our collection. Eric has a sly sense of humour that I really appreciate and it shows up in his artwork. Pass the fellow another ten-pounds of clay please.
Just curious, but what was the general reaction to the orchids piece? It’s starting to look quite… shall I say, je ne sais quoi… okay, no need to beat around the bush, it’s starting to look rather sexual. Helen…
I’m glad you enjoy the sculptures and don’t worry Eric has another ten pounds of clay and is working on something new already. As for the orchids, hey, it’s not me, it’s those batently sexual orchids! I just sculpt them.