Greg Spitzer
Biographic Summary
Born in Montana, I began experimenting with stone carving while living
in Denver, CO; there, I worked alongside the various carvers at The
Purple Door Studios. I carve marble, limestone, calcite and alabaster.
I moved to Carlisle, MA in June of 2008 and became a member of the
New England Sculptors Association (NESA). In addition to annual trips
back to Colorado to attend the Marrbel/marble symposium, I attend
the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. At Mass Art, I have been
studying various casting techniques. My work has been shown at The
Redstone Art Gallery in Redstone, CO, Access Gallery in Denver, CO.
as well as exhibits in Rhode Island and Vermont. I currently work
at the Hillside Sculpture Studios in Medford, MA, I was recently elected
as Vice President of NESA and I am being represented by The Walsingham
Gallery in Newburyport, MA.
Biographic Detail
I left my business career after 25 years in telecommunications to
pursue my dream of becoming a stone carver. In the spring of
2006 I began working with simple hand tools on a small block of Colorado
alabaster. Later that summer, I attended my first Marble/marble
symposium in Marble, CO and began using modern electric and air driven
tools. I have attended a Marble/marble session for the past
three years.
For over a year, in 2007 / 2008, I further developed my skills and
experience working alongside various carvers including Madeline Wiener,
Josh Wiener, and Kathy Caricof at The Purple Door Studios in Denver,
CO. In addition, I attended several classes including Anatomy
for Sculptors with David Klass and Sculpting the Female Form with Victor
Issa at the Colorado Academy of Art. In the spring of 2008, I
completed Portrait Sculpting with Philippe Faraut. I have successfully
completed, Foundry Process for Sculpture with Zachary Gabbard at the
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (Spring 2009).
In conjunction with my move from Colorado, I became a juried member
of the New England Sculpture Association (NESA). In June of 2008
I moved to my current studio space at the Hillside Sculpture Studios
in Medford, MA. I am now enhancing my sculpture experience working
beside owner David Phillips as well as studio mates Charles Jones and
Zachary Gabbard. I accepted representation by The Walsingham Gallery
in Newburyport, MA in October of 2008. I recently accepted the
position of Vice President as a NESA board member.
Since moving to New England I have shown my work at Westerly, RI
Land Trust and in West Rutland, VT - both NESA sponsored events. On
April 25 & 26 of 2009, I participated in the West Medford Open Studios
where I showcased seven sculptures along with two process works. My
work has been selected for exhibit in the Sculpture in the Park Invitational
in Loveland, CO in August of 2009.
Statement
Although my vision for my work is figurative at its core, abstraction
is more interesting and affords me the opportunity to experiment. In
an effort to maintain a link with reality, I continue to take workshops
and classes that improve both my skills and my knowledge of anatomy. With
this training in hand, I explore the appeal of a particular line
or gesture in the abstraction of natural forms.
There are many aspects
of sculpting that appeal to me but, what I enjoy the most is the
physical act of carving. The instant of recognition as I expose the
form or line under the surface is the magic of this art. The
intense, intimate contact between the tip of my blade, chisel or
file and the surface as it dissolves to reveal what I know lies beneath
is what beckons me.
The exploration of the medium of stone grew out of frustration with
drawing. I
knew from the first blow that physical contact with three dimensions was
essential. My first pieces of stone were soft and easily worked. I
developed forms from the natural shapes suggested by the irregular blocks. Later,
I modeled my designs in clay, foam or cement and transferred those into stone. Because
of this, I am comfortable approaching squared blocks of stone but, I still
prefer the more spontaneous aspects of direct carving.
I control as many factors
as possible before carving. Understanding
elements like a bedding plane or how veining can rob forms of detail is a
foremost consideration. Ultimately, unpredictable objects (e.g. shells
or crystals) appear and have to be dealt with in context. Often, these
objects enhance the form in an unexpected way; it is that merging of nature
and carving that creates my best work.
Contact:
Hillside Sculpture Studios - 236 Boston
Ave, Medford, MA 02155
Cell 303-521-1656 - Tel 978-254-5674
www.sculpturebyspitzer.com
greg@sculpturebyspitzer.com
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