The forest, the trees, pieces of biotic and abiotic material is what makes up nature and our environment.
John Grade uses this as inspiration to help model and shape his creation and approach of nature and its eventual decay. In the new exhibit Middle Fork hosted by the University of Wyoming, you can see the creation of many sculpted objects made from the very wood and cedar of the American Northwest. These sculptures help shape new perspectives about trees, ourselves and of course the environment we live in. From the tremendous center piece of the exhibits made of thousands of petrified cedar pieces to the smaller works surrounding it Middle Fork is an awe inspiring exhibit.
A Seattle based artist, John Grade’s influence has been by his surroundings in the Northwest. However, the audience for his art has not been restricted just to the Northwest, it’s been seen all over the world.
“John Grade is an internationally recognized artist known for his sculptural work that explores ideas about nature and decay,” said UW Art Director Susan Moldenhauer. “His exhibition, Middle Fork, features a new installation made from thousands of cedar pieces constructed in the form of a standing live tree in the forest of the American Northwest.”
While the new installation is definably the largest piece in the exhibit, there are also many smaller works that help convey the artistic impression of nature and decay. Working with primarily wood and petrified cedar, his smaller pieces represent the inner workings of nature.
Seeing the small pieces of nature put together to form the sculpture shows how interconnected and beautiful nature really is. You can still find the subtle hints of decay found in all of nature’s living and past organisms. It is here you can see the dual purpose of the large, awe inspiring piece in conjunction with the inner workings of nature all around. Together they bring about a strong sense of the connection between nature and our place in it.
With each piece being made from different parts of nature you can really get a feel of how complex each sculpture is and the message behind them.
This exhibition was brought to the University in conjunction with the Western States Cast Iron Conference being help September 24– 27. During that time, John Grade will be a key note speaker.
It’s during these days the public is encouraged to come and participate in the conference, said Moldenhauer. And the exhibit itself can be seen in the gallery of the Art Museum.
“I believe it will broaden an understanding of what “casting” as a form of creative expression can be,” said Moldenhauer.
