"Stoicism"
by Ashley Sexton
Cape Girardeau, MO
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Artist Statement:
Stoicism" is an 8 ft mild steel sculpture with two gem like figures jutting in opposite directions. Each has a large flat face that is treated with streaks of color. This color appears to be smeared on by an artist, or passerby, or nature. The streaks of color often losing ground to rust. Stoicism often means to endure without show of emotion, and I think steel does that without much effort. Cold sturdiness is in the very nature of the material, and I am trying to highlight that feature while also softening it down slowly.
"Stoicism" will slowly produce a layer of surface rust, changing the color of the sculpture over time and also interacting with the layers of paint that are applied periodically. The rust also reacts with the flat, vertical nature of the sculptures facets, creating natural patterns. Each move of "Stoicism" will introduce new paint applications as well as new rust formation (it also receives regular coats of penetrol to prevent major rust damage).