About Buckhead reporter. (Sandy Springs, GA) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (May 3, 2013)
out &z about Two local sculptors see their work in very different ways Sandy Springs artist wants viewers to think about lost American roots STORIES BY MARTHA NODAR Sandy Springs sculptor Steve Steinman says the works in his “Broken Circles” exhib it are intended to make Amer icans think. Steinman believes that wasting natural resources, de parting from manufactur ing goods, and not placing enough emphasis on human relations contribute to what he sees as the loss of Ameri can pride. “We have lost our roots as Americans,” he said. Now retired from aca demia, Steinman, 65, said he learned about art early in life and his love for sculpture evolved naturally through the years. But, it is his social consciousness that underpins his current show at the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery in Buck- head. “I was raised by parents who grew up during the Depression, a time when peo ple did not throw things away,” he said. “We also knew our neighbors.” Growing up in a small town, Stein man said he learned from his previous generations to value things and to fix things rath er than throw them away. He feels that back then a sense of continuity flowed from one generation to the next. That, symbolically, kept the circle intact. Now, he says, those circles are broken. His parents collected art from around the world. His father, a World War II veter an, also collected tools. Stein man makes art from broken objects that find a home in his studio. “Steve is trying to tell us through his art work that we have become a careless society discarding our treasures,” said Su san West. “He sees things with the eye of an artist and wants to raise our aware- >5 ness. Carl Smith, an art teacher in Buckhead familiar with Steinman’s work, said “Jew els of the Urban Jungle,” one of the piec es in the exhibit, is made from industrial artifacts that have been reshaped and jux- Steve Steinman Buckhead sculptor designs his pieces to capture ‘elegance of sensuality’ Buckhead sculptor Robert Kelly works to simplify forms so viewers of his work can decide what speaks to them. But he admits the shapes that speak most directly to him of ten are based on the female body. He says his goal is to produce abstract works fo cused on elegance. “Women are very sensu al,” Kelly said. “I strive to bring that elegance of sensu ality to the viewer.” The 69-year-old sculptor says he tries “to celebrate the grace of the female body and leave the rest to the viewer’s imagination.” Kelly and fellow mem bers of the Buckhead-based Atlanta Artist Center present “The Eighth AAC Multi-Artist, Mixed Media Exhibit at the Buckhead Library.” The show runs through May 31, with a reception that is open to the public on May 11. In addition to sculptures, the exhib it includes paintings, collage, photogra phy, and jewelry, said Cheryl D’Amato, the AAC volunteer coordinator of art ex hibits at the Buckhead Library. For nearly six decades, AAC, a non profit organization, has focused on pro moting the artistic development of its members through workshops, seminars, exhibits and lectures. Now retired from having his own business in graphic design, Kelly said he began to immerse himself in sculpture as a hobby about seven years ago at the suggestion of his wife of 33 years, Mary Kay, who thought the medi um would be a good fit for him. Kelly said he tries to combine the smooth ness he admires in Con stantin Brancusi with the simplicity found in Henry Moores work— both European sculp tors of the 20th cen tury—and create a contemporary version. Among the pieces in the exhibit are “Li la-Master,” and “Rachel-New Master,” two abstract sculptures of female figures “that invite personal interpretations,” said AAC member Judith Schonbak. Some of Kelly’s colleagues and oth er viewers who have recently become ac quainted with his work also offer their own interpretations of these two sculp tures. “I was drawn to ‘Rachel’,” Mike As- bury said. “I perceive her as evocative of an older era, such as the ‘Roaring Twen ties.’ Her hair reminds me of the flappers. She looks as though she may be resting for a moment in deep introspection be fore joining others in the fun and frivol- Robert Kelly What: Broken Circles exhibit Where: Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery 199 Armour Drive When: through May 11 Admission: Free taposed. “I am under the impression Steve might have used iron in particular in this composition to perhaps symbolize the shift from a strong manufacturing nation we once were to a country more interest ed in distributing,” he said. “I believe this piece may reflect Steve’s concern about our changing position in the world.” Smith stresses that in his view, the cir cle, which has become Steinman’s signa ture, is very important because it symbol izes continuity, and the juxtaposed pieces illustrate a break in that continuity. Steinman emphasized that the mod ern tendency to throw things away rath er than repair them has contributed to a disruption in continuity. So has the incli- Jewels of the Urban Jungle by Steve Steinman nation to let technology interfere with hu man contact. “Technology has put us a step back,” he said. “People don’t talk face-to-face anymore. It is easier to stay in the shad ows. “I see some subtle signs of us trying to come back full circle and recover our American pride, but not nearly enough. We need to re-examine our choices and build on that.” LILA-MASTER by Robert Kelly ity associated with that period.” “For me, ‘Lila’ has a spirit of self-assured ness in her woman hood, and ‘Rachel’s’ es sence is serenity and peace,” Schonbak said. “I see both figures as thinly and beautiful ly veiled. The veil adds mystery and entices the viewer to stop and re spond.” Atlanta artist David to be celebrating the ‘goddess’ in every Swann saw something else. “Kelly seems woman,” he said. www.ReporterNewspapers.netl MAY3— MAY 16, 2013 | 15 What: The Eighth AAC Multi-Artist Mixed Media Exhibit at the Buckhead Library Where: Buckhead Branch Public Library 269 Buckhead Ave. When: Through May 31 Reception: Open to the public Sat., May 11, in the library’s Community Room, 3-5 p.m. Admission: Free j