My sculpture is an exploration - emotional, spiritual and physical of what is both seen and unseen in nature.
It draws its vitality from my reverence for the natural world and my fascination with the opposing forces of geometry and entropy that underlie its structure. The delicate balance between order and chaos, growth and decay of all matter intrigues and inspires me. I am fortunate to be able to live and work in the Northern California foothills. Daily connection with nature provides a foundation for me to sculpturally express this dynamic tension in my work. I attempt to accomplish this through the graceful juxtaposition of form and line in opposing abstract elements. Often, a sculpture is composed of a central angular shape of substantial mass intertwined with more delicate, rounded sculptural forms. In other pieces, the relationship between hard angles and gentle curves occurs within an individual shape or shapes. Successful artistic synthesis of these forms results in sculpture infused with energy.
The piece, Bird, being exhibited in the Napa ARTwalk was inspired by the ideas expressed by Brancusi's sculpture, Bird in Space and represents my homage to jazz musician, Charlie Parker (known as Bird). Parker strove throughout his career to push musical boundaries beyond established limits. His work was forever fluid and was all about being free. In this sculpture, the central bronze form is symbolically, as well as literally growing out of the constraints of its surrounding environment, much as a river flows and ever expands pushing against the banks that seek to restrain and shape it. Art, either beautiful music or sculpture is my ever abiding link to the natural.
riis[at]riisburwell.com 707-538-2676 www.riisburwell.com
