Defying the Wind - URI Boundaries

Defying the Wind - URI Boundaries (c) Ken Newman

This visually expressive mixed media sculpture, explores boundaries, both in society and in our mind. It has Ken Newman’s typical single piece of wood component (oak) combined with an antique wheel hub, an old sign post and metal sign, barb wire, and a metal fence post, which are mounted on carved statuary marble. All combined, create a societal statement as well as highlighting the beauty of nature.

 Defying the Wind-URI Boundaries poses the Magpie strategically perched on one foot while holding barb wire in the other, it’s tail blown up and cast off balance by a gust of wind. In society, the winds of change are determined or swayed by knowledge, technology, research or profit. The magpie once had a bounty, considered a nuisance bird by people. Now protected, the winds change, the birds purpose in nature is better understood by society.. Just like the wind, our attitudes change depending on the wind’s direction.  The white in the magpie is removed throughout the wood sculpture, representing the unique patterning of the magpie as it is seen especially in the snow, the white of the bird disappears.

In Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Walls” Frost states that “Good fences make good neighbors” or do they?  How do these fences/boundaries impact the land, nature, wildlife and man?  Man moved west using the wheel, drawn by the open skies, vast  prairies and wide open landscapes. As man moved west the first thing many did was to fence and control the land and its assets, stock, wildlife, homes and their neighbors.  How do we individually restrict ourselves and others with fences and boundaries (both physical and mental)?

The lines in this sculpture were inspired by a book on Ikebana - Japanese flower arrangement.

AWARDS

First Place Sculpture at the 25th Anniversary Wallowa Arts Festival in Joseph, OR

This is the first in a series of blogs on Ken Newman's wood sculptures. Enjoy!