Carole was one of 18 sculptors who participated in the International Sculpture Symposium: Bronze Melodies, in Penza, Russia May 1 – 31, 2007.
Working out of studios in the city center and at the University of Architecture and Construction, the sculptors created works that were cast in bronze and aluminum.
Highlights of the Symposium included an opening exhibition of the Russian sculptors' works at the Penza Art Center Gallery, an exhibition of the International sculptors' works at the Babylon Gallery in the city of Samara, a second exhibition in Samara of the bronzes created during the Symposium, and finally, an exhibition in Penza of the Melodies of Bronze sculptures.
Carole created two bronze sculptures, "TurtleDove Duet," as well as "Same Sky," a diptych cast in aluminum. Same Sky was acquired as the only American work of art in the permanent collection of the Penza Art Museum/Savitsky Gallery.
 |
|
Same Sky | Aluminum
|
Carole's inspiration for Same Sky –
I was immediately stuck by the amount of birch trees and they, along with so many other things, made me think of Oregon, where I live. I marveled at how alike we were. The trees were everywhere. Throughout the train trip from Moscow, and on our first excursion in the Penza region, looking out the window of the tour bus the trees that lined our route blurred together as we went by, their hypnotic effect broken only by the beautiful cathedral onion domes. That vision just stayed with me and was reenacted many times over our stay. On one long trip, I brought along some plasticine clay to make some maquettes. I was instead inspired to sculpt the trees in relief using first one, then two of the good sized, plastic covered candy boxes one of our generous sponsors had given us. The two part relief became the size of those two boxes and the trees took on human aspects, symbolic of our sameness. Then they swayed, forming a dome in the center. Same trees, people with so many similarities, all under the same sky. The design was worked out by the end of that trip and finished in the studio, then sand cast in aluminum.
An excerpt from the Opening Ceremonies –
"Cultural exchange is the first step to make and a necessary one to overcome communication barriers; it contributes to better understanding of the problems people from different countries have to face. Only through mutual understanding we can clearly see what we have in common and what can unite us. Culture and art reflect the inner state of the society, they express its vitality, its strength or weakness and show whether the society is isolated or open to contacts. Works of art can be much more informative than political demonstrations and economic data as far as the inner state of society is concerned. Cultural exchange should be a dialogue having the purpose of consolidating peace between nations." Governor of Penza Region V.K. Bochkarev.
|
|
|
