Chris
Duncan, sculptor and professor of visual art, presents a collection of two
dozen works in an exhibit, “Recent Work: Sculpture and Drawings,” Jan. 23 through
March 16 at Mandeville Gallery in the Nott Memorial.
The
show opens with a reception and gallery talk on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
“Drawing and sculpture have
always been related in my work,” Duncan writes
in the exhibit catalog. “The drawings aren't sketches or diagrams from which to
build directly; instead they are a means to formulate and record possibilities.
“When I begin a sculpture, an
underlying structure of steel allows me to generate forms quickly and
improvisationally. Sometimes the steel alone forms the finished sculpture, or I
may add plaster and found objects over the steel. In recent years, I've cast
bronzes from these plaster and steel pieces.
“My drawing process is similar to
what happens when I make sculpture. It requires a physical involvement, and
erasing or scraping away is as important as adding. To preserve a quality of
immediacy I often work in a series. I'm interested in how the making process
helps determine the final shape of the work. Later I go back, edit, and fine
tune.”