President’s Message Summer 2012

Without getting into a debate on whether Facebook has changed our socio-psychological aspects; I will say that once you immerse yourself into the vortex of social networking you do get to peruse a panoply of quite wonderful photographs posted from all over the world.  

And, if you find yourself delving a  little deeper by joining specific groups that relate to your particular interests, then its inspirational asset becomes apparent. This is the case under a specific facebook group defined as, “Sculpture.” It is in this group that some diligent volunteer quarries archival photographs of known artists in their studios and posts them for folks like me to see. Photos such Arp in his studio surrounded by backlit maquettes, Moore in his working world, Brancusi, Rodin, Hepworth, and more, all in their inspirational spaces, surrounded by tools, maquettes, sculptures, light, stone, wood, etc.

 Now, while these photos are most certainly staged, it might be useful to ask yourself some questions about where you work. What does your studio space look like? It is a place that defines you as an artist. Is there room to move? How do you work best? Is your preferred method a labyrinth of material, and tools? Do you need things clean, or cluttered? Do you require several projects at the same time or are you more definitive in your working style? We all work differently and our working spaces should be part of our creative process, defining us, and inspiring us to be productive. Food for thought when you head out to work today.

Gerda Lattey