SPIRE Installation

The inspiration for this installation came to me while driving on country roads and through small villages. The first thing a person notices as they approach a village is the church spire on the horizon; a common symbol of transcendence in Western culture.

The spires are placed in a rectangular formation with two-foot corridors running between them, allowing the viewer to enter into the work. Initially there is a threatening element to this work; these spires are sharpened and extended points, the heavy presence of the lead is forced up and beaten into pinnacles. When one chooses to enter the field of these spires, a direct relationship between the viewer and the internal space of the work comes into play.

In a sense, the viewer becomes part of the work. The pounded lead of the spires has a sensual presence, light areas and shadows, bruises and tough enigmatic markings on the pieces identify each one as unique but still of the same body. Rather than erasing or smoothing the creases and wrinkles in the lead, they are preserved as beautiful traces akin to effects of human experience etched into individual faces.

By their arrangement, the channels draw the viewer forward while the markings pull the viewer in different directions within the interior and around the exterior of the installation. These pieces continuously ask the viewer to pay attention to their surface as they move from one corridor to another, the viewer’s eyes tend to bounce from one spire to another searching for a message.

Encountered in the refined, cultural spaces of art, this installation is an attempt to encourage thought on our modern Western culture and focus the viewer on the message of transcendence.

Included with the installation is an audio component that the viewer can listen to at will. It is made up of a compilation of spontaneous thoughts from a random cross section of the general public on their opinions and understanding of what contemporary art is and what it means to them. Included along with this collection is an interpretation of the art establishment’s idea of what is contemporary art. b

'SPIRE'