Mark Feldman

In my abstract stone carving, I continue to work to bring together the natural and the personal.  My goal is to place strong organic forms and solid rock in direct juxtaposition to stimulate imagination and memory. The contrast between the natural and the man-made, the rough and the smooth, the new and the old are what give emotional content to my work.  I want my sculptures not only to be viewed, but to be touched and pondered.  I feel that a sculpture succeeds when it elicits in each viewer unique and strong feelings, images, and memories.

For most artists, the most difficult moment is the first brush stroke or, in the case of a stone sculptor, the first chip of the chisel or tap of the hammer.  For me, this blank canvas calls for “direct carving.”  Using angle grinders and die grinders, I start eliminating any of the weak or rough parts of the stone that might cleave off later.  When only the strong, beautiful stone is left, I begin my “conversation” with the stone.  The interplay of shapes – and sometimes found stone and vintage metal iconic objects – leads me to ideas about form, composition, and meaning.  With pencil, I often draw designs directly on the stone itself.  As I move the tools around, the stone tells me what to remove and what to save.  Usually, the finished piece has a combination of rough and smooth textures achieved with rasps, hammers, sanding pads and oils.  The finished sculpture is typically placed on a stone or metal base.

Gallery Hozho, Albuquerque
Galerie 111, Taos