 The Preface
“Sculpture, a major art, is experiencing a renaissance in the
twentieth century. New techniques and materials account for much
of this new spirit and vitality. The book deals with two of the most
important and revolutionary techniques affecting sculpture today –– welded
materials and fiberglass reinforced plastics.
The text, while brief, provides sufficient technical data and
background information to complement the step by step photographic illustrations of these new methods. The diagrams are presented as simplified
graphic substitutes for the very complex chemical and mechanical processes involved
in reinforced plastics and metal welding. There are also many examples of finished
sculpture in black and white and color showing the wide variety of work being
produced with these modern techniques.
This book is intended as a guide for the student of sculpture who is eager to
begin but dismayed by the complex nature of these new mediums. It is also intended
to encourage those artists who have been aware of the great possibilities of
these new techniques but reluctant to make the switch. The information presented
should also interest devotees and collectors of sculpture who want to be informed
about these two important techniques that are changing the character of sculpture
today.”
From the “Introduction”
“One can do things with clay that are
not practical in wood, while
steel permits the creation of forms not feasible in clay. There is
also an aesthetic principle involving ‘truth to materials.’ Henry Moore, in stating
this idea, said that stone, being hard and concentrated
‘. . . should not
be falsified to look like soft flesh.’”
The images on this web page
are of Baldwin’s
sculptures from
Contemporary Sculpture Techniques:
Welded Metal and Fiberglass.4 He used these, plus numerous photographs of sculptures by other artists
to illustrate his message. |
