3 in Glass: Brown - Guerrero - Sandoval April 4, 2009

From Brown's wit, to Guerrero's colorful interpretations, and Sandoval's illusory sculptures, these three emerging sculptors use glass in distinct and exciting ways, engaging the viewer in a new dialogue.

"I am captivated by the dynamic nature of a system that is balanced, however precariously, at the maximum level of tension that is possibly sustainable." says Benjamin Brown. In "Contemporary Weight #1", a 5 foot tall sculpture with glass stuck between a substantial bronze cube and an aluminum circle, Brown compels us to feel this tension. Glass should not defy such pressure, yet the sculpture stands, a testament to "a strong material with a weak reputation". Brown sees this as a metaphor for the pressure emerging artists feel in a contemporary sculpture world he views as dominated by a few "heavies". Five other works combining metal and glass are on display.
Jaime Guerrero, known for his interpretations of symbols and iconographies gleaned from his life and cultural heritage. Using glass as the unique material in his work, Guerrero developed a high degree of control in handling the medium. Three of his Hieroglyphs are on view, including "Hieroglyph III", a glass case displaying three woman's shoes exquisitely rendered in glass with the warning:"Do Not Touch". "The hieroglyph becomes a metaphor in which I can explore language, symbols, and their contextual significance, which are both empirical and derivative", says Guerrero.
Travis Sandoval's illusory landscapes are based on the deceptive qualities of reflections on glass, which "begin to function as an undermining of our ability to distinguish between what is physically present and what is illusion, becoming illustrations of volume, space, and light". Sandoval exploits this illusion to create a visual imbalance, questioning one's feeling of certainty in the physical world. Two large scale works composed of two-way mirror and clear glass are on view as well as a wall piece in blown glass and wood.

Free to the public.

Official Website: http://www.sculpturesitegallery.com