Von Rydingsvard is a Polish-Ukrainian artist based in America - she has a distinctive practise with cedar which she uses to construct her giant pieces of work, she uses cedar due to her great respect for organic materials and uses her understanding of how generations of people have worked and used these organic materials (this is due to her peasent farmer heritage) - Von Rydingsvard also has recurring themes in her work that included the sense of loss and pain which she experienced as a result of living in Nazi Germany.
The artist often has abstract shapes that take inspiration from everyday objects for example "Weeping Plates," which is supposed to communicate the combination of natural forms/element and the mark of human intervention - Von Rydingsvard has done pieces with this idea but the pieces are usually inspired by simple objects such as shovels, bowls and fences
"Scratch" 2013-14
"for Martin F." - 2013
"Pierwsza" - 2012-14
"Collar with Dots" - 2008
"Halo with Straight Line"
The texture on this piece looked different than the others, this is because it has a stacked sort of effect - like most of her other work reminds me of a rock like structure (like a cave.) There is an intended contrast in this piece, at the back is a strong flat "backbone" and the rest of this piece cascades down - also the deep rupture almost tears the piece in half which adds a sort of protective nature to the piece.
"Droga" - 2009
"Exploding Bowl" - 2005-06
"Krasawica II" - 1998-2001
The title means beautiful women which relates to how Von Rydingsvard views this piece "a voluptuous sculpture in terms of body." The work also appears to relate to the artists many vessels and bowls, which suggests nuture and protection, I could see this in this piece because of the enclosed shape of the bowl has a slight sense of protection about it. However my first impression was that it showed textures that were shown, uniform panelling that comes into a more jaggered and erratic pattern - were to express emtions of slowly breaking free.
"Spoon Ladle with Bent Handle" - 2011
"Sunken Shadow" and "Echo" - 2011
"Weeping Plates" - 2005
"Blacken Wood" - 2008
"Mama, Build Me a Fence" - 2001-02
After viewing the entire exhibition it is clear that Von Rydingsvard has a true fascination with creating textures with cedar and tries communicating complex psychological and emotional themes into her work, for example the lace work pattern at the top of "Bronze Bowl with lace"
My first impression of "Mama, Build Me a Fence" was that there was a sense of protection about it - the height and width of it looking like it could guard against anything. When considering the title along with piece I think there is a sort of motherly protection about it and that this is built for a child to keep them safe, the scratch-like pattern at the bottom could resemble negative/hurtful things that the fence is being used as protection against. The 'fence' that the title is referring to could be the notched pattern on the panelled cedar and that the pannelled cedar is the canvas - since the hatches have a home/hand-made feeling about it which again could relate to the title.
I personally love the textures found in the piece - the tall panels of wood have a smooth and almost mathematical look to them then at the bottom the cross-hatched pattern almost looks harsh when viewed up close, as if someone had attacked the wood. Von Rydingsvard also used graphite and chalk to add more cross-hatched to the piece and makes the carved grooves and hatches in the cedar look more defined and prominate.
"Norduna" - 2011
"Crosses Mirage" - 2011
Assorted Pieces
"Right Arm Bowl" - 2009
I love the texture that Von Rydingsvard has created with the cedar on this piece, she has achieved an almost delicate look and it reminds me of water dripping and looks like it could fall off at any moment.
"Large Spoon with Split Balls" - 2006 - 13
This piece was created by combining plaster and cedar - the graphite covered balls along the edge of the piece were created by Plaster that has been sandwiched between the cedar wood. This makes an interesting texture throughout the piece, balls looked jaggered and the inside of the spoon has a spiral rope effect that has a rugged hacked effect that it found in the artists other pieces.
I really liked this piece because it looked different than other pieces, it was more embellished and more graphite was used which makes the piece standout from the other pieces I saw at the exhibition.
"Bronze Bowl with Lace" - 2013-14
This piece was created particularly for YSP exhibition, unlike most of her sculpture was cast in bronze from a cedar model - the lace patterns at the top of the sculpture is something that Von Rydingsvard has often tried to create in her work. I really like how that lace pattern adds a delicate touch to a piece with such harsh sharp ridges.
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