Gary D. Grossman
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
It is the multi-dimensional nature of stone sculpture, its tactile sensuality coupled with arresting imagery that engage both sculptors and collectors alike. I carve stone primarily to bring forth an aesthetically and emotionally pleasing object from what appears to be a chunk of rock. It is this process of exploration and discovery, the revelation of form and substance through successive removal of materials that is so satisfying to a stone carver.
Many characteristics of stone appeal to the sculptor, in particular, variations in grain, hardness, color and texture. Rather than concentrate on a single type of stone, I carve everything from soapstone to marble so the characteristics of the stone can be matched to the traits of a given piece.
I tend to carve small-scale pieces that radiate intimacy and beckon human touch. Nonetheless, instilling motion and angularity in the works enables them to hold a viewer's attention and fill larger spaces. I work using an innovative aesthetic that reduces shape to its essential form and is designed to elicit multiple interpretations in the viewer.