Solar Vessel. 2024, glazed stoneware, approx. 24" tall and 12" in diameter.
The Solar Vessel is a sculpture exhibited at "Sculptfest24: Coruscation," the annual outdoor sculpture festival at the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center in West Rutland, Vermont. Inspired by the sun, the New England woods, UFO sightings, and cyanotype prints, this roughly two-foot-tall ceramic ellipsoid explores properties of light, color, and perception. The minimal, rounded shape of the object becomes an almost otherworldly presence amidst the greenery of the Carving Studio’s walking path. While the glazing of the sculpture mimics the glare of the sun on the south-facing side, the highly reflective surface of the burnished and glazed vessel warps and refracts atmospheric light and shadow around it. The sculpture reflects the dappled sunlight, the surrounding greenery, and the shadows of any viewers who encounter it. The interplay between the properties of the object itself and the reflection of the natural environment draws our attention to the sun and its light, both suggested and reflected by the Solar Vessel.
Special thanks to Gordon College for their assistance in completing this sculpture, to the curator, and to the other artists in this exhibition.
"Sculptfest24: Coruscation" was curated by Colin C. Boyd.
Exhibited September 7 through October 20, 2024, at the Carving Studio & Sculpture Center.