Art Musings from inside the Bubble: April 2012

It's amazing to see how beautiful and complicated the Hadron Collider is!

"The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) is a gigantic scientific instrument near Geneva, where it spans the border between Switzerland and France about 100m underground. It is a particle accelerator used by physicists to study the smallest known particles – the fundamental building blocks of all things. It will revolutionise our understanding, from the minuscule world deep within atoms to the vastness of the Universe.

Two beams of subatomic particles called "hadrons" – either protons or lead ions – travel in opposite directions inside the circular accelerator, gaining energy with every lap. Physicists use the LHC to recreate the conditions just after the Big Bang, by colliding the two beams head-on at very high energy. Teams of physicists from around the world then analyse the particles created in the collisions using special detectors in a number of experiments dedicated to the LHC.

There are many theories as to what will result from these collisions. For decades, the Standard Model of particle physics has served physicists well as a means of understanding the fundamental laws of Nature, but it does not tell the whole story. Only experimental data using the high energies reached by the LHC can push knowledge forward, challenging those who seek confirmation of established knowledge, and those who dare to dream beyond the paradigm."

http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2008/03/time-machine-worlds-biggest-particle.html

Lapins au Choux by CC Barton

SmithKlein Gallery has plenty of new pieces in the gallery right now. Stop in to see new works by CC Barton, Jim Budish and Nancy Linkin.

CC Barton's artist statement:

My principal interest is in expressing the essence of a particular form. Whether the subject is botanical, animal, or architectural, I strive for balance, grace, and simplicity in the finished work.

I work in printmaking and drawing primarily, but also work in other mediums from time to time in order to add diversity and depth to my overall artistic expression. I find that this 'crossing over' into other mediums enhances my skills in general, as well as serving to keep my artistic perspective fresh.

I have a strong love for words as well as for visual images, and occasionally incorporate original poetry and prose with my images. My purpose in doing so, besides for my own artistic satisfaction, is to create pieces which will allow you an experience of deeper emotional texture and connection with my work.

I hope that my work will in some way enrich your life.

ETCHINGS BY C C BARTON


Deux Lapins et Poire

Lapin aux Ceries

Petite Lapin en Croute

Lapin aux Grenades

About Jim Budish
A Colorado native, Jim studied sculpture at the Art Students League of Denver and at the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts. He also participated in ISC (International Sculpture Center) workshops at the Art Institute of Chicago. Jim began his career sculpting representational figurative works. He realized in time however, that it was neither his desire nor ambition for his life's work to be creating "photographs in bronze". Rather, he decided that he wanted to be able to create his own new and unique direction in representing the human form and the forms of the multitude of special creatures that surround us. With each piece, he explores the attitude and emotion of his subject and attempts to capture the "joie de vivre" that he feels is lurking somewhere inside us all.

Jim Budish is currently one of the most popular sculptors in the United States. At the 2004 sculpture show in Loveland, Colorado; which is one of the largest sculpture shows in our country, Jim Budish sold the largest dollar amount in the show. In addition to his success at sculpture shows, Jim does charity work by donating his art for auctions that benefit the less fortunate. His work can be found in numerous collections in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, and Japan.

New Sculptures by Jim Budish at SmithKlein Gallery

Bailey

Carrot

Zoe

Chauncey

Nancy Linkin's artist statement

"The essential quality of my work is harmony of form. I want my sculptures to stir the observer’s inner sense of beauty. To be peaceful in their simplicity. I want my jewelry to soothe. To be elegant, casual, and comfortable – like fine silk and soft blue jeans."

Nancy's passion for metalsmithing began over 35 years ago. She was captivated by the age old process of forming the metal directly with hammers. "The hammer is simply an extension of my hand..." Her exploration of the traditional smithing techniques, raising holloware and forging, started with traditional vessels forms. Soon she began to push the envelope both technically and visually, leaving the rotation form and functional form behind. Asymmetrical table top sculptures and wallpieces were a natural progression for her nature based aesthetic. "Natural forms have always fascinated and excited me: plant forms, earth forms, human forms."

Sculptural jewelry was the next step, taking the sculpture off the pedestal and putting it on then body. Nancy did a series of one of a kind sculptural bracelets over the course of two years in the mid 1980’s. The tremendous success of this direction encouraged her to repeat the designs, adding earrings, neckpieces, and pins to her line of bracelets. Over the last 20 years the line has grown with over 80 different designs, each made in a variety of sizes, available in both a Sterling & 18K combination and solid 18K gold.

To create each piece, flat patterns are cut from sheets of gold and silver and hammered systematically over specialized tools. Once a piece has been hammered into its final form, it's filed and sanded, then buffed to a high polish. This fine finish accentuates the simple sculptural lines of her jewelry."

Pieces by Nancy Linkin