iowasculptor in the news!

[iowasculptor]

Been working this week to get the latest sculpture placed, been fighting cold, wind, ice and snow, but such is the life of an artist.
Here is a link to the latest article:

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090108/NEWS/901080309/1003/BUSINESS

Matt

[evaldart]

Nice gig Matt. See, all, you gotta do the big ones. A young'un like you should turn this into a tear. The beginning of much, much more for you...if you have the nerve.:D

[iowasculptor]

Here are some more pics, I will show more as we get more completed, or after I recharge the 'ol camera. The cranes go inside of each framework, they all face forward, the ones on the end that have their butts to the road are just not oriented right yet.

Enjoy!
Matt

[jOe~]

Bravo!

[Tired Iron]

TOO COOL! CONGRATULATIONS!

[grommet]

Great sentiments and great press!:)

[GlennT]

Congratulations. I think you handled the issue brilliantly, ie, how do you make all the appropriate nods and rhetoric to the ridiculous notion of celebrating diversity (diversity is a given, not something that has been achieved by effort and therefore in need of celebrating), but then use the opportunity to make it about the art instead of dumbing down our culture with a literal interpretation.

The art per se is not my thing, but it is your thing so it will help further your path, which is good for us all. The crisp and clean fabrication speaks well of your craftsmanship, a very important aspect of public work. Well done!

[evaldart]

I dont feel that Matt allowed himself to be too bound by the idea of "diversity". There will always be restraints in commissioned works. Public entities must protect themselves from paying good money for a 15 foot steel penis. So the wild wishes of our fanatically creative spirit must be guided in a direction. Multi-syllabic words that respond positively to current conundrums will suffice. From what I've seen of Matt's work here, he seems to have stayed quite true to his developing aesthetic. But more important than that: he was provided an opportunity to attack an undertaking of great size and scope, he made some money, hopefully bought HIMSELF some tools (dont let those kids at the school trash em - YOU trash em), and, as one thing leads to another he has taken a huge step towards better, more significant and more fulfilling works. "Diversity" is not a big enough word to be attached to this sculpture. It was a big, job, he got it done, everyone was happy - and it was about much more than just "diversity".

O, you gotta look deeper man. You should know by now that NO art is actually about anything it was "supposed" to be about, or even what it "seems" to be about...only a little genius would expect such.

[GlennT]

e-I'm hoping that was a general response, not an answer to my post? I think you just made about the same point I did.

[evaldart]

Glenn, yes, I was agreeing with you, but I had a few additions (big surprise:D) and a slightly different angle.

[grommet]

...appropriate nods and rhetoric to the ridiculous notion of celebrating diversity (diversity is a given, not something that has been achieved by effort and therefore in need of celebrating),

I disagree with what you're saying here. I think it is inevitable that things become more culturally homogenous over time, influx of immigrants notwithstanding. I have attended some 'celebration of diversity' events and felt the whole idea was inspired. As opposed to it being some isolated event or establishment of one culture that you'd be unlikely to attend without a good reason, you're able to 'sample' without embarassment. How else would you know you're secretly addicted to Indian food, or that Korean drumming is the best you've ever heard? They would live in relative obscurity in your community until they started selling or doing things you'd be more likely to notice, because the flyers were in English or they started including burgers on the menu. A culture is developed with effort, communicated to future generations with effort, and maintained in a melting pot with effort. That is something to celebrate.

[GlennT]

Well, then lets celebrate international culture. Are you diverse? What is that? It means nothing. Please show me someone who is either diverse or is not diverse. Every snowflake is diverse. They are so diverse in their patterns. But it all comes together as snow. When I When I was a kid in Chicago we had an international fair that was one of the highlights of the year. All those cultures to sample bits and pieces of. It was great. But it is not diversity, but unity that is worth celebrating. Let's celebrate the fact that in the US we have all of these various cultures that add a special and unique flavor to the mix, yet we are all Americans. Let us appreciate and enjoy those different flavors and their origins, but remember that whereas in other countries those differences can get you ostracized or worse, here you are accepted for who, not what you are. You can pursue and realize your dreams, if you chose to unite as an American. Here, class, race, and ethnic distinctions can be leveled down to meaningless if you choose to be identified by the quality of your soul rather than the color of your skin. My problem with the "celebrate diversity" crowd is the tendency to make people claim an identity based on factors other than quality of soul.

[iowasculptor]

Here is the write up narrative that I submitted for this project, might add to the understanding of the symbolism:

In Varietate Concordia
By Matthew N. Kargol

Narrative
My sculpture In varietate concordia (Latin for united in diversity), is based on two cultural legends, whose origins come from two different sides of the world. The first legend comes from Japan and is called Senbazuru (A Thousand Cranes). As origami traditions developed, there arose a legend that a person who folded 1,000 paper cranes would be granted a wish by the gods. This is the tradition of Senbazuru in the ancient context. The Thousand Origami Cranes has become a symbol of peace through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who contracted leukemia as a result of radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Sadako remains an inspiration to everyone who hopes for a brighter future for tomorrow's children.
The other legend comes from the Sioux tribe of this region, the legend of the white buffalo. The legend of the White Buffalo Calf Woman tells how the People had lost the ability to communicate with the Creator. The Creator sent the sacred White Buffalo Calf Woman to teach the People how to pray with the Pipe. With that Pipe, seven sacred ceremonies were given for the people to abide in order to ensure a future with harmony, peace, and balance.
Legend says that long ago, two young men were out hunting when from out of nowhere came a beautiful maiden dressed in white buckskin. One of the hunters looked upon her and recognizing her as a wakan, or sacred being, lowered his eyes. The second hunter approached her with lust in his eyes, desiring her for his woman. White Buffalo Calf Woman beckoned the lustful warrior to her, and as he approached a cloud of dust arose around them causing them to be hidden from view. When the dust settled, nothing but a pile of bones lay next to her. As she walked toward the respectful young hunter, White Buffalo Calf Woman instructed the young man to go back to the People and tell them to prepare for her arrival to teach them of the way to pray. The young hunter obeyed. When White Buffalo Calf woman arrived she taught the People of the seven sacred ways to pray.
When the teaching of the sacred ways was complete, White Buffalo Calf Woman told the people she would again return for the sacred bundle that she left with them. Before leaving, she told them that within her were the four ages, and that she would look back upon the People in each age, returning at the end of the fourth age, to restore harmony and spirituality to a troubled land. She walked a short distance, she looked back towards the people and sat down. When she arose they were amazed to see she had become a black buffalo. Walking a little further, the buffalo laid down, this time arising as a yellow buffalo. The third time the buffalo walked a little further and this time arose as a red buffalo. Walking a little further she rolled on the ground and rose one last time as a white buffalo calf.
The changing of the four colors of the White Buffalo Calf Woman represents the four colors of man--white, yellow, red and black. These colors also represent the four directions, north, east, south and west. The sacred bundle that was left to the Lakota people is still with the People in a sacred place on the Cheyenne River Indian reservation in South Dakota.
Walls are metaphorical barriers to understanding, the wall forms in In Varietate Concordia (Latin for united in diversity), work to contradict this perception. The four geometric reflective forms create a wall which is open, allowing for free passage of ideas and communication. They act to anchor the cranes in the environment. The reflective nature allows for the environment and visitors to be reflected in the surface, incorporating the moment into peoples understanding of the piece. Their constructed nature points to the hope that people will build upon these admirable traits. The brick lines will be painted to look like bricks as a visual language, which is consistent with my interest in paper constructions and the drawn element.
The cranes are made to look like folded paper cranes to convey the wish that all people will come together to find strength in their differences. The cranes will be painted in the four colors represented in the Sioux legend of the white buffalo, white, black, red and yellow representing the four colors of man.
It is my hope that through this sculpture people of Sioux Falls and visitors will reflect on the potential greatness that exists when we embrace our diversity and grow together.

[grommet]

I like the finding strength in their differences idea.
As opposed to people's individuality being relegated to the mush pile. As in the everyone is unique so no one is special philosophy.

Quick! before it all turns into macaroni & cheese!!!!

Encouraging the appreciation of diversity sets up an enriched environment of indivuals who bring a fresh angle to solving problems, making art, alleviating inbreeding in thought processes.

[GlennT]

Encouraging the appreciation of diversity sets up an enriched environment of indivuals who bring a fresh angle to solving problems, making art, alleviating inbreeding in thought processes.

This may be good to remember when ideas come under attack for not being politically correct.

[grommet]

Appreciation is hopefully a fluid thing that goes both ways. That doesn't mean you don't give quizzical looks, only that you don't immediately get out the anvil (roadrunner style).

[Julianna]

Great article---congrats! They did a good job with the picture of your work too!

[outsider]

I see conformity. Conforming diversity into like boxes. Packaged.

[shhark]

Hey Matt,
Congrats on the project! It was nice meeting you in Chicago at the Artist Project. Keep in touch.