Date of Publication

1988

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

Department

Art

Language

English

Subjects

American bronze sculpture -- 20th century, Abstract sculpture -- United States -- 20th century

DOI

10.15760/etd.2047

Physical Description

1 online resource (19 pages : color illustrations)

Abstract

The method I use in creating abstract sculpture presented the question that became the subject of my Master's thesis. Only occasionally will I create from a pre-conceived concept. The sculptures evolve through a process of addition and subtraction of material to something that simply pleases me. This method, really no method at all, seemed contradictory to my original intentions. My artistic goals were purposeful; I wanted to create sculpture that would provoke a reaction first, not a judgment of features. I wanted the viewers emotional and psychological involvement to be the basis for content and meaning in the work.

In spite of the indirect approach, I felt there was some success in achieving my goal. Discovering how this occurred was important because I was at a loss to understand the content of my own work. Did the sculpture I was making hold any deeper meaning for me?

My thesis proposal advanced the question of how sculptural form expresses content. A more accurate question is, what does it mean? I had faith that I was indeed making art that was more than a pleasant arrangement of forms. Confident that there was also meaning, I proceeded to explore and analyze the relationship of creative process to sculptural form and content. While writing a draft of my thesis, I realized the question was beyond a definitive answer. This was a personal investigation of a fundamental question. My expectation was that insight and analysis would provide the answer I needed.

Rights

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Comments

At the time of writing, the author was known as D. Elizabeth Kohler.

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/13007

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