Michael Newman
Sculptor
MNewmanStudio@aol.com
Home
click
photo for larger view |
Poseidon I
16" x 16" x 52"
steel and fabric
2002 |
Poseidon II
16" x 16" x 52"
steel and fabric
2002 |
| Poseidon I & II
Poseidon I & II invite the viewer
to participate:
On a small
piece of paper you may write a message of petition or thanksgiving to Poseidon.
Place it in one of the
ports on a piece of steel or you may place a dollar bill in a port or take a dollar bill
if you are in need.
The steel pieces are rigid, strong and long lasting. The fabric pieces with laser
printed
photographs of sea grass are temporal.
Poseidon, as the god of the seas, held great power for the ancient Greeks. Poseidon was
often depicted as
an angry and turbulent god who from his sea-domain controlled the force of earthquakes.
Poseidon
One & Two remind us of the dangers of the sea and of the calm of the beaches which
shelter the wrecks of ships caught by the wrath of Poseidon.
The
design, fabrication and assembly, including cutting, welding, grinding, drilling,
sandblasting and
finishing, was done by Michael Newman. No apprentices or "helpers" were used for
any part of the process.
Herb Parker, Professor of Sculpture at The College of Charleston, provided technical
guidance.
The steel
is stock ¼ inch thick "mild" steel.
The fabric
is exterior grade polyester (similar to street banners) that was commercially printed
using
photographs taken by the artist at Folly Beach, South Carolina. The images will fade and
the fabric will
decay over a period of time. They can be left in that state or replaced with new material
printed from the
same computer scanned images of the original photographs. The fabric is loose hanging and
weighted at
the bottom so that it naturally ripples in the breeze, simulating the movement of the
photographed
sea grass found at the beach.
The work
can be disassembled for easy moving and will fit in the trunk of a standard sedan.
All connections are bronze threaded rods and bolts that will not rust.
Poseidon
One & Two are conceived to be in a state of constant change as a result of their
interaction
with natural and living forces. They are not intended to be a jewel frozen in time, but
rather they are a
metaphor for our life on this planet.
Each Piece
Size: 16"wide by 16"long by 54"high |
Homage
to Christo
Fall 2005
The
visitor enters the sculpture, Homage to Christo, on a
wooden boardwalk in the classic shape of a Greek cross.
Large
vertical Buddhist prayer flags are contained within a Chinese red steel
framework with seven-foot high side wall panels of mesh polyester printed foliage
mimicking natural plant materials. The top is open to the sky.
Each
visitor is given four Haiku poems about flowers, birds and fish.
They are encouraged to read them aloud, in a strong voice,
as they walk through the piece, Homage to Christo.
This
sculpture was conceived to encourage the visitor to thoughtfully consider
the interaction between the natural and built environments.
Size: 15
feet x 15 feet x 7 feet high |
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The Botanical Garden
By Emperor MeijiBehold!
In my garden together
Vigorous grown and fair -
The seedlings of foreign
trees and plants,
Reared and nursed with care |
A Green Tree
By YugureA
light wind whispers
through the trees;
The sun shines brightly
on the trees
O how I wish I could become
A green tree in the sun
and breeze! |
Voiceless Voices
By Kura-koWhen
to the woods I come
And pray with my eyes uplifted
to the stars,
Within my deepest soul
I hear a voice which voiceless is. |
Fine Autumn Weather
By HideoTo-day,
too, promises
Fine Autumn weather;
At daybreak many birds
have flocked
Near to my inn, chirping together. |
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Tog’s Bog
December 2007
This piece was conceived as three sculptures in one.
First: Tog’s Bog
A maquette
constructed with a waterproof basin designed to support plants,
such as papyrus, in a bog like setting.
The sculpture is constructed of wood and painted with a chrome finish
Overall 36" x 24" x 12" plus plant height
Carolina Springtime
To be constructed of steel with a powder-coated chrome finish
Set at 5 degrees to the horizontal to reflect clouds moving across the sky
Includes three deciduous trees. Can be used for picnic table
To
be located on a manicured or natural grass flat area
23’-0" x 11"-0" x 2’-5" high
Third:
Interstate Whiz-By
To be constructed of steel with a powder-coated chrome finish
Set at 5 degrees to the horizontal to reflect clouds moving across the sky
Includes three deciduous trees
To be
located in the median or on the side of an interstate type highway
Designed to be viewed from cars passing at 55-70 miles per hour
46’-0" x 22’-0" x 6’-0" high
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Stonehenge
Too
Unbuilt project
Size: 15 feet x 15 feet x 10 feet high
Steel and FabricIs
this sculpture or architecture or both?
The visitor enters the
space enclosed,
except for two portals,
by large Buddhist Prayer Flags.
In the center is a golden woven light gage steel wall with a bench inside.
The bench is on axis with the spring and fall equinox.
Quiet contemplation with the soft rustling sound
of the fabric banners provides a brief respite
from the intense urban environment.
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Namaste
Namaste
invites the viewer to participate:
click photo for
larger view
Place a
flower or a message or a dollar in one of the
holes in the lower portion of Namaste.
Take a dollar if you are in need.
The steel
portion represents the strength of the Himal in
Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Some of the flags are fabric
Buddhist prayer flags, placed along the ridges
of the mountains.
They have printed messages that will be carried by
the wind to God. Other flags are thin steel that
reflect the light of the sun and moon and make
a slight tinkling sound reminiscent of the
chimes in Buddhist and Hindu temples.
Namaste,
which means "peace be with you" in Napolese,
reminds us of our bonds with each other and with
a higher spiritual power. |
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Namaste
24"w x 60" x 120" high
2003
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Namaste II
Namaste
II invites the viewer to participate:
click photo for
larger view
Say a
prayer or share a thought.
The steel
portion represents the strength of the Himal or mountains in Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. The
flags are fabric Buddhist prayer flags that are placed along the ridges of the mountains.
They have printed messages that will be carried by the wind to God.
Namaste,
which means, "peace be with you" in Nepalese, reminds us of our bonds with each
other and with a higher spiritual power.
The
design, fabrication and assembly; including cutting, welding, grinding, drilling,
sandblasting and finishing was done by Michael Newman. No apprentices or helpers were used
for any part of the process.
The prayer
flags were made by Buddhist monks in Bhutan.
Size:
aprox. 60" wide by 96" long by 120" high
Single
Himals are available
Size:
aprox.: 24" wide by 24" long by max 120" high |
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D.C.’s Prayer Wheel
Size: 33" by 33" by
78" high
2003 |
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Inspired by the
Buddhist prayer wheels found in the Himal of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet this adaptation
invites the viewer to participate in the ritual of sending prayers to heaven using the
wind and the motion of the wheel.
Gently
twirl the nylon prayer wheel. Let D.C’s prayers be carried by the wind to heaven. Say
your prayer aloud or to yourself as the wheel turns.
The
patterns on the solid nylon prayer wheel formed when it was the working surface in a fish
processing plant, show the beauty in an often mundane task. The rusting steel supports the
prayer wheel while reflecting the decay of humankind’s manufactured products. The
Mondo Grass, planted in the round concrete base calls our attention to change and growth
and the presence of nature in every part of our lives.
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Picnic With The Mayors
Size: 12 feet x
3½ feet x 10 feet high
Steel, Wood and Plastic
A Celebration of the
Arthur Ravenel Bridge
Art in the Park I'ON
Mount Pleasant, SC
The
visitor is invited to bring a yard chair
and a picnic to join with
Mayor Riley of Charleston and
Mayor Hallman of Mt. Pleasant
in a celebratory meal.
Photographs of the two mayors
located at the ends of the table.
The sculpture was conceived
to celebrate a great engineering accomplishment
and honor all the people who made it happen.
The
sculpture has been on display
at the North Charleston City Hall.
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larger view |
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Turtles on the Town
Summer 2007
A fund
raising project for
The South Carolina Aquarium, Charleston, SC
"South
of Broad Turtle"
Fiberglass and paint
36" x 36" x 18"
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Berlin Wall
Steel and Fabric with photograph by William Lowe
6' 0" high - 8'0" long - 3'0" deep
2004
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Walls
often divide people. Sometimes they do more.
The Berlin Wall divided a city creating two cultures. Now we can walk through the
wall.
As we do so, we feel the fragility of our lives and remember those who lost theirs
in the pursuit of freedom.
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Fire Wind and Water
Summer 2005
The
sculpture is constructed from steel plates, stainless steel threaded rods
with end cap nuts, aluminum electric conduit and
polyester camouflage fabric.
Fire Wind
and Water is designed to accept rain flowing down through holes
in each of the four horizontal plates,
to accept
wind through the fluttering of the four large fabric panels
and
to accept
fire through the light of a large candle placed on the bas.
The steel and aluminum have a dark bronze powder coated finish to reflect
the color of the surrounding woods.
Size:
2 feet x 2 feet x 6 feet high
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