Fresh Air – Joel Black

Congratulations to Joel Black who is one of three Artist Blacksmithing students selected by the Fresh Air curators to exhibit this summer. The curators were particularly excited by Joel’s proposal of a site specific piece to be installed in the stream at Quenington.

Writing about his proposed piece, Joel says,

“My piece is a series of steel stepping stones that lead from the garden out into open water, I would like them to appear to bridge a gap, but to fall short. The site specific work is designed to be installed where there are indications of an existing path. I will challenge the viewer to interact and to follow the stones by creating narrative text punched into the top or sides of the stones. The work would be interactive and involve the audience to push themselves out onto the water, where they will be rewarded with a view not normally experienced.

I am intrigued in the way in which an artist can pull someone from their comfort zone, challenge them, specifically challenge their normal experience’s and in turn challenge their perceptions of everyday life.

The ‘Stones’ will have corten steel tops which will be recycled industrial material, tying in with the old rusted water wheel the corten will form a rich red protective rust and add a texture to the surface that’s non-slip. These will sit on top of steel cages that are bedded into the river, filled with local stone and capped with the steel plate. I see the forms akin to the shape of stones with slightly textured uneven surfaces, the plates will only be 10-20mm above water level.

The act of interfering with the flow of the water will also create a still surface on one side and a rippled disturbed surface downstream, again relative to the site which itself is an interruption of the natural flow of a river, harnessing and controlling nature.”

The challenge for Joel now is to turn this proposal into a finished work in time for the exhibition opening on Sunday June 14th until Sunday July 5th.

www.freshairsculpture.com

Having been selected, task one for Joel was a site visit to measure the depth of the stream and to confirm the exact location in the stream where the piece would be installed. However, he won’t be alone, as Aiden’s piece is also going to be installed in the stream. So off they headed to Quenington, with towels and swimming trunks! Thankfully, on their arrival, owners and art collectors Lucy and David Abel Smith provided them with high quality waders and they returned dry, with exact measurements. It’s going to be a busy few months as all three selected students have designed ambitious pieces.

Del