Josh Gary

Coral

Cast brass / copper alloy

7” x 6” x 2”

2024

$1,700

“‘You may find yourself…’ Circling back to techniques in my early days of sculpting.

“Communicating the organic nature of metals has been a common thread of my work. My aesthetic tendencies have always leaned toward natural shapes & forms. Although seeing forms in metal that are fluidlike or mimic nature may seem like a juxtaposition to most people, it is actually more true to metals’ natural state deep below the earth’s surface. I had the opportunity to witness molten metal firsthand working in the lost wax process of casting bronze when I first began sculpting. It was a formative life experience.

“The concept of “metal as liquid” has been a theme throughout my work. It has manifested in design, and through manipulating alloys to near fluidity via welding and forging. I have recently found myself going back to the source of this concept, returning to casting.

“A part of the casting process that has been particularly relevant to me is refining. When metal is heated to a liquid state all of the contaminants and/or impurities rise to the surface forming “slag”. Slag coagulates at the top of liquified metal forming a crust that can be easily removed from the surface. Metal refining has served as a metaphor for continual self transformation & renewal through letting go.”