The varied experience of sculptors during the Coronavirus epidemic has created a variety of new sculptures for our time. Staying close to the studio meant pausing work that needed to be cast or fabricated in foundries. Working alone produced a different awareness of time. Sourcing materials morphed into a more thoughtful process. In this exclusive online exhibition, we are delighted to present recent works by three sculptors who take us on their journey into using discarded plastic and paper in a novel direction.

Tyler Burton tells us: “I explored plastic debris as a viable art material in itself by incorporating the actual plastic into my art. In my Fossils of the Future series, I rescue plastic from its problematic destructive fate and layer it with dried paint, resin, and other materials… echoing core samples of the earth.” Burton, whose ceramic and metal figurative sculptures Sculpturesite has represented for a number of years, is also known as a conceptual artist who uses photography and found objects in her work. “I hope that I have created work that appeals aesthetically, and engenders deeper conversation about the world we live in.” We decided to add a series of beautiful original cyanotypes depicting plastic waste in a poetic rendition, as if seen floating from a ship’s porthole.

 “The prevalence of plastic pollution prompted me to create sculptures from recycled plastic. I describe my process as up-cycled cast and forged plastic“, says Frank Morbillo, of his newest series of experimental sculptures. Morbillo, better known as a metal sculptor, began his exploration of casting plastic in late 2019 and the new conditions were a perfect time for him to continue in this direction. Morbillo collects, sorts and chops plastic refuse to cast it in an oven. After cooling, he forges the form.  The recent recipient of a Merit Award from the International Society of Experimental Artists, Morbillo hopes to elevate the value of “trash” plastic by creating fine art from it.

For Carol Schwartz, who has been fascinated for years by the forms found in high fashion, the Coronavirus experience brought a new opportunity. “Materials I was accustomed to working with were hard to find… I would see heaps of cardboard tumbling out of garbage cans. Stacks of magazines piled high beside them. A WSJ fashion magazine caught my eye. A small inner voice asked, ‘What can I do with this’?” Schwartz set out to painstakingly roll thousands of magazine pages to assemble her imagined fashion statements. Such high resources are needed for women’s fashion (the fashion industry is said to produce about 8% of manmade CO2 emission, more than global aviation and shipping combined), that Schwartz’s reuse of magazine pages to create her delightful clothing takes on another dimension of messaging.

Please enjoy this exclusive online exhibition and let us know if we can answer any questions or provide shipping information. For your convenience, all prices are shown in this exhibition. Sales inquiries via phone or email.