September 6 – November 17, 2012
Middle Gallery & Project Space
Featuring George Tobolowsky
ARTIST STATEMENT:
As native of Dallas, Texas, I earned my business degree and law degree from Southern Methodist University in the early ‘70s. While at SMU, I also minored in Sculpture studying under Texas artist James Surls, who became my mentor and friend. But upon graduation, I entered the business world, and spent the next several decades garnering a successful business and legal career. I was not producing art myself until about seven years ago when I felt an inspiration and with the encouragement of my mentor Surls; I embarked on my own artistic path. My output over the past seven years has been prodigious: over 300 sculptures.
I make abstract metal sculptures from steel and stainless steel “found objects”. These found objects however, are not of the everyday sort, but rather bulky industrial metal castoffs that I scour scrap yards and fabrication plants to find. I rarely alter theses metal pieces but instead work to fit the individual scraps together – much like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle – into balanced compositions. My sculptures are one part assemblage and one part recycling, which follows closely with the philosophy of another early artistic influence, Louise Nevelson.
My titles are typically added upon completion and offer a suggestion for interpretation but mindfully allow room for various readings within each piece. My works represent a logical extension of the welded steel sculpture tradition that can be traced from Julio Gonzalez to David Smith. I have several works in Museums, Universities and Public and Private Collections and have had Exhibitions in Vail, CO., Portland OR., Chicago IL, New York City, New Orleans LA and throughout Texas and many other locations. For more information, please visit my website at www.georgetobolowsky.com which is linked to YouTube for some videos on my work.