Jon Isherwood
Artist Email: isherwood@jonisherwood.com
Artist Statement
I am a sculptor who uses a combination of traditional tools and digital technology to model and carve stone. Although I work in a range of different sizes, I have enclosed here images of my larger-scale, site-specific work that relates more specifically to your program.
The common thread connecting all of my projects is that the first impulse is to look, listen and learn from the location. It is essential for me to understand the function and requirements of a sculptural installation. For example, the project I completed for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul, Minnesota was the result of extensive conversations I had with the scientists and law enforcement professionals who worked there. For the recently completed commission for panther springs park in San Antonio I engaged in extensive dialogues with the geologists and Botanists to secure the forms that would be the source of inspiration for the sculpture. I believe that a sculptural installation has to integrate with its location, its function and its occupants. For a project proposal, I would consider it my responsibility to involve as many people as possible in order to discover how the public space relates to daily life and work. This kind of input would be essential to the final design of the project.
I work in stone and particularly granite because it is one of the oldest sculptural materials, and because it represents an ever- enduring presence and stability. It is also a very durable and low-maintenance material, making it ideal for a public setting.
I consider it my task to provide viewers with a visual connection to the function and aesthetic of their surroundings. My intention is to provoke association and revelation in unexpected places and moments. The sculptures provide a place for reflection, consideration and inspiration.