MFA Thesis Exhibition
Utility is not a term usually associated with the arts. However, when examining the presence of creativity in the world, “art”, in the broader sense, can be witnessed in the design of objects and structures we use every day. Sculptor Jeremy Entwistle draws creative impetus from these utilitarian structures and, in his “Bridgewalkers” series provides a revealing interpretation of the engineering world that supports us in our daily lives.
“Bridgewalkers”, exhibited in the Paul Mesaros Gallery at West Virginia University, consists of two large pendant sculptures entitled “Foreman” and “Engineer”. Each sculpture is accompanied by a set of prints; a blueprint mock up of the sculpture, and a metal panel relief that Entwistle calls a waterjet print named after the water-cutting process used to cut the image into the panel. Also, six single pylons resembling the leg-like structures that support the larger sculptures are placed through out the gallery space with words such as “fasten” and “conduit” embossed on the top further evoking the actions and objects used to construct monumental engineering structures.
Entwistle’s sculptures operate by creating simultaneous associations to engineering structures and the human form. “Foreman” and “Engineer” are placed on opposite ends of the gallery establishing a sense of competition and isolation between the two personifications. “Foreman” is the larger of the two sculptures, which perhaps suggests Entwistle’s belief in the importance of the blue-collar work ethic associated with a foreman’s occupational role. The vertical sculptures are composed of a wooden “torso” and a horizontal metal platform that projects outward from the vertical core. This metal appendage is supported by suspension cables that are secured to the concrete “head” creating a visual reference to a suspension bridge. Metal frame “legs” sprout from the wood center and are rooted to the floor by cast concrete hoofs that suggest both a hidden subterranean infrastructure and human feet. The materials used are all construction grade (galvanized steel, pressure treated lumber and concrete) emphasizing
utility over aesthetic. The incorporation of wood suggests a history of construction materials, and also acts as the organic core of the sculptures. Standing at about 12 feet tall, the scale of the sculptures further reiterates the simultaneous associations of the human form and the overwhelming monumentality of engineering structures.
written by Amy J. Bowman
West Virginia University
Paul Mesaros Galleries, March 9, 2007