Artist Shay Church from Kalamazoo Michigan brought together artists at Sacramento State University to hand sculpt an impressive 7 headed horse which is on display at the Sacramento State Library University patio this 2018, Spring semester. The 7 Headed horse is an appropriation of Uchchaihshravas. A Hindu mythological figure. Shay was procured by Sacramento State professor of sculpture Scott Parady to participate in Concurrent/Convention: A Spectrum of Contemporary Ceramics exhibit as a visiting artist where he invites students on campus to assist with sculpting the 7 Headed Horse as a way to give back to academia and teaching his methods of sculpting to students.
I entered the library patio just at the right time when the artist finished the temporary installation where I spoke with Shay about the project and took pictures of the crew. The 7 Headed Horse is formed with clay on a wooden frame anchored to a wooden platform. The clay horse will not be fired. In fact, it will be left as is to develop its own character as time deteriorates the clay mass. This can be viewed from an archeological point of view. Digging in the dirt and what is found? And what has time along with the elements done to it? This is also a way for Shay to express this concept.
 | |||
| 7 Headed Horse | Photo credit Moises Castillo |
 |
| The Artists and 7 Headed Horse | Photo Credit Moises Castillo |
6 comments:
I'm sorry to say that I have not seen the horse yet, but the way that you describe it in your writing has convinced me that I have to see it tomorrow. I love the idea that the piece will deteriorate over time. There is something very poetic about an unfired clay sculpture.
I'm a little sad I didn't find the time to help out with this! I have wondered as I passed it why it was being left to the elements, and I like how you answered that question. Was that something Shay Church said himself about the intention for the work or was it your thoughts?
Hi Claire,
Shay did address this as it is considered," an art installation". Here is a link to his website http://www.shaychurch.com/.
A small group of us spoke briefly with Shay on the first evening of this installation. It was cool to see the wood frame being built as well as his sketches/images that he was working from. He seemed like a really chill, interesting person. He talked about his family and how his kids were into horses, which I believe he said was what inspired this particular piece (don't quote him/me on that). He has done many variations of these all over the country and seems to really love the process. On a side note that I found interesting, he commented that he always gets lumped in with the ceramic crowd even though he considers his work more sculptural/installation than ceramic work. I, too, was sad to hear that the piece would be torn down once the exhibition ended. He said that he tries to salvage what he can afterward and also uses salvaged materials to build with when he can. Although it is sad to see the work fade, it is this romantically ephemeral aspect which makes the work so intriguing.
Tiff,
I received the same information from Shay. He explained to me that his daughter is interested in horses and that he found a story of the 7 headed horse in a mythology book. It is also interesting that his work is sculptural, yet maybe considered installations. I like your poetry- "romantic ephemeral". I believe in its most basic sense this is sculpture,yet the ephemeral component is seen as an installation.
Bliss,
I totally agree that there is something poetic of an unfired clay sculpture especially given the scale of this specific piece. Thank you for the great observation.
Post a Comment