RUSSELL WHITING
Artist Statement
As an artist I want to make sculpture that exhibits the skills and techniques that I have developed as a metal worker over the last 30 years. My method of working steel is uniquely a product of my involvement and experience’s in the oil and ship building industry of La.
I have developed a technique of carving steel with the oxy-acetylene torch that produces complex surfaces that are fascinating and heavily textured. The subject matter often become secondary to the well informed viewer. Also my work exhibits the strength of steel as a sculptural medium. By carving the steel I am free from the found object or mill shaped objects that are so often found in contemporary steel sculpture. Traditionally steel sculpture has been additive; poured, forged or fabricated. Carving steel is subtractive. The carving flame translates directly into the steel leaving very distinctive brush mark. The torch creates a molten stream that instantly liquefies the metal on contact. Torch carving is like blowing into a bowl of water, too hard and it’s all over you, too little produces nothing, but the prefect pressure stream and you can make a controlled effect. Once the steel has been liquefied, it instantly cools, transforming the waste into slag and leaving the base metal with the negative shape of the molten steam.
I build the individual figures by layering silhouettes of "cut out" 3 inch plate steel, which is welded into a single carving block. I then melt the figure from the block using the oxy-acetylene torch. I have been developing this technique for 25 years and have mastered the technique, becoming very sensitive to the effect that heat/oxygen and gravity has on steel.
I have numerous works in private and public collection. I have complete numerous life size and monumental size sculptures. My early background in welding and metal works has gifted me with incredible experiences working on massive industrial projects that have help me develop the skills used to realize this technique.
My strengths include...
* Pioneering the arena of sculpting metal with torch
* Working not only in steel, but also mixed media constructions & bronze
* Experimenting with the human figure
* Creating sculptures in a wide range of sizes
* Site specific works.
* Public Sculpture
Galleries
The Art Foundation, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Carolyn Taylor’s Fine Arts, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Casa de Arte, Shreveport, Louisiana
Fovea Gallery, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Art Vivant, Charlotte, North Carolina
Human Arts, Atlanta, Ga.
Guadalupe Fine Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Objects & Images Fine Arts, Bronxville, New York
Marie-Terrel Fine Art , Asheville, North Carolina
Palm Avenue Gallery, Sarasota, Florida
Cain Gallery, Saugatuck, Michigan
Ralph Lauren Showroom, Naples, Fl.
Galerie D'Avignon, Montreal, Canada
Longstreth Goldberg Gallery, Naples Fl.
Oak Street Gallery, Hammond, La.
Gallery Minerva, Asheville, N.C.
Mirada Fine Art Gallery, Denver, Colorado
Current
Alan Avery Art Company, Atlanta, Georgia
River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tn.
A Muse Gallery, Columbus, Ohio , Hiltonhead, S.C.
Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas, Texas
2018 CAC group exhibit, Mary Tomas Gallery, Dallas Texas
2018-2020 “Atlas” Andy Brown Park, Coppell, Texas
2017 Spectrum live auction, Hunter Museum
2017 River Gallery sculpture garden
2016 Grand Re-opening, Alan Avery Art Co., Atlanta, Ga.
2016 Sculpture Walk Peoria. Peoria, Il.
2016 Art Melt, Baton Rouge, La.
2016 9th annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Cary, N.C.
2016 Small Works Juried Exhibition, Key West, Fl.
2016 “Brush with the Burden” Baton Rouge, La.
2015 2 person show, River Gallery, Chattanooga,Tn.
2015 group show, “10” Slidell Art Center, Slidell, La.
2015-16 People’s Choice Award, City of Greely, Co. Outdoor Sculpture,
2014-15 Best of Show Award ,Sculpture Evergreen, Evergreen, Co.
2013-14 Solo exhibit, River Gallery , Chattanooga, Tn.
2013-15 Sculpture for New Orleans, Poydras and Convention Blvd.
2014 2 person, Museum of the Red River, Idabel, Oklahoma.
2011 Alan Avery Art Co., Atlanta ,Ga.
2011 group show A Muse Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2010-11 solo outdoor exhibit, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tn
2010 National Sculpture Society “recent works”
2010 3 person show, Gallery 912, Lafayette, La
2009 "Breaking the Mold" 2 person show, River Gallery, Chattanooga. Tn.
2009 solo show, The Oak St. Gallery, Hammond, La.
2008 "The Face of Grace" 2 person show, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tn.
2007 Group show, A Muse Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2007 2 person show, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tn.
2007 Group show, Salt Creek Gallery, St. Petersburg, Fl.2007
2007 2 person show, Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, Ga.2006
2007 Palettes & pate’, Lafayette, La.
2006 indoor exhibit, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tn.
2006 2 person show, Amuse gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2004-05 Solo outdoor exhibit, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tn.
2004 Palates & Pate, Lafayette, La
2004 Dec. group show, Bistineau Gallery, Shreveport, La.
2004 Figures & landscapes, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tn.
2004 Elements of Earth, group show, A Muse Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2004 group show, Marie-Terrel Fine Art, Asheville, N.C.
2004 June group show, Bistineau Gallery, Shreveport, La.
2004 Solo show, River Gallery Sculpture Garden, Chattanooga, Tn.
2003 Palates and Pate, Lafayette, La.
2003 The New Old Masters, Group Show, A Muse Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2003 Solo Exhibit, Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, Ga.
2002 Summer Salon Group Show, A Muse Gallery, Columbus, Ohio
2002 9th Annual Sculpture Exhibition, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tennessee
2001 “Configurations”, Guadalupe Fine Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2001 Group Show, Carolyn Taylor’s Fine Art
1999-2001 Dry Creek Sculpture garden, Denver, Co.
2000 “Carved Steel” solo exhibit, Trinity Gallery, Atlanta
2001 Outdoor Sculpture Show, Hot Springs Convention Center ,Hot Springs, Arkansas
2000 Group Exhibit, Guadalupe Fine Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1998-99 Group Exhibit, River Sculpture Garden, Chattanooga, Tennessee
1998 Two Person Show, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tennessee
1998 Group Exhibit, Palm Avenue Gallery, Sarasota, Florida
1997-1998 Group Exhibit, Delgata Community College, New Orleans, La.
1997 Two Person Show, River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tennessee
1997-1998 Group Exhibit, River Sculpture Garden, Chattanooga, Tennessee
1997-1998 Group Exhibit, Chattanooga Community College
1997 “Sacred Ones” Three Person Show, Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1997 “Mysterious Images” group exhibit, Cain Gallery, Oak Park, Illinois
1997 “Vessels” group exhibit, Lennex Square, Atlanta, Georgia
1996 “Featured Artist” Vivant Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina
1996-1997 Delgato Community College, New Orleans, La.
1996 Group Exhibit, River Sculpture Garden, Chattanooga, Tennessee
1996 Two Person Show, Salt Creek Gallery, St. Pete, Florida
1995 Two Person Show, Fovea Gallery, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
1995 “Art of the Figure” Trinity Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia
1995 “Vessels of Cameron” University of SouthwesternLouisiana, Art Museum
1995 “ Modern Classicism” Human Arts, Atlanta, Georgia
Public Sculptures
* “The Nest” Outdoor Sculpture Garden, Alexandria, La.
* The Palladium, St. Pete. , Florida
* King Plow Art Center, Atlanta,
* River Gallery, Chattanooga, Tennessee
* Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee
* Publix/condo, 101 Eola, Orlando,Fl.
* Grandveiw Heights Public Library, Columbus, Ohio
* Birmingham Botainical Gardens, Birmingham Alabama
* Poydras St. and Convention Blvd. N.O.L.A.
*Kinesiology Bldg. SELU, Hammond,
* Sazerac Distilleries Corp. Headquarters, New Orleans, La.
* Gallo Wine, Dry Creek, Modesto, Ca.
