Unveiling Artistic Evolution: A Journey Through Form and Material
A Glimpse into the Artist's Creative Realm: The Kingston Studio
In a serene June setting, Arlene Shechet welcomes visitors into her Kingston studio, a sprawling 5,000-square-foot sanctuary north of New York City. She humorously points out her 'family of chainsaws,' setting the tone for an unconventional tour. This space, equipped with an array of tools, a metal workshop, a custom wood-drying kiln, and a computer modeling zone, serves as the crucible for her ambitious creations. Shechet, 75, has nurtured this studio for a decade, moving her large-scale projects here after outgrowing her Woodstock space, where she humorously admits to having 'lost control' in her artistic pursuits.
From Outdoor Triumphs to Gallery Masterpieces: The Genesis of 'She Said She Said'
Shechet's recent exhibition, 'Girl Group,' at Storm King, which featured six towering sculptures, garnered critical acclaim, cementing her reputation for elevating ceramic work into fine art. Building on this success, her latest show, 'She Said She Said,' at Pace Gallery in Chelsea, introduces three new monumental sculptures. Two of these echo the whimsical and colorful aesthetic of 'Girl Group,' while the third marks her inaugural use of Corten, a weather-resistant steel. Complementing these grand pieces is a series of ethereal ceramic installations.
The Art of Patience and Perspective: Sculptural Narratives
Shechet emphasizes the meticulous and unhurried process behind her creations, noting that each piece involves years of iterative work. This deliberate approach ensures that her sculptures offer a multitude of surprises from every angle, inviting viewers to explore beyond a single viewpoint and discover the full depth of her artistic narrative.
'Eve': A Bold Introduction to the Exhibition
Upon entering the front gallery, visitors are greeted by Eve, a 16-foot-high sculpture painted in soft green and gray-blue hues, evoking the dawn of creation. Its aluminum form features a whimsical squiggly cutout at the top and a silver, lychee-like base supporting a terraced metal swoop. Marc Glimcher, Pace's CEO, highlights Shechet's audacity in placing this massive and unconventional piece at the exhibition's forefront, defying traditional installation norms.
Diverse Materials, Feminine Sensibility: 'Jewel' and 'Flo'
Beyond Eve, the exhibition continues with Jewel, a vibrant, seafoam-tinted sculpture featuring curling, colliding layers of hand-shaped aluminum. The exhibition's powerful presence, Flo, is crafted from Corten steel, showcasing a cascade of askew shapes in a naturally streaked, tiger-eye patina. Shechet's use of Corten, a material often associated with male sculptors like Richard Serra, is infused with a distinctly feminine sensibility through its rounded forms and its homage to early-20th-century painter Florine Stettheimer, a symbol of artistic freedom for women.
An Artist's Journey: From Queens to Creative Freedom
Born in Forest Hills, Queens, in 1951, Shechet's early interests lay in construction, opting for woodshop over sewing. Her academic path led her through NYU and RISD, balancing her burgeoning career with motherhood. She recounts the challenges faced by women artists, especially mothers, in a less accommodating art world. Her work evolved from smaller clay pieces to complex, multi-material creations, including glass, cast iron, and concrete, a journey highlighted in a 2015 survey at the ICA Boston, which revealed the profound interconnectedness of her diverse artistic explorations.
Continuous Exploration: Residencies and Public Art
Shechet's insatiable curiosity has led her to diverse residencies, from German porcelain manufacturer Meissen in 2012, which culminated in a groundbreaking show at The Frick, to the bathroom-fixture giant Kohler in 2017, leading to her public art debut in Madison Square Park. These experiences underscore her commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing new materials and techniques.
'Touching Ground': An Exploration of Ceramic Artistry
In an adjoining gallery, Shechet presents Touching Ground, a series of 14 ceramic works employing the ancient technique of terra sigillata. This method, involving repeated refinement of clay to create a practically waterproof slip, adds a poetic layer to her pieces. Inspired by Agnes Martin's layered paintings, Shechet's ceramic works are a study in juxtaposition—biomorphic yet alien, with varied textures and intentionally imperfect architectures that challenge conventional ceramic rules by exposing their inner structures.
The Essence of Artistic Surprise: A Lifelong Pursuit
Experimentation remains a cornerstone of Shechet's practice. Even at this stage in her career, she continues to embrace new materials and techniques, driven by a desire to constantly surprise herself and remain engaged with her art. This Buddhist-inspired approach of staying present in the studio allows her to welcome unexpected inspirations, forming a consistent thread throughout her innovative body of work.
