joseph barbaccia’s sequins: what you see is what you get

Glittering sequins imported from India and billowy, hand carved polystyrene armatures come together in Joseph Barbaccia’s sculpture series Sequins, underscoring the truth that craftsmanship trumps materials.

Acedia, 2009, polystyrene, sequins, stainless steel pins, 37″x10″x9″

Acedia, detail

Interested in the textures created by the sequins when pinned to the polystyrene forms, Barbaccia became attracted to the simplicity of the sequin as an art material.  While bold colors distinguish many of the pieces, others draw you in with undulating, slug-like forms that look as though they might slither away if unwatched for a moment.

Infinity, 2007, polystyrene, sequins, stainless steel pins, 9″x15″x9″

Barbaccia, who studied at the Tyler School of Fine Art in Philadelphia, concentrated largely on representational drawing and painting for many years, eventually adding encaustic works on plaster. In 2003 his work shifted again and in an effort to emphasize craftsmanship and meaning, he began creating sculptures that utilize the most basic materials. Equally compelling is the D.C. area artist’s Integration Series - a group of mixed media sculptures that amuse, shock and provoke. You can view them, and his encaustic work on the website.

Euphoria, 2008, polystyrene, sequins, stainless steel pins, 17″x21″x21″

Euphoria, detail

“My work is the product of vision. What you see is essentially what you get. There are no hidden agendas or secret meanings. The process of creating extends past the initial vision and manifests like waves spreading out from a stone dropped in water consisting of everything and everyone else; including the artist’s involvement.”

Barbaccia’s work can be seen at Neptune Gallery

Read an article about the artist here