Sculptor Amy Brier, who holds both a BFA and an MFA in sculpture, began her career as a traditional limestone carver at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC.
Gods and Goddesses, bronze
Brier’s love for limestone has continued throughout the years, and evolved into her signature work – the interactive Roliquery series.
Prague, limestone
A Brier Roliquery begins as a hand-carved limestone spherical sculpture. But that’s not where it ends. The artist wanted to create sculpture that makes sculpture – each sphere becomes an interactive art experience for the viewer when it is rolled in sand to create impressions, patterns and images that are ever changeable. Each Roliquery is carved in limestone and also offered in limited edition casts of bronze or resin.
Koi, limestone
Snowflakes, resin
Display
“My art is unique on many levels. For example, in the Roliquery series, I follow the basic semiotic premise of binary oppositions, which defines much of our language. Every image carved is either in the negative, which when printed becomes positive, or vice versa. Viewers complete the creative process as they roll the Roliquery and create images in the sand. The carved stone is a tool in the creation of an image, rather than being simply a singular art object; it impresses the fluid and fugitive sand with an image from the fixed and permanent stone. Even though this final act is playful, it often leads to serious aesthetic investigation of how forms are made, and what it means to be an artist. By interacting with my carvings people are moved from passive consumption of art as commodity to an active contemplation of contemporary art with a playful touch.” Amy Brier
Brier also carves large-scale sculptures and commissions
Labyrinth, marble, steel, 40″ x 20″
Oh man, Susan, you knock me out.
Amy Brier’s work makes me jealous.
She is technically so adept that her ideas can immediately move into conceptual brilliance.
This work also seems a perfect outgrowth of this time in our culture: The interactive, the DIY culture, the need (not just a desire) to move from purely visual objectivity to tactile, kinesthetic connection to the experience of the art.
Wow.
Thanks!
Yes!!!
I love this! How beautiful, thankyou for the uplift!
Brier’s roliquery balls are innovative, fun and beautiful. The images in the sand are intriguing. Amazing. Thanks, Susan, for posting this. It’s truly inspiring.
Making patterns with stone art object in sand! Brilliant. Zen garden multiplied tenfold!
Potters have been using these for thousands of years, they are called “Roulettes.” Little did they know they were “…follow(ing) the basic semiotic premise of binary oppositions.”
I love the concept behind this: The sculpture isn’t complete until it is interacted with by the viewer. That level of interactivity is difficult to achieve with more traditional media such as this, compared with new media. Beautifully and elegantly realised.
@ Kit. Indeed, more fun than a Zen garden
A fascinating concept, Amy!