California sculptor Bella Feldman describes the glass and metal objects she creates as being full of tension, not unlike their maker. The artist’s website features a large portfolio built over a career that spans decades – each section full of surprises that will make you question scale, size, power and beauty.
Blimp, steel, blown glass, 20”x 20”x 10”
Feldman created the War Toys and War Toys Redux collections in 1992 and 2003 respectively. As you can see from the images here, they continue to be relevant today.
Atomizer, steel, bronze, blown glass, 18″ x 21″ x 11″
Church, steel, blown glass, 16”x16”x10”
As a means for creating an unsettling tension in a sculpture, I use shifts and inconsistencies of scale and movement. I produce “anxious objects.” It seems to me an approach to content that most expresses the reality of our lives. Humor laces my work; like my ghettoforebears, I need to laugh at the dark. Bella Feldman
Click on the image below to watch a short movie of the artist in her studio.
Also impressive are the large-scale Reach and Flasks of Fiction series. I love that the artist is featured in almost every photo of the Reach sculptures. Nice touch.
Many of the over-sized sculptures from Flasks of Fiction immediately screamed ‘necklace’ to me. Can you see the design of Purl, the 37″ tall sculpture below, translated into a neckpiece? Quite striking.
Purl, steel, cast bronze, blown glass, 37″ x 15″ x 8″
Bella’s work combines the materials she uses in a powerful and energetic way. I admire the tension she creates. Enjoyed seeing her in motion in her studio, as well.
Need I say, I also admire her two assistants.
Am I the only person who remembers the legendary Louise Nevelson, in cape and false eyelashes, one hand on her hip, the other holding a cigarette holder, waving the directions to HER two assistants in placing her sculpture correctly? I aspire to that!
Cheers,
Alice
AS always, thanks Susan!
This work is inspiring, creative and edgy…I love them all but especially like the last photo!
Take care,