Feature Articles


November Issue 1999

Sculptor Philip Whitley Shows Recent Works at Hampton III Gallery, Greenville, SC

Through Nov. 14 Hampton III Gallery in Taylors, SC, will be exhibiting the recent sculptures of Greenville, SC, artist Philip Whitley. Whitley has been involved in the arts community of the state for many years, having taught at the Greenville County Museum and North Greenville College, and having exhibited his works throughout the state during the 70's and 80's. This is the first one man show of Whitley's work since the early 80's.

The title of the exhibition, Fence Crows, is taken from the artist's use of compressed barbed wire to create his crow forms. The inspiration for the show came out of a dare from Whitley's mother-in-law: " She was bemoaning not finding anyone to remove the dilapidated wire fence that has surrounded her property for the last 60 to 80 years. She proposed I use it to make sculptures. I took the challenge."

Whitley is creating his sculptures by using forging techniques that are centuries old. He takes the rusted fenced wire, binds it, and then places it into the middle of his coal fire. The flame further compresses the form. The metal remains in the flame until it reaches just the right temperature. Then it is pulled from the fire and hammered into Whitley's crows. " I like the process to fight me. The material says, 'Hey, you can't do that,' and I say 'yes, I can.' Then we see who comes out on top. Usually it's the material."

The results are textured lines. The dark hues of the fired metal contrast with the silvery surface tones of the brushed lines to create a luminous effect. The fragility of the lines is braced by the strength of the supporting steel rods. The crow creatures seem tethered to this realm while longing to break free. In describing his crows, the artist states, " Crows mimic humans in regards to sides.... They have more than one side! They have good and bad sides, offside and onside, macho and feminine sides. We are surrounded by crows.... They are on all sides. Each crow sculpture is just a bundle of lines; a figure built up of lines. It's a drawing."

Landscape is another subject that is being explored by the artist. The same textured lines appear in tree forms, jutting forth from slightly curved earth surfaces. The trees seem to be twisting toward the sky, like the recent images of writhing hurricanes.

Whitley likes his material to come from discards. " I enjoy a scrap yard. It's full of ideas lying around." It pleases Whitley to take that which has lost its usefulness and bring it to a point of beauty. Even when the metal has been burned beyond its usefulness, Whitley searches for a way to create a bond between it and another metal, connecting the two and giving the "scraped" new life.

The creative process is not without its surprises for Whitley. In fact, that which happens without his consent can be powerful.... " When the thought doesn't work, the randomness takes over. What happens without your consent can be more exciting, more frustrating. You have to remain open. Sometimes the act is a failure, but my teacher once said, ' The sooner you make your first 5000 mistakes, the better off you are.' I don't let a failed try go, but I do let it sit around a lot."

In explaining his work, Whitley states: "There is always the difficulty of expressing the inexpressible...why else make orally inexpressible things? The artist's statement is his work. Yet, beyond the moment,... well, words are just shadows, dragon's teeth that rip at the now and separate us from the moment. For example, when you visit a gallery, how long do you experience a work before reading the title? And how long will you gaze at a rose before uttering a sound?"

Whitley offers some verbal expressions of his work in the form of original haikus. Some of his poems will accompany the sculpture on display at Hampton III Gallery.

For further information check our SC Commercial Gallery listings or call the gallery at 864/268-2771 or send e-mail to (hampton3gallery@mindspring.com).

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