“2020 Biennial Members Exhibition”
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, MA
February 8, 2020 - November 8, 2020
SCULPTURE
BARBARA M. BERK
Open Spirals – Variations on a Theme
Small 2 – 9 : 17
Photo Credit: Fred Aron Photography
Ceiling-suspended Sculpture
Phosphor Bronze – Bobbin Lace
Individual Open Spiral: 15” H x 8” W x 7” D
Pair of Open Spirals: 29” H x 18” W x 8” D
2023
I used 12 strands of 60” long twisted phosphor bronze wire with Dieppe Ground stitch to make each of 8 ribbons of bobbin lace, 3” wide x 16.5” long. I shaped each flat ribbon into an open spiral, drew the bottom edge up and stabilized the 3-dimensional form by stitching the long wire ends to the lace with wire, creating sprays of wires centered by rosettes.
Initially created for a public art project, 16 Open Spirals have been reconfigured into a variety of possible hanging arrangements: a pair of Smalls (above), a trio of Smalls (below) and 7 Mediums. Different combinations of the 8 Smalls and the 8 Mediums can be designed, or all 16 elements can be assembled into one sculpture. Suspend each Open Spiral from 1.7mm bronze double rope chain (as pictured), or from monofilament.
Click each image below for an expanded view
Photo Credit: Fred Aron Photography