I believe that the role of an artist is that of a conjurer. The ability to bring into existence images and objects that otherwise would not exist is both the gift and the duty of the artist. Whereas painters primarily deal in the illusionary world of light and color, sculptors have an opportunity to manipulate reality. The potential for potency in this opportunity cannot be ignored.

The tangible qualities of sculptural materials suffuse the work of art with physical and psychic presence. Every item carries not only the sensuousness of tactility but a history of actuality as well. The abundance of utility for materials provides fertile ground for sculptural exploration. Wood, for example, can be finished or rough, painted or stained, building material or decorative element, a living organism or fuel for a fire. The allusions to wood are deep and varied for all. Its very presence can conjure a diversity or images: the split post fence of a farm in the country, the hard wood floors of your grandmother's kitchen, the smooth painted surface of building blocks, the laminated top of your school house desk.

Sculpture is more primal than painting. It has the ability to touch us on a more emotional level, surpassing sensory input and accessing its own gestalt. It occupies your space and begs your touch. It demands your awareness, if only not to run into it. It requires your participation as you walk around it, stoop to explore a hidden surface, crane to examine an concealed opening.

The large sculptures that I have created explore the relationship between utility and form. These sculptures are made of both natural and man-made materials and hover between artifact and art object. It is my desire to engage the viewer in not only an aesthetic experience but a physical one as well. The primary purpose of my sculptures is not to seek to convey a particular message, but rather to establish a dialogue with the subconscious of the viewer, where the viewer takes an active role in determining the sculpture's potency and meaning.

I seek to attain a level of integrity with my materials and a familiarity that breeds trust. It is at that point in which I can truly be free to create unencumbered. I am not interested in conforming to traditional sculptural techniques. I am not interested in replicating the likeness of any object. I am only interested in establishing a dialogue with my materials that informs my creative process and produces fertile ground where my sculptures can grow.

The background on this page was created by Jay Boersma.