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jason

Email me at [email protected]

About Me

Jason Ramsay Clark is a sculptor who lives and works just outside Asheville North Carolina. Since graduating with a Fine Art degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, he was been working on the “Rhythms in Nature” series. He is inspired by the rhythms and forms he observes in nature. This love of nature is clearly reflected in his work. The series currently consists of 30 abstract organic pieces. He uses a variety of natural hardwoods and industrial steel, which are married throughout the series. “Ultimately I try to create abstract organic forms of beauty that are uplifting to the viewer. My work is inspired by the organic forms and rhythms that occur in nature all around us. I believe they represent the cycle of life: the good and the bad times that we all experience are completely natural. It is how we handle these highs and lows that makes all the difference. Many of my pieces illustrate the amalgamation of natural and industrial materials, such as hardwood and steel. In today’s world, environmental issues and industry are often at odds. Through my work, I hope to engage the viewer to think about the potential beauty that can be achieved when two disparate elements are in harmony.”

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Music:

--Rhythms in Nature Series Process--Selecting a solid kiln dried piece of hardwood starts the process. A variety have been used, including mahogany, curly maple, cherry, poplar, black walnut, white oak, basswood and bubinga. The wood is then “deconstructed” by cutting the entire piece into segments. Each segment is ordered to ensure that the grain remains in order during the “reconstruction”. A hole or “pivot point” is drilled through each segment. A dowel is then run through all the segments, which acts as an internal “spine”. Each segment is then offset to the desired position and locked into place with a temporary pin. Wood glue is applied between all of the segments. The entire piece is then put under pressure for 24 hours to ensure a strong and tight fit between each segment. Once dry, a chain saw blade bit is use to rough out the form to its inner “rhythm”, which was created by the offset segments. Then a variety of hand sanders are used until a smooth inner form is achieved. The final sanding is done by hand to a 400-grit finish. Then depending on the design, negative space is carved into the piece. Steel is used to create segments, bases and decorative elements. The steel is finished with a gun blue patina. All the parts are then welded and or cold welded together to complete the final form. A variety of finishes have been used within this series including linseed oil, lemon oil, tung oil, polyurethane. Over time the high gloss tung oil has become a favorite. A five-day process of applying the finish, hand sanding between each 10 coats, completes the sculpture.