Building Crosscurrents

A video explaining Carolyn Enz Hack’s theory and process for making a copper and crystal sculpture based on a river landscape.

Eve’s Daughters face Carolyn Enz Hack mica, wire, copper, Swarovski crystal 31x15x15

Eve’s Daughters

I envisioned Eve’s Daughters taking shape in a crystalline form, using mica sheets as a structural element to create volume. The planes of mica give the effect of seeing multiple planes at once in ever-changing density and translucency when viewed from different perspectives. Within the piece are small copper silhouettes of female figures that catch the eye when the light and angle of viewing is right. They are dim predictions of potential. There are also three Swarovski sun prisms in the sculpture, positioned in the pelvis, solar plexus, and head. They are only visible with specific light conditions. The face…

Brainstorm

Our brains process information, regulate bodies, solve problems, and create a seamless flow from one experience to the next by continuously multitasking. Virtually all of this happens outside the stream of consciousness. “Brainstorming” is just bringing our attention to the power that we all have, but use so sparingly. The inspiration and form of this piece comes from the phenomenon of soliton waves. First described in 1834 by John Scott Russell as a “wave of translation” that he observed in a canal in Scotland. In mathematics and physics, a soliton is a self-reinforcing solitary wave that maintains its shape while…

"Outside In" by Garrett Hack in collaboration w/ Carolyn Enz Hack

Outside In

Outside In by Garrett Hack in collaboration w/ Carolyn Enz Hack 2017 Bill Truslow photo Outside In is a commissioned piece that Garrett and I spent many hours dreaming about. Our clients gave us free reign to create our best piece with a focus on Garrett’s exceptional ability to blend shockingly difficult engineering with forty years of practice in his craft. While we spent many an hour discussing design, once we had a path it was all Garrett’s ingenuity that brought the piece from mock-up through to the final tiny decorative details. Wood curves in all directions both outside and…

Fossil mica, graphite, ink, paper 31x66x3” 2014

Sculptural Paintings

Net Gain acrylic, ink, colored pencil, wire, paper 31x24x1” Tangible/Intangible watercolor, graphite, ink, acrylic, colored pencil, paper 30x45x4” Fossil mica, graphite, ink, paper 31x66x3” Counter Encounter acrylic, ink, graphite, colored pencil, copper wire, paper 31x46x3” Brainstorm graphite, acrylic, wire, paper, 42×42” Bang graphite, acrylic, wire, paper 24x65x8” Interim paper, ink, graphite, pins 22x22x9” Child Bride paper, mixed media, wire 28x14x5″ Motion Commotion acrylic, ink, colored pencil, straight pins, paper 31x24x2” Medusa paper, mixed media, wire 22x57x10” I Hold You All acrylic, paper 24x31x2” Antigone paper, mixed media, wire 18x23x5”

Painting VaVa Vienna

VaVaVienna 68x26x16“ collaboration with Garrett Hack When Garrett approached me to collaborate on a piece of furniture I was hesitant. I had contributed to several of his previous pieces by painting small panels or columns with faux finishes of marble, malachite, or lapis lazuli but this time he wanted me to freehand a pattern for the front of curved cabinet that he was planning on building in rosewood. He was confident that we could create a design that would give this rather formal piece a lively persona. He handed me a small sketch of a few squiggles and dots and…

Sowing Good Will

Sowing Good Will  wire, hi tec kozo paper, mixed media 55x124x15” I began making what I call Sculptural Paintings while on a residency at the Vermont Studio Center in 2011. As I worked, my mind wandered to larger issues. The thought that came to me was in the form of a mathematical equation reflecting on how many acts of good it would take to counter an act of evil. The Evil Divided by Good series was the result of this work. Since the residency I have made many pieces of increasing complexity and scale using this method. Sowing Good Will…