Martin Puryear
October 2018—March 2019
Martin Puryear’s (b. 1941) extensive sculptural practice embraces the global traditions and cultural histories of woodworking. Influenced by his time studying in Sierra Leone and Stockholm, Puryear uses labor-intensive methods to explore concepts including identity and oppression. Fashioned out of handcrafted wood and reclaimed parts of a carriage that the artist found in a barn in France, The Load, 2012 contains a massive sphere resembling a human eye. Sited nearby, Big Phrygian, 2010–2014, a monumental sculpture of a “liberty cap,” is a symbol of resistance that appeared in both the American and French Revolutions. Part of the inaugural installation in the Pavilions, these works overlooked the Water Court platform which features a bench designed by Puryear in collaboration with master furniture maker Michael Hurwitz.
Exhibition Preview
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Martin Puryear
The Load, 2012
Puryear 2012The Load, 2012
wood, steel, and glass
91 x 185 x 74 inches (231 x 470 x 188 cm)
© Martin Puryear, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
Photo: Ron Amstutz
Ron Amstutz Martin Puryear https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PURYm_GF_TheLoad.jpg -
Martin Puryear
Big Phrygian, 2010-2014
Puryear 2010Big Phrygian, 2010-2014
painted red cedar
58 x 40 x 76 inches (147 x 101 x 193 cm)
© Martin Puryear, courtesy Matthew Marks Gallery
Photo: Ron Amstutz
Ron Amstutz Martin Puryear https://www.glenstone.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/PURYm_GF_BigPhrygian-1.jpg