Artist Statement

My sculptures describe relationships. I mine my own experiences. I am building a feeling. Approach them as you would music.

I develop my sculpture through drawings in my sketchbook. Once I have arrived at a form that conveys, for me, a complete idea, I begin to build. My primary material is 4” x 4” cedar lumber. I often incorporate natural wood forms, which recently has tended to be thick climbing vines. Their expressive quality and the strength of their lines compliment the shapes I build. I manipulate the vines, weave them, glue them and imbed them into the cedar. Using a variety of machinery including both hand and power tools, I cut, glue, clamp and dowel. I choose a texture for the sculpture surface as I grind and sand the wood. Finally, I apply washes of oil paint to create a dialogue between the forms.

-Rachel Rotenberg