Into the Negative Space

Assembly of Sea Forms (1972) by Barbara Hepworth, looking through the Sea King


On this date in 1903, Barbara Hepworth was born. She is one of my favorite 20th Century sculptors, perhaps in the Top Five. Her utilization of negative space in abstract forms is always compelling, be it as punctures or concavities or even in the distance between multiple forms.

But my favorite thing to do when I see one of her punctured works is to look through the hole. Yeah, it's a bit juvenile, but I feel as if the view is part of the experience of the sculpture, as if the perceived space beyond imparts significance to the artwork itself. Perhaps the thrill that I receive comes from an identification with the sculpture, viewing the environs through the work, seeing the world as the art, if it had sentience, would see it.

And that's another point about Hepworth's work, her sculptures "feel" alive, like creatures comprised of bronze or stone. It's weird to associate personality with abstract forms, but I can't help but detect a spirit within them, like animistic totems or primitive idols.

Four Square - Walk Through (1966) by Barbara Hepworth

Recently, one of her sculptures was stolen out of a park in London, likely by scrap metal thieves. This news totally broke my heart, like a story about an innocent person being brutally murdered. I can't understand how people can look at Hepworth's art and not be able to discern their distinct personalities, their irreplaceable charm, their wit and eloquence.

A (Sculpture) Garden in Pasadena

Sculpture Garden at the Norton Simon Museum


A Garden in Pasadena (Lines 39 to 48)
(By John Hollander)

Flowering trees, perennial anthologies
     Of the outcry of color against
Versions of green, calculated plots of bright shrubs
     Empebbled, flowers of rhetoric
Blaring the brightest colors of unburning fire-
     All these compose themselves in evening
Calm, even at noon, or soon after. When the light
     Has weight, and when the undimmed music
Still taking place here comes to a consonant sigh,
     Wind roughs up the grass, and petals shake.


I know, Hollander's birthday was two days ago, but, since I visited a garden in Pasadena yesterday, it seemed like a shame to not share a snippet of his poetry in this post. ;-)

Rock Form: Porthcurno (1964) by Barbara Hepworth

The Norton Simon Sculpture Garden has a lovely selection of works arranged around a charming pond. I could spend an afternoon relaxing in this peaceful enclave of Art.

Abstractions of the Modern Garden

Two views of Button Flower (1959) by Alexander Calder


For months, I have intended to visit the Franklin D. Murphy sculpture garden at UCLA. It was back when I was writing up my post on the works of Alexander Calder. I wanted a good photo of Button Flower, but couldn't find one. It needs to be shot from multiple directions to effectively capture the spatial relationships of the work.

"Why don't I just swing over there and snap a photo myself?" I thought. "I'm always at the Hammer. And I could use the exercise of a good long stroll."

Yeah, believe me. That's one heck of a "good long stroll." I think it's uphill both coming and going. ;-)

Well, hike accomplished and photos taken. I didn't stop with just the Calder shots, but wandered around snapping away. There are so many fine works from which to choose, but here are a few of my favorites.

Cubi XX (1964) by David Smith

Yeah, the collection is heavy on the abstracts, but that's fine by me. Even after the huge David Smith show at LACMA, I still can't get enough of these Cubi constructs.