A sculpture in Arts District Hyattsville was made of stainless steel.
In an email interview with the Hyattsville Wire, North Carolina artist Michael Baker explained the process he used to make “Trinity.”
Each side of the elements in the sculpture were cut with a plasma torch and tack welded, then finish welds were applied and the elements were ground and smoothed.
“There are three phases in finishing each element, the last element being the one that gives the sculpture its texture,” he said. “After each element is completed, they are fitted together as designed, and then welded together.”
Baker said that his works has always revolved around geometric shapes.
“Most of the work is non-objective in nature but this had and underlying sense of a spiritual theme,” he said. “I believe my work speaks for itself an consequently I encourage viewers to let the piece speak to them and create their own interpretations.”
The sculpture was a “mid-sized piece” for him. He said he also does smaller tabletop-sized pieces as well as ones that are as high as 20 feet.
“I do like this average size, as much of my work is placed in residential settings and corporate locations,” he said.
Usually, I find corporate art soulless and insipid, but this work is beautiful and suggestive. As the artist says, it is open to the viewer’s personal response, but the interpretation indicated by its title is illuminating. As in Christian theology, the Son proceeds from the Father and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and Son. Moreover, the internal dynamism of love between the persons of the Trinity unleashes power that begets and sustains the created order. Very well done!
Public art is tough. I think that government-sponsored public art errs on the side of literalism, while corporate-financed public art errs on the side of abstraction. This piece strikes a nice balance.
RTB