Geophysical Abstraction
My inspiration comes from the elements of nature and the concept of transformation. The work is both figurative and abstract. Figurative in the sense that it represents a geographical area of the earth but on another level, the elemental mechanism that creates the change is abstract.
Plywood is an exciting medium to work with because it is quite literally, a slice of life. It's a glimpse inside of a beautiful tree. I feel in many ways my works are collaborations between the tree and myself. I sculpt and paint the piece taking it in the direction that I want it to go, while allowing the wood to go in its natural direction.
But first the raw wood has to be evaluated. I spend a great deal of time looking at the grains, the beauty of the veneer, as well as the imperfections. With wood, the grains often tell you what you cannot do, rather than what you can. When I get my vision, I pick up my tools and begin the work.
Working with plywood is extremely labor intensive. It has to be deconstructed, sculpted, sanded, patched, sanded again, painted and stained.
The frames are all hand made, packed with an acrylic dirt or sand mixture and then attached to the piece. Finally, they have to be blended together with the painted surface around the sides.
One large, 4-foot wall relief can take up to 4 weeks to complete. When finally ready for exhibition, I feel so connected to the work that I find it painful to part with.
-Michael Giancristiano
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