The name, "Man's Nature" was originally meant as a question - I just didn't like the way it looked when I added the question mark. But taken as either a question or a statement, it can be understood two ways...
First: It could be asking if Nature belongs to man.
Second: It could be asking if it is the nature of Man to behave this way.
The Man's Nature Series is generally split into two parts - the larger Garden Pieces and the smaller Indoor Pieces. At this time, the larger pieces tend to emphasize the ultimate futility and temporal nature of man's efforts to possess, control and change Nature, whereas the smaller pieces are more narrowly focused. These Indoor Sculptures are divided into three groups - Greed, Ignorance and Pride.
With the larger pieces, I like to incorporate the forces of nature into the design. I may have plants sending down roots into it or water cutting through it. I may show the effects of chemical corrosion or wind erosion. All these and other natural forces will ultimately work to release the Stone from its Prison.
With the smaller pieces, I design the metal work around the particular trait being highlighted. In the case of Greed, the metal needs to have a possessive feel to it. The pieces highlighting Ignorance will give evidence of Man's attempts to control Nature - to bend Nature to Man's will. Finally, in the case of Pride, the steelwork has almost the sense of a jewelry setting, displaying the Stone as if it was something Man could take credit for.
In all cases, each work is designed for the specific Stone chosen for that piece. The Stones are natural Florida Fieldstones and often contain fossilized shells as well as many holes and crevices. I allow the size and shape of the Stone to control the design.
My hope is that each of these pieces can be a catalyst for thought, meditation and communication.
J.P. Pendergrass
* All Titles (eg "Man's Nature", "Possess 1", "Display 1", "Control 1" and others) and all images are copyrighted by J.P. Pendergrass and cannot be used without my expressed permission.
