ALISON BELL SCULPTURE
I MAKE SCULPTURE TO MAKE SOLID SOME OF MY MOST FORMATIVE MEMORIES. THE GOOD THING ABOUT A LARGELY UNRECORDED, UNNOTICED CHILDHOOD, IS REMEMBERING IT THROUGH FEEL RATHER THAN PHOTOGRAPH.
RURAL, FREE RANGE AND FERAL. I RECALL THE SENSATIONS OF HANGING UPSIDE DOWN, SWINGING, KARTWHEELING, CHASING, CLIMBING, SKIPPING. HOT SUN ON MY NECK, CATCHING MINNOWS; JINKING ALONG THE TOP OF A WALL, DREEPING FROM IT.
SOME OF MY SMALLEST PIECES, SPECIFICALLY MY WEE SOULS, ARE INSPIRED BY MEMORIES OF MY OWN CHILDREN; CROUCHING, STROPPING AND HEADSTANDING. THE POIGNANCY OF THEIR LITTLE BODIES, ALL GROWN UP NOW.
PORTRAITURE IS ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE THREE DIMENSIONAL MY FEELINGS AND GAZE SURROUNDING ANOTHER PERSON. THERE'S A LOVELY BALANCE TO BE CAUGHT WITHIN THE PHYSICAL TRUTH OF A FACE, AND THE PERSONALITY WORN ON IT.