Introduction
Many artists have come a long way on making a name for themselves in the 20th century especially in the wake of the post World War II period. From sculptors to painter, fashion designers to drawing artists, many have come to a level of being renowned for their talent and their unique abilities. Big names as Andores Skotes of South Africa, to Jean Francois Millet in France, Marcul Duchamp and the works of the Surrealism, all had something worth boasting. Big names in the sculpture industry as David Smith of the United States of America also could arguably be named as the most influential artists in the industry general.
All of these people stood out in one way or the other, but for me, no one took up a role as one played by a certain sculptor, whose work kept evolving from one stage to another, from one form to another and from one technique to another. From gaining inspiration from some of the issues that the community he was living in was going through, David Smith would grow to become an icon in the art world due to his ability of converting what he saw in society to a pictorial demonstration, which would outlast his lifetime. Such extraordinary art is not found in mere artists, but is found in the hearts of people who were born for art; people who have grown in art not just as a carrier but as a passion that is deeply within them. Such people as David Smith leave a mark in the society and in the world at large.
Brief background
Born is Decatur, David naturally had a passion for art. Consequently, he studied art in a school in Ohio and eventually joined the Ohio University. He worked as a welder in his holidays and this would assist significantly in his skill in becoming a sculptor. He later joined a league of artists in New York and studied a lot to do with painting under john Sloan, and in his relatively early days, he wedded Dorothy Dehna. With a meek background of working as a taxi man, a seaman and a sales representative, David found it hard to get a living, until he decided to use his God given ability to have some money for himself. He bought a piece of land and built a studio for his artwork. Little did he know that this was to be his destiny in the days to come.
Achievements
After working very close to some of his artist friends, many encouraged him to work abstractly. His first work therefore became a mixture of a painting and a sculpture. Mounting some straws on a painting, he got the encouragement to continue in this line, as many grew fond of such work. He then began travelling as his newfound idea started to open doors for him. In Virgin Islands, he created an artwork by the use of coral. So dynamic did he become that he started to open artwork studios in places like Brooklyn. His combination of sculpture and painting suddenly became a big “hit” in the markets and in the periods of 1940’s artworks like the “Aerial Construction” became part of his most famous collections.
He was just getting started. In his fight against some issues in society, he landed himself a bronze medal for his efforts against social ills. He then proceeded to gain his “one man shows”, his first being “Structure of Arches”. Which was a large abstract that he constructed mainly made out of steel, and his welding skills would come into play at this time. He later moved to New York being a part time teacher in some of its universities. Nevertheless, he was not done in his quest of becoming a legend in the field of art and sculpture.
He imitated “Reliquary House”, which was an improvement of a work done earlier in the process of self-evolution of style. He went ahead to make such sculptures as the “Royal Bird”, gaining inspiration from what he saw in a particular museum he visited. Not only did he do these imitations but also went ahead to make original works for himself, displaying his capability of working as an original sculptor. Works like the “24 Y’s”, the “Hudson River landscape”, the “Letter”, all of which was completely original pieces became a landmark and would propel this artist further and further into legendry. His ability to work in collaboration with such painters as Robert Motherwell gave David an even better outlook as an artist. He was able to show the world that his work was not just about competition, but also about being able to join effort to fulfill a greater purpose in life.
His work would become better recognized in the 1950’s. In 1957, he was given another one-man show in a museum. The consequent year also saw him being given other one-man shows in New York. One of his biggest assignments came in 1962 when he was appointed to make 26 sculptures in a certain festival at Spoleto, which were to be displayed in Italy. By this time, he was already internationally recognized. At this level, such works as the “Tank Totem”, Cubi Memand”, and “Zig” became his biggest landmarks.
Conclusion
Too much can be said about an artist as David Smith. His prowess went beyond his generation and his work is honored beyond the seas. Most sculptures cannot attain the level in which David operated. His duty to society was also applauded by many after he would use his gifting to address the many different issues that affect the society. He therefore did not just become a famous sculpture, but he was a person who would give back to society for the benefit society gave to him through appreciating his work.