Anyone familiar with the name Elizabeth Turk is surely familiar with her “Collars Series”. Sculpting large masses of marble into incredibly intricate ribbons, Turk was able to replicate collars in a way that inspired. Turk’s ability to manipulate marble is unique in that the sculptures she makes take on an effervescent, weightless feel. When you think back to her source material, that’s pretty incredible.
Ms. Turk divides her sculptures into two categories. The first she calls, “Ribbons”, where individual parts make up the whole pattern consisting of movement, flow and braiding patterns, among others. The second category she calls, “Pinwheels”; here, the patterns are reminiscent of happy days at a theme park. Both categories take on geometric patterns where symmetry is vital and makes you reflect upon the world within which we live.
No matter what you see within her sculptures, there’s no denying they are creative, elegant and thought-provoking!
For more information (or just to explore), please peruse our previous blog to feature Elizabeth Turk, August 1, 2014.
From Turk’s “Collars” series (2001-2006); there’s plenty to learn from these sculptures. Notice how Turk proves that mathematical principles apply within the natural world. So intricate, one contemplates whether or not they are digitally fabricated vs. carved from slabs of marble.
Image courtesy of: SciArt in America, photographed by: Natalie M. Goldman
Turk also makes beatuiful photographs. Here, she x-rayed a wendletrap seashell where the symetric repititon of forms connects strongly to geometry.
X Ray Mandalas: 32 Wendletrap, X-Ray/Light Box, 2013, 16 x 16 inches
Image courtesy of: Laguna Art Museum
Using a variety of tools, Elizabeth Turk molds 400 pound slabs of marble into beautifully unique sculptures.
Image courtesy of: KPBS