Sen’s Modernist Post Structures

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Walk right in by Sen McGlinn in the Whangarei Quarry Gardens, New Zealand. Oct-Nov 2015.

 

1019_1415walkriOne of my sculptural interests is large outdoor works that can be entered and seen from the inside out. These works are sculptures on the scale of buildings, or buildings that use the visual vocabulary of 1019_1413walkrisculpture, rather than the language of architecture. As a sculpture, ‘Walk right in’ responds to the Russian modernist work known as ‘Tatlin’s tower,’ and Hossein Amanat’s Azadi monument. As a building, it demonstrates a technique for creating dynamic spaces in wood, with an effect completely different to the static effect of standard timber framing. The material is high quality Pinus radiata, with MCA treatment (an environmentally preferred product replacing tanalising). So the work is also a reminder of the important role of P. radiata in the New Zealand Northland economy, and a thank-you to those who have developed better cultivars, management plans and treatments.

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Spin-off by Sen McGlinn, in the Wharepuke Sculpture Gardens, Kerikeri, New Zealand.
On show until September 2016.

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My sculpture practice lies somewhere between micro-architecture and
autonomous sculpture, as I am interested in creating internal spaces
as well as surfaces and shadows. A sculpture can be as well designed
as a building / a building can be as sculptural as a work of art.

I’ve been working on a series of built sculptures that I call modernist post structures, using reciprocal frame structures as a sculptural form, and common fencing and farming supplies as a material. The repeated sloping pattern of the elements and the constant measurements make for a dynamic space, both inside and around the work. 0109_1536c_spinoff

 

 

Works in
the Modernist Post Series:

Every Angle, 2014
Lemon Squeezer + Domino theory, 2014
Walk Right In, 2015
Spin-off, 2015

More Land Art Maastricht + a some plastic

Reinier van der Meer's sculpture at Land Art Maastricht

Reinier van der Meer‘s sculpture at Land Art Maastricht

13 May 2013, Day 4

Reinier van der Meer starts to build his sculpture at Land Art Maastricht while in front of the Chateau Hans Vernooij + Johannes Gérard worked on a site specific intervention in the middle of the lawn.

 

Reinier van der Meer's sculpture in progress viewed from the east of the Chateau grounds.

Reinier van der Meer’s sculpture in progress viewed from the east of the Chateau grounds.

Sonja irons trash at Land Art Maastricht.

Sonja irons trash at Land Art Maastricht.

First they arranged for a circular area to be left ‘blank’ by the groundsmen.
And then they wheeled wheelbarrows of twigs and branches.

Meanwhile Sen continued to add branches to our arabesque dome while I got out the ironing board and finished ironing Carmen’s trash.

Then I laid the “Carmen” flower out in the moat.

Sonja litters with art in the chateau moat.

Sonja litters with art in the chateau moat.

To Day 5.

The potato eaters at Chateau Bethlehem, Day 3

12 May 2013, Land Art Maastricht, Day 3

The potato eaters at Chateau Bethlehem, Willem (left) and Guido (right)

The potato eaters at Chateau Bethlehem, Willem Fermont (left) and Guido Ancion (right) prepare the ground
for Willem’s installation “Einstein’s Jaarringen” (Einstein’s Growth Rings).


Site specific installation by Guido Ancion at Land Art Maastricht, 12 May 2013

Site specific (Tree Slices) installation in progress by Guido Ancion at Land Art Maastricht, 12 May 2013


"Tama" a floating flower form made out of plastic donated by Tama McGlinn.

“Tama” a floating flower form made out of plastic donated by Tama McGlinn.


After the radio interview for “Timo à la Carte” (information online in Dutch) in the Maastricht ‘het landhuis’ an alternative space for cultural and ecological initiatives, I then set out the first ‘garbage’ flower, “Tama.” Each flower is named after the person whose plastic litter I use.

More about Land Art Maastricht is here. Go back to Day 1 on this blog or to Day 4.

Land Art Maastricht, Day 2

Chateau Bethlehem, the Hotel School main campus with an installation by Teja Galjaard-Kessels.

Chateau Bethlehem, the Hotel School main campus with an installation
by Teja Galjaard-Kessels.

11 May 2013

Sen and Sonja gave an presentation this afternoon and showed the video Transit in a green landscape. This was an intervention at the Tahora Folk Festival in Aotearoa | New Zealand. A transition of red across green incorporating five “Kaimanawa” horses. More about this happening is here or watch the 7 minute video on Youtube.

We weren’t able to do much more to our ‘arabesque dome’ (our working title) because of the rain and so Sonja got the iron out and started to iron the litter she’d collected. See Day three for more.

Land Art Maastricht, Day 1

Sen and Sonja start a new sculpture in the grounds of Chateau Bethlehem, for Land Art Maastricht

Sen and Sonja start a new sculpture in the grounds of Chateau Bethlehem, for Land Art Maastricht.

Artists at work at Land Art Maastricht

Artists at work at Land Art Maastricht. In the foreground Sjoerd Schwibettus (Arnhem).

22 artists from seven countries came to work for 9 days to make site specific sculptures in the grounds of Chateau Bethlehem, which is currently used by as a campus for the Maastricht Hotel School.
See the website for a listing of the artists.

Between 4 and 6 each afternoon are artist presentations.
Today Johannes Gérard (Berlin) and Paul Hoftijzer (NL) presented their work.
To day two >>

Land Art Maastricht, The Netherlands

Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff check at the location for their contribution to the first Land Art Maastricht. They will build a structure using felled wood in the grounds.

Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff check at the location for their contribution to the first Land Art Maastricht. They will build a structure using felled wood in the grounds near this location.
Photo: Jacqueline Wassen.

Detail of Chateau Bethlehem showing the moat where Sonja will make a floating object out of recycled materials.

Detail of Chateau Bethlehem showing the moat where Sonja will make a floating object out of recycled materials.

Between May 9 and 20th Sen and Sonja will be based in Maastricht, The Netherlands, where they will make new work for the first “Land Art Maastricht” symposium. 25 artists were selected by the organizers to make site specific sculpture in the grounds of the castle mansion, “Chateau Bethelem”.

The Chateau Bethelem building is used by the Hotel Management School. Founded in 1950, with over 1100 students from around Europe they offer bachelors and masters degrees in Hotel Management at this school.

There’s an official opening on May 17th at 3 p.m. and the works remain on show until May 20th.

Events @ RAVE by Sen + Sonja – January 2013

Still from The Moving Heart by Sen and Sonja, 2010

Still from The Moving Heart
Te Ngākau Nekeneke
3 min. 34 second video, 2010
by Sonja van Kerkhoff + Sen McGlinn
Music: Whānau Mārama
by Toroa Pohatu
Aotearoa | New Zealand

All events are in at RAVE, 1240 Hinemaru Street, Rotorua

Art is Worship
Sunday: 6 Jan, 2013, 10 – 11 a.m.
a meditation of visuals (of mainly our own work) + sound + music for one hour in Wolhmann House (back entrance to RAVE). Followed by refreshments.

9 Jan, 7:30 p.m. “Videos, Installations and Sculpture
Sonja van Kerkhoff gives a show and tell of some recent art projects in Europe + the U.S. Potluck BBQ + dinner from 6 onwards. http://www.sonjavank.com

12 Jan, 1 p.m. “Learn how to make a website in wordpress or how to make a Facebook group” – Bring your own laptop or take notes on paper.

13 Jan, 1 p.m. “Caravan from Istanbul” – performance by Sonja van Kerkhoff with her origami herd. More about the Caravan is here
The monthly Hot Lakes Craft Fair is also on at RAVE Jan. 13th, from 10 to 2 p.m.
Sen and Sonja will present sculpture, installations and videos, in and around studio 2.

More events from 13 Jan onwards will be announced on this page.

Convergence/Divergence – extended to 2 Feb 2013

Still from the video, The Moving Heart

Still from the video, The Moving Heart
by Sen McGlinn + Sonja van Kerkhoff, 2010.


CONVERGENCE // DIVERGENCE
– perspectives on the theme of water and its global and local roles.

Los Medanos College Art Gallery
2700 E. Leland Blvd, Pittsburg, CA 94565, U.S.A,

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 12:30-2:30 & 4-6pm
Reception: November 15th, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

The exhibition, a collaboration between Los Medanos College Art Gallery and WEAD,
curated by noted intermedia artist Suzon Fuks, co-founder of WATERWHEEL,
“a collaborative online venue for artists, scientist, activist, and all water lovers,”
brings together contributions of more than 30 artists from around the world, working in a variety of media – installation, video, and performance arts dealing with the theme. A world-wide roundtable symposium via Skype and WATERWHEEL will feature many of the participants on
December 8th, 10 am – 1 pm, Pacific Standard Time.

Still from The Moving Heart by Sen and Sonja, 2010

Still from The Moving Heart
Te Ngākau Nekeneke
3 min. 34 second video, 2010
by Sonja van Kerkhoff + Sen McGlinn
Music: Whānau Mārama
by Toroa Pohatu
Aotearoa | New Zealand

1- Suzon Fuks: “Waterwheel” – TAP
2- Lauren Elder – area: “Grey water and working with the Los Medanos Eco-science class”
3- Deanna Pindell area: “Water issues” in Oregon – TAP
4- Enid Baxter: “Not Just a Pretty Picture, The Synergy between Art and Science” (TAP)
5- Christina Bertea: Sturgeon story
6- Artists known as…women: LA – TAP
7- Sonja van Kerkhoff: “Water Taking Form”
8- Suzanne Girot: “Russian River”

The choice of Los Medanos College is not accidental; the college is the only institute of higher education in the delta area where the San Joachin and Sacramento rivers merge before entering San Pablo and San Francisco Bays. The challenges and sensitivity of the eco-systems in the region is one reason for Los Medanos’ extensive Environmental Studies curriculum. In addition to its Art Gallery, the campus features a native plant preserve and a centralized water re-use pond. The Waterwheel blog >>   About this show >>

THE ARTISTS
Catherine Higham (Australia), Ioanida Costache, Arsenije Jovanovic (Croatia), Allison Leigh Holt (USA), Krisanne Baker (Maine Ecological Artist, USA), Jessica Plumb, Jane Ingram Allen (USA), Ellen Lake, Hanae Utamura (Japan), Nathalie Fougeras (Sweden), Jürgen Trautwein (Germany/USA), Wendy Woodson, Sara Gevurtz, Susan Steinman, Clare Tallon Ruen (USA), Michele Guieu (CA,USA), Marjukka Korhonen + Raimo Uunila (Finland), Nicole Antebi, Mitch Sweickert & students, Roy F. Staab (USA), Artists Formerly Known as Women, Carlotta Brunetti (Germany), Mary B. White, Elizabeth Sher, Eric Olson & students, Nicole Antebi (CA, USA), Ruth Wallen (USA), Christina Bertea, Sonja van Kerkhoff, Sen McGlinn + Toroa Pohatu (Aotearoa/New Zealand/the Netherlands)