"I started my sculpture career with a very classical, figurative beginning, and although my materials and forms have changed a great deal over the years, it is still possible to find remnants of the figure in my work. Most of my large outdoor wood pieces from the 1980s stand on two points (legs) and incorporate a separate element on top (body or arms). My granite work, started in the 1990s, also tends toward figurative or post and lintel forms.
When I incorporate several elements together to construct a sculpture, I am looking at the way they relate to each other, and ultimately how they work together as a whole. A tilt here and a cut there can change the attitude of the piece and gives each one it’s own distinct personality. When I make a piece with just one element, I tend to do more carving and editing of the material to achieve the same effect.
My work and the ideas behind it are tied very closely with the material it is constructed of – I have chosen traditional, ancient mediums with which to express myself. I try not to manipulate my materials beyond their natural state, but imbue them with an expression of dignity and grandeur to release their spirit."
-Harry Gordon
Seraphin Gallery l Contemporary Philadelphia Art Gallery and Art Consultant
1108 Pine St., Philadelphia, PA l (215) 923-7000 l seraphin@seraphingallery.com