Peter Reginato: Order

New York City artist, Peter Reginato, continues my recent project by writing about "order." As usual, I extend an invitation to all local artists who would like to participate in this effort. Just email me!

Four Square
13" x 52" x 37"
Welded steel, Insl-tron paint
2004

Peter Reginato: Order

Order. No order. Is there order? I order you. My recent sculptures project the impression of chaos that has order. Essentially, I like to make a big [expletive] mess and then try to find some order in it.

My earlier work, from the late 70s through the 90s, was highly engineered and concentrated on pushing the materials as far as they could physically go, both vertically and as cantilevers. Right now I am more concerned with a chaos that will come into focus after a few seconds, through a composition that has many subtle, nuanced levels of meaning.

The logic of the order becomes clear when I look at how the sculpturegoes together. My eye follows the composition playing with sudden shifts of rhythm. I use color to blur some areas and to bring other areas into order. Details not seen at first suddenly become apparent that change the order in which I perceive the work. And then there are the decisions about how far I should go in refining the sculpture. Will I go too far and lose what was so good at first sight, or does the piece need more order?

Polles Creek
2' x 12' x 11'
welded steel, Insl-tron paint
2003

Previous Posts:

Charles Neenan: Tradition
Kelly Towles: Color
Ryan Mulligan: Originality
Matt Hollis: Confinement
Dean Fueroghne: Originality
James W. Bailey: Obligation
J. Coleman: Depiction
Andy Moon Wilson: Decision
Molly Springfield: Language
Bryan Whitson: Scene
Elyse Harrison: Motivation
Jiha Moon Wilson: Influence
Alexandra Silverthorne: Derivative
Jose Ruiz: Contemporary
Kathleen Shafer: Focus
Jennifer McMackon: Connection
Gregg Chadwick: Responsibility
Warren Craghead: Material
Angela Kleis: Purpose

Comments

[Linda Konopka]

I like your work. I was looking over your web site and am pretty impressed. I am graduating from Montclair State with a Degree in Scuplture, and am a bit nervous about how to make a living. Could you offer any suggestions? I'm a welder and foundry artist. I also carve and can do carpentry. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks