Sculptures by Robert Strini

September 09th, 2009

ARTS COUNCIL OF THE VALLEY FEATURES WORK BY SCULPTOR ROBERT STRINI

  The Arts Council of the Valley proudly presents “Self Portrait with Spheres,” an exhibition of recent sculpture by Virginia-based artist Robert Strini. The artwork—at once playful and serious—will be featured in conjunction with the biannual Museum and Gallery Walk, which opens with a reception from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 2 in the Smith House. Complimentary food and beverages will be available for the public while they view the artist’s compelling material explorations.

  Strini, a renowned sculptor whose career began in California in the 1960s, will exhibit two key bodies of work: the new spheres and a recently-completed series of self portraits. The spheres are a group of wooden balls, each in some way restricted by added materials to its surface—felt, lead, rubber tubing.  At 15 inches in diameter, each sphere is tangibly bound, just as real life constraints bind humans from day to day. Strini explains that he creates different forms of restriction with disparate materials to signify our varying responses to life experiences. Sensitive to the diversity of each human journey, the artist invites varying interpretations of what such hindrance might mean for the viewer.

  The self portrait also works to engage audience members with questions the artist considers in his own life. Strini explains that these pieces act as “sketches of things I think about.” He includes his own silhouette in this series, adding a sense of intimacy to each particular work. In “Talking to Your Own Shadow,” the artist stands facing his own shadow. For Strini it asks: “Who knows you better than your shadow?  If you could talk to your own shadow, what would you learn?” In “Ring of Protection,” he shows his silhouette surrounded by a ring that deflects flaming arrows, as if to ask the viewer to consider what protects him or her from that which tries to cause harm. These self portraits stimulate the mind with universal questions that are without obvious or singular answers. 

  Growing up, Strini was always making things, whether from found objects or from bits of broken toys. This interest in construction continued through high school and on to San Jose State University in California. Strini went on to earn his MFA from the University of California at Berkeley. In 1971 Strini won the prestigious Rome Prize Fellowship in Sculpture and moved to Rome, Italy, to work for two years. His experiences in universities, Rome, and beyond have helped Strini challenge and encourage students in their creative endeavors throughout his long career.

  After Rome, he taught at such schools as the Rhode Island School of Design, University of California at Santa Cruz, and the Corcoran Museum School in Washington, D.C. Strini has also lead workshops throughout the nation, including at the Art Institute of Chicago, Boston University, and Pilchuk School of Art. Strini’s work is held in a number of public collections, including those of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Oakland Museum of Art, the Tacoma Museum of Art and the University of Virginia Art Museum. For additional information on the artist visit his newly-launched website: http://www.robertstrini.com.
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