steel sculptures that have highlighted his career over the years. Along with the wall murals are a number of smaller stainless steel sculptures that capture the essence of his designs. Also highlighted in this exhibit is a wall filled with Kevin Robb’s Calypso Collection – bright, eye catching, multicolored table top sized and wall sculptures. This collection shares the fun side of Kevin’s work, a series of single panels of curved stainless steel and aluminum that display attention grabbing assemblage; the colors are bright and bold, yet yield to Kevin’s famous signature patterns which appear from under the rich, translucent surfaces. In addition to his artworks, the exhibit also includes Robb’s personal story about a life-altering stroke in 2004. A sculptor that lost his ability to speak, write, and the use of his prominent right hand – disabled, but not down and out! Sculpting is, and always will be, his life line. The incredible story continues with his remarkable artistic journey since then. With hired men to be his hands he continues to create with a shake of his cane, a nod, a smile, a line drawn on the steel, and the ultimate game of charades. The artworks
imagine what they could create. What fabulous design is awaiting within the confines of its’ own strength? As the metal is cut, bent, welded and conjoined, with similarly strong tools, the metal has a subtle way of going in its own direction. As creative ideas start to become reality, the trick for the sculptor is to not fight the metal but work with it. The most creative and wonderfully contemporary metal sculptures happen when the sculptor’s ego is put aside and the metal is allowed to work with the artist. And the luster of the stainless steel also tells a story. The final design is enhanced by this luster, as the artist continues the creative process by also working with the exterior beauty of this wonderful, beautiful metal we call stainless steel.
stainless steel has been cut out and the individual elements are welded together. When the elements are 80% complete he then starts assembling them into the dynamic sculpture that he is known for. The individual elements are hung from the crane system in the studio, the guys turn, twist, raise, lower, till he is excited about what he sees. The elements are then marked, taken down, and cut into one another so they can be conjoined into a continuous piece. It is never exact to the sketch, the sketch becomes the general idea, the creation happens in the studio. “Serenading the Clouds” soars into the air at 18 ½ feet and is 8 feet in width. It commands space and deals with
The best things come in threes. Or was that just celebrity deaths? –Either way, three is a powerful number.
There is something oddly satisfying about a group of three: Three objects can create symmetry, three links can form a circle, and three phrases can make a list lyrical.
In Kevin Robb’s latest sculpture in his Calypso series, Calypso #62, three red and curving panels connected by stainless fastenings, each with different designs etched into the surface, hang together to create a shape pleasing to the eye and yet still evocative to the viewer.
The middle panel swerves in directions opposite to its brothers and has markings like that of cursive letters; the left hand panel has circles like red blood cells patterned into it; the right, swirls to remind one of roses. Each
