The first love of sculptor Kevin Caron was associated with machinery, which caused him to spend more than 30 years meditating and molding shapes in his mind. That contemplation drew him to the challenge of creating sculpture. It also compelled him to take into account the people involved, the place itself and any purpose it might represent. Such efforts have enabled him to “see” what can or should be in a given location.
That vision is evident in pieces like 18-foot-long Floating Undulations, a functional sculpture with a gate that hides pool equipment, as well as in “Prickly Passion”, which was informed by the cacti that surround the artist in the Arizona desert. These inspirational practicalities are evident in all of his site-specific work.
However, pieces like “Top Knot” as well as “Wherever You Go, There You Are” take the concept of being able to “see” what is going to work best in a given location to a whole new level. In creating sculptures that have come to serve as such ideal fits for spaces and communities, Caron highlights how sculptures and works of art can be indicative of everything that a given space or community represents in the present while also providing a window into their future.
How Does it Stand Up?
Located in the city of Surprise, Arizona, “Top Knot” is a powder-coated steel sculpture that utilizes the never-ending form of a trefoil knot. Two members of the city’s art commission wanted him to create something that people would be curious about and moved by. Caron was able to achieve both of the goals in distinct ways.
Surprise is a young city, and that youth is reflected in the piece. Residing in Surprise’s Civic Center Plaza, the piece is designed to be a celebration of the importance of balance. It sits opposite of City Hall, which means that people can see it from there and can walk up to it, but can’t see it from a road. The piece was commissioned on account of the desire of city officials to purchase a similar sculpture of Caron’s, but that provided the sculptor with an opportunity to create something that would be distinctive for the space and resonate with the community.
“This particular form often evokes the question, ‘but how does it stand up?’” Caron mentioned. “People don’t see how what they consider to be two sections actually connect. I love the optical illusion of the piece and often see people tracing in the air trying to figure out how part of the sculpture is ‘levitating.’”
Audiences are often compelled to answer this question for themselves. That effort has created a whole new level of engagement that has seen people talking photos of and selfies with “Top Knot”, fulfilling the vision of the project. This type of engagement is something Caron has recreated in other pieces with great success in order to see them embraced by stakeholders and communities.
What You Make Others See
The Whitaker Museum of Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania had an empty spot in front of it that was always designed to site a sculpture. Their process to find the right piece for this space wasn’t taken lightly, as stakeholders were looking for something that would visually represent the right combination of science and the arts.
The umbilic torus shape of “Wherever You Go, There You Are” proved to be the exact combination they envisioned. Ever since being installed, the piece looks like it has always belonged right where it is but it contains a deeper meaning. The rough exterior and endless rotation of the piece is designed to mirror the complex simplicity of life’s journey, although such interpretations and understandings are always in the eye of the beholder.
“I always want to hear what others see in my sculptures,” Caron told The Monumentous. “As Edgar Degas so wisely said, ‘Art is not what you see but what you make others see.’ I take this to heart and am always moved by others’ interpretations. In fact, when I heard that some residents refer to Wherever You Go as ’the big doughnut,’ rather than being insulted I was amused. I want them to find their own meaning and joy in it.”
These multiple interpretations are further fueled by the name of the piece as well, since it’s a title that has been used in many ways. Seeing these sorts of pieces serve such a fit for their location while also representing something so profound for the surrounding community speaks to the cultural and economic impact that such sculptures and monuments can have in the present and future.
An All-Encompassing Future
While Caron retains the rights to the image of his works, he mentioned he’d be perfectly happy to see certain stakeholders produce and sell products associated with it. While doing so could provide an important means of direct revenue, such efforts are also about utilizing pieces like his to create a sense of identity which can shape and change communities in the present and future. That impact is all dependent on how audiences can interact and directly engage with his pieces.
“To me, art is part of our lives, not something separate that we must keep behind glass,” Caron said. “I encourage people to touch my work whenever possible. I think the dynamic nature of both of these sculptures speak not only of the past, they carry us into a future that encompasses all that we have been, are, and can be.”
People that have been to visit “Top Knot” have commented about how much they’ve enjoyed it while everyone who sees “Wherever You Go, There You Are” has their own interpretation of the piece. Such interactions and interpretations can fuel economic opportunities in the present that will tie into a cultural legacy for stakeholders and the entire region in the future and beyond.
To learn more about Kevin Caron, visit his site: www.kevincaron.com
