Who is Benjamin Lavender and why...?

                                 Reclaimed Objects sculpture by Benjamin Lavender
                                 IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED



Hello All,

The continuum of the title above would appropriately be captioned, "Who is Benjamin Lavender and Why are People saying Wonderful Things about Him?"  Well, frankly speaking, he hails from the artistic and musical city of Austin, Texas, and judging by his striking and unusual work, is not like anyone you have ever known.  My chest swelled with pride after finding out that Benjamin comes from my old "stomping grounds" of Texas.  Down there, we have a saying, "They grow 'em tall in Texas".

Not having had the pleasure of meeting Benjamin yet, I have to say, "I don't know how tall he actually is, but his found and reclaimed objects sculptures make him TALL in my book any day."  Just take a gander at this one entitled, "Tap Root".

                       "Tap Root", reclaimed objects sculpture by Benjamin Lavender
                       IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED


Benjamin earned his Associates of Fine Art from Watkins College of Fine Arts and Design in Nashville, Tennessee, winning first place in ceramics and second place in sculpture during his exiting student show.  He then moved to San Diego, California where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in sculpture at San Diego State University in 2003.  Benjamin soon established himself in local art groups and began doing solo art exhibitions in the surrounding area.  And, no wonder with the kind of  work he produces.  It certainly isn't difficult to be impressed with Benjamin's imagination and meticulous attention to detail as he applies them within the frame of his work.  And, one must appreciate his usage of recycled and reclaimed objects from nature and industry, thereby contributing to environ continuity and preservation of the planet.

                 "Tap Root" (detail) reclaimed objects sculpture by Benjamin Lavender
                 IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED


The San Diego Sculptors Guild in Studio 36, located in Spanish Village Art Center at Balboa Park is proud to present Benjamin Lavender as their featured artist for the month of May, 2012.  The opening reception for Benjamin's month-long show is charted for May 5, 2012 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. in celebration of Benjamin and Cinco de Mayo.  True to tradition, SDSG will host a meet and greet with Benjamin in the gallery and sculpture garden resplendent with mariachis, sangria and appetizers in the Spanish flavor of Cinco de Mayo.  The guild and Benjamin invite you all to come on down, enjoy the celebration and meet the artist.  We may expect to see one of Benjamin's monumental pieces on the patio at Spanish Village Art Center in the near future.

Benjamin's art reflects his lifelong fascination with the growth and erosion of nature.  Of himself and his work, Benjamin says, "Abstract Naturism is an appropriate way to describe my work, as well as industrially-organic.  Both define the outcome of mimicking nature through intense hours of manipulating metal, concrete, paint and found or reclaimed objects into organically formed art." 

 

                      "Lost and Found", found objects sculpture by Benjamin Lavender
                      IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED


So folks, there you have it...Benjamin Lavender, "walking TALL" from Austin, Texas to San Diego, California which he now claims as home.  However, being from Texas reminds me of another of those great Texas sayings (there's millions of them, by the way...you "oldies" will remember this one.), " I'll give a Texan's share!"  I think Benjamin Lavender has definitely given "a Texan's share", and then some in his artwork.  And, I'll put money on it to boot..."People will be saying Wonderful Things about Him" for a very long time!


For more information about Benjamin Lavender peruse his website at: http://www.benjaminlavender.com. or inquire at the San Diego Sculptors Guild, studio 36, 11:00 - 4:00 p.m. daily.


Written and posted by Cassandra Shepard, Studio 32
All images, text and content copyrighted, 2012, all rights reserved

Jon Evans, Jack of All Trades...Master of Many

                        
                     Jon Evans in Studio 39 with his Digital Kaleisdoscope Art


Hello All,

I am visualizing a new concept for the Spanish Village Art Center blog in the months to come. I want to feature more articles on the artists and events of the Village as they happen. Around and about Spanish Village Art Center has been a vision of mine, since I began blogging on June 17, 2010. In fact, that is why I was asked to write the blog in the first place.

If you have been keeping up with the blog, you will remember that I did a feature article on Kathi Ruiz and her "Irish Rose" hand spun yarns, on September 10, 2010. The first feature of many connecting the artists of Spanish Village Art Center with the admiring public.

This blog is dedicated to an extremely talented and versatile artist named Jon Evans. As inferred in the title, I truly see Jon as a "Jack of all Trades", and a true "Master of Many" arts. Jon is a detailist (is that a word?) and a perfectionist (that is a very appropriate word) to the max. If you knew Jon, you would know exactly what I mean.  In the following paragraphs, I hope to give you an impression of Jon Evans as I see him, a master of "Old World craftsmanship" and an enigma unto himself. His work and dedication to detail are certainly reminiscent of the craftsmen who originally inhabited Spanish Village during the 2nd California Pacific International Exposition in 1935.

Jon's genius and his person are housed in Studio 39, where he carries on the tradition of that memorable exposition. You may watch him work at least two days a week, either in front of the studio under the bougainvillea, or inside when his work requires dust and environment free finishing.

"Finishing". That's a good place to start. The magnificence of the finishes Jon gives to his woodwork is astonishing and breathtaking. One's hand involuntarily gravitates toward the warm glow of wood and colored laminates that he incorporates into the palm pods he finds in the park. These large pods are something that you may see any day lying about on the ground after a strong wind. But, what Jon Evans does with them is nothing short of "Magic"!


Keep your imagination tuned to "warm wooden glows and laminated palm pods". Back with more on the enigma of Jon Evans, and Old World craftsmanship in a bit. Stay tuned!



Written and posted by Cassandra Shepard, Studio 32
text and content copyrighted, 2011, all rights reserved