River Under Me

source: jesterjacquesartcouk

SOPHIE COLLIER MAKES WATER (SCULPTURES)
Sensual Restful Brilliant
“One day I was walking across a bridge and thought I wish I could reach down and pick up a piece of the water surface and keep it forever…”

Working in her studio in Sausalito, Collier carves water surfaces from acrylic block using a process combining imagination, software and machine tools to capture wind crossing water and the light that results.

I didn’t start working on this right away because in those years I had a job at a mutual fund. But, from that work, I did know it was possible to develop software to model vast, turbulent, nonlinear data sets like money … and also, maybe, water in motion.

In early 2008 I was ready and returned to this idea full blast. I gave away a closet full of business suits and lady-shoes and began to build my studio and skills. I traveled to Detroit and found idled expert machinists to teach me precision milling. I learned animation and 3D modeling. I experimented with materials and developed a color palette in acrylic block. Rather than hire fabricators, I developed methods and equipment to make every piece myself in my own studio.

Now, when I look at my finished work, I see peace. Powerful emotion and turbulence have found a resting place. The surface is a lense for pure light.