WENDIE MCCAFFLEY SCULPTOR
CONTEMPORARY FORGED STEEL
Exhibting Soho Galleries and ART PARK SYDNEY
For
the past 19 years I have worked in the medium of forged steel, predominantly
on ornamental architectural ironwork commissions.
Working
within a 1880s industrial blacksmithing workshop at the Eveleigh Locomotive
Railway yards I have had the unusual opportunity of having some pretty serious
gear at my disposal. I utilize machinery that was associated in the past with
the forging of parts for steam Locomotives.
In
the new series of sculptures the initial
conception was to create feature pieces with a retro 60 – 70 s retro feel, to
add ‘groove’ to any space.
Composing together irregular geometric shapes
creates a strong visual effect and by means of certain methods some parts are
in silhouette while others have more of a flat surface. These surfaces acquire
an earthy textural quality during forging. It is this sort of immediate
dimensional change in the steel that is so fascinating about forged steel. When
hot it responds to the hand (or power hammer) at the bidding to the
imagination
