Creating Playful Spaces
“I like the way they’ve evolved,” says artist Fitzhugh Karol of his two recently unveiled sculptures at Bethany Arts Community (BAC). The sculptures, Field’s Jax I and Field’s Jax II, are two pieces that germinated from a single 20-foot sculpture now reconceived as four smaller, more interactive works.
BAC’s Executive Director Abigail Lewis explains that when the organization launched a broad call for sculptures, they “knew [they] were looking for a piece for the front lawn – something that would invite people to not only come up the drive and see what is happening at Bethany, but also participate. Fitzhugh’s piece does just that.”
In fact, the Brooklyn-based artist encourages interactions with his works. “It’s fun for people of all ages, but what I particularly enjoy about these works is that they’re a draw for kids, and that kids can jump through the rings or sit on them, or kick a ball through them.”
This sentiment is reflected in the inspiration behind the titles as well: “Jax is partly from the children’s game. My daughter’s middle name is Field. So, I had some kind of concept of children’s games or something out in a field.”
In addition to the structural reconfiguration of the pieces, they have gone through other transformations. Previously, they were different colors (red and blue) and have also had their repurposed torch-cut texture showing. Now they have a “more serene, austere” black coating: “Black works just look so crisp and clean in the green environment.”
It is in Karol’s nature to consider the landscape where his works live. His artist statement indicates that “the forms of his abstract sculptures draw on silhouettes of actual and imagined landscapes…creating playful spaces for his viewers to inhabit.”
Fittingly, BAC’s sculpture park aims to demonstrate “how outdoor art enters into complex dialogues with sites and environmental conditions.” Also on view in the park are Larm by Jack Howard-Potter, Headspace by David Lyons and Education by Anonymous. Field’s Jax I and Field’s Jax II will be on loan for two years.
Says Karol: “It’s a big sculpture but it’s accessible, and that’s part of what my process is all about – making things that people can play with, things that inspire some sense of wonder.”
A version of this article first appeared in the November issue of ArtsNews, ArtsWestchester’s monthly publication. ArtsNews is distributed throughout Westchester County. A digital copy is also available at artsw.org/artsnews.
