Local artist's sculptures channel earth, air, fire, water and the human soul
Local artist Nivek Monet collected eight old, metal vises and forged sculptures over six years for an elemental solo exhibition that invites viewers to look deep within.
The big picture: Step into Norwest Gallery of Art in Grandmont Rosedale and land in an immersive landscape, with four sections color-coded using lighting: water, fire, earth and air.
A central sculptural piece created from metal and mirrors, "Spectrum of the Soul," ties to all four of the elements.
The introspective exhibition, which delves into the human soul, also includes paintings, a painted wall and a slideshow of sketches.
What they're saying: "The pieces being developed were based off of shop table vises that you hold things in while you're fabricating or constructing stuff, and from that I just developed the 'vices and/or virtues' body of work," Monet tells Axios.
Monet, also a welding teacher, used scrap metal he collected from classes. He got the vises for the installation when he worked at Detroit's Randolph Career Technical Center — they were going to be tossed out.
Between the lines: Monet wants viewers to be able to relate to his work, he says.
"I think the best way to do that is to just be true to me and my process," he adds. "I use the artwork as sort of a therapy. So to create these pieces, I'm dealing with different elements of self, whether it's painting, welding, wood carving."
If you go: The exhibition, " Spectrum of the Self," is open now through June 28 on a donation basis. Monet will give an artist's talk on Saturday from 2-4pm. RSVP for free.
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