For Lisa Gordon’s one-woman show at Sorrel Sky Gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, it’s all about the artist’s process or rather, progress. The show, opening in early March, will feature a mix of Gordon’s bronze works ranging from brand new work to much older pieces that have been “revised” or “remodeled” to illustrate her evolving style and skill over time. Aptly titled Wild Things, the show of around 130 pieces, including a vast collection of miniatures, will showcase Gordon’s passion for all animals, but especially horses.
Learning to Fly, bronze, 11 x 29”
“[Gordon’s] sculptures have a definite element of whimsy,” remarks Shanan Campbell, owner of Sorrel Sky Gallery. “But they’re so much more. When we take a moment and really look, we see ourselves. We see the strength and commitment needed to stay connected and to be joyful. It’s all there.”
Besides Gordon’s theme of “progress” for the show, joy is definitely ever-present, as Campbell suggests. “The show is all about where I come from; the very beginning,” says Gordon. “I was a typical horse crazy kid, growing up in Southern California. I never grew out of it. Lots of artists, if they’ve had that connection early on with horses, they tend to gravitate like I did, and it becomes a prominent subject. The first piece I ever sculpted was a little, tiny horse.”
Racoon, bronze, 5 x 3”While in grad school at California State University, studying and working in bronze casting, Gordon contracted a disorder where parts of the body can become paralyzed. “When I was working, the disease started to take hold and I ended up with a really rough look to my horses,” she says. The show will present works like Buffalo, seen here, that embody this style of roughness. “This is the first piece I gave myself license to do, other than a horse,” Gordon continues.
Additional older pieces from this era of Gordon’s life will be featured at the show, but with a twist. She revisits these older works and “cuts and pastes certain elements from an older piece onto a revised piece with a similar look and feel,” Gordon explains.
Champion on the Ball, bronze, 58 x 24 x 24”
Fast forward to today, we see Gordon’s style change to contemporary realism, seen clearly in what the artist calls her “collectible critters.” These miniature pieces consist of many different animal varieties like in show pieces Penguin and Racoon—looking just as they would in the wild, while also bringing a bit of that joy and whimsy. “During Covid, I took a break from horses and went wild and sculpted all kind of animals. I just couldn’t stop!”
She continues, “My work has gotten tight over the years, and I sculpt my [subjects] fairly accurately now, and they’ve clearly taken on a different look than in the beginning. This show is not a retrospective, but rather a technical exploration. This is what progress looks like.” Gordon also notes that while she does provide editioned pieces at times, she’s moved beyond this typical process to primarily make one-of-a-kind sculptures.
Buffalo, bronze, 3 x 4”The past and present will be prominently featured in Gordon’s show, including unique water features like Champion on the Ball, of a horse balancing on a ball, set on top of a sleekly designed steel base that can be used as a fountain. Other highlights include Learning to Fly, depicting a horse leaping over geometric shapes, inspired by the Santa Fe landscape that Gordon now calls home.
Gordon’s lighthearted, educational show will kick off with an artist reception on March 3, from 5 to 7 p.m., and will close on March 31. A special workshop is also offered, titled Creature Castings on March 4 and 5, where the artist will demonstrate and teach her sculpting abilities. —
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