Sculpture artist Raymond Gibby sculpts what he is moved by, and more often than not, he is influence by nature and its many inhabitants. Aptly titled Call of the Wild,Gibby’s solo show at Blue Rain Gallery in late May includes around 50 of his wildlife bronze creations—“paying tribute and giving gratitude for the richness of life,” the artist adds.
Night Vision, bronze with patinas, 20 x 39 x 21 in.
“In Gibby’s artistic realm, wildlife transcends mere subject matter; it is a conduit for human connection,” says Blue Rain Gallery manager Shella Huggett. “Through his sculptures, Gibby invites viewers to delve into a shared experience with the natural world, tapping into the universal empathy and kinship that exists between humans and wildlife…With each piece, Gibby masterfully captures wildlife with unparalleled detail and storytelling.”
Gibby echoes Huggett in admitting that a new show or new collection is less about the art pieces themselves and more about connecting with people. “That being said, I really try not to think too hard about style as an overall body of work,” Gibby notes. “I do what techniques feel right to me for each individual piece. It’s all about honoring the message and the subject matter of the piece. One piece will be a bit loose in style while the next piece will be tight with detail.”
Song Dog, bronze with patinas, 33 x 48 x 11 in.
The message or intent of the show piece Night Vision, depicting a Great Horned Owl, is Gibby’s way of paying homage to and expressing his experiences with the animal. He shares, “I have been both impressed and mystified over the years by owls…When I was a kid, I could make out the silhouette of a large Great Horned Owl that would often perch on the telephone pole in our front yard. I couldn’t make out the coloring of the feathers or its detailed features as it would spin its head around and then fly off into the night…As an adult I found an owl that had unfortunately died during the night...I was sad to see the dead owl but thankful for the gift of being able to see my childhood companion up close and personal, and to appreciate the majesty of its anatomic details…”
Eyes on the Prize, bronze with patinas, 44 x 23 x 11½ in.
For his piece Song Dog, featuring a coyote in mid howl, Gibby pulled inspiration from Native American culture and his childhood, yet again. “I grew up in the Southern California hills and would often go outside at night to listen to the coyotes’ unique barking and howling,” he says. “I would conjure up images of what was going on just beyond my ability to see in the dark. I was actually a little scared of the coyotes back then, as I would imagine them emerging out of the shadows. But when I learned how the Native cultures actually called them ‘song dogs’ and appreciated them for the entertaining music that filled the cool night air each night, I saw them more as a companion from my childhood rather than something to fear.”
No Rest for the Weary, bronze with patinas, 22 x 16 x 15 in.
Gibby’s hope for the show is that “people will feel comfortable enough to talk and be heard as the artwork prompts the desire to express thoughts and feelings. To me, art is a language, and I am just trying to speak it with the hope that somebody out there will hear something that they need to make their life better somehow.”
Call of the Wild, at Blue Rain Gallery’s Durango, Colorado, location, opens with a special demo by Gibby from May 24 to 25. The show will be on display through June 4. —
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