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ARTIST STATEMENT
SCOTT CAWOOD
Medium:
I have been seduced by steel, especially scrap steel. I revel in the use and transformation of material deemed useless
and ugly—detritus by definition. As an artist I try to identify, and then as a craftsman, utilize the material's unique qualities.
I use found metal objects at every opportunity and scrap or surplus metal for nearly everything else. My blacksmithing
skills allow me to create what I can't find and fabricate "connectors" for the various found parts. The challenge for me is
finding what each piece of scrap has to offer, then fitting the pieces together to achieve an overall concept while creating
a certain visual elegance. In my larger sculptures this is fairly evident. However, in my more delicate work, such as the
women's lingerie and shoes, I still utilize scrap metal and found material, but alter the shape and hone the finish to the
point that the media's original use is unrecognizable. I insist on using found metal in my pieces because of its texture, its
context to the world around me, and for the fact that it is a constant reminder that everything holds beauty and often it's
only a matter of looking past the surface in order to discover it.
Approach:
Maintaining fluidity of design is a vital element of my work. Balance, line, and proportion, done simply and in context to
one another, help achieve a certain elegance no matter how rugged the material. For me, employing that elegance allows
a piece to run free. An integral part of my approach is a strong and fluid line regardless of size or subject. I believe each
piece has it's own natural tier and equilibrium and I try to visually build each sculpture around that lifeline, as I refer to it.
The motion of life brings me to another basic element of my work—Love of the Process. The process of making art is
where the true beauty of art lies for me. It is where I find excitement. I often feel as though the piece is merely a statement
regarding the process I've just experienced. A reminder of the path of discoveries I've just embarked upon in attempting to
create a sculpture. Art allows me the process and the motivation to challenge my skills in order to further my concepts. I
find this approach to be limitless and exceptionally invigorating on a daily basis. When asked, "Which is your favorite
piece?" I can honestly say, "The one I'm working on now."
I am a self-taught artist and came to art professionally after I had mastered my craft. My expertise as a metal worker has
allowed me to push the material past the limitations of craft and into a tangible expression of my own imagination. I find
that process constantly nurtures my soul. I strive to keep all of my work open, honest, and engaging
Shoes & Lingerie (1998-ongoing):
My original series of sculptures depicting women's lingerie was inspired by the architecture, culture and baroque
personality of the City of New Orleans. The pieces in that series are named after selected city streets including the nine
Greek Muses of the Lower Garden District.
My most recent lingerie works, which I call "Booby Traps", speak to the visual collisions, insinuations and boundaries of
culture I experienced while staying in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn NY. These pieces have a confrontational
nature to them, they lure....then scold.
I believe it was shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo who claimed that women's shoes were merely corsets for their feet.
My shoe sculptures are pure extensions of my lingerie pieces and as with the lingerie pieces; it is my intention that one
derive a certain familiarity and energy from the piece, hopefully enough to be able to envision the person standing in the
shoes.
Sirens of TI Chopper (2006):
My collaboration with Metropolitan Choppers in building the Sirens Of TI Chopper for Treasure Island Casino in LV,
personifies the term; "Art Of The Motorcycle". Our challenge was to use the raw energy inherent of the custom motorcycle
and transform that into a beautiful Siren surging up out of the ocean. Again the "transformation" aspect of this project
was paramount to its success. It took six months to sculpt the piece in my studio out of mild steel and the process of
bringing her to life was nothing short of intoxicating for me. The ' Siren Chopper' is on view to the public at Treasure
Island Casino in LV.
Spire (2004):
This sculpture was commissioned by the City Of Frederick MD to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the city's Baker
Park. The concept for my public sculpture "Spire" was to directly reflect the architectural landscape and the diverse
citizenry of the City of Frederick, MD. I achieved this by utilizing the icon of the spire, making an immediate connection
and reference to the "Clustered Spires of Frederick" as depicted on the city's official seal. I assembled found metal
objects in such a way as to reflect directly to the growth and history of the community and fashioned together in a spire-
like form, they relate to each other in such a way as to denote diverse segments working together in harmony. I feel the
piece relates as well to the future as it does the past and present. Perhaps its best quality is its ability to relate to and
include citizens from all walks of life.
Evolutionaries (1999):
The 'Revolution of Evolution' installation consisted of three movements: "Survival Of The Fittest", "Embracing
Technology", and "Flight To The Ancient Future". Costumed actors, who changed costumes with each movement,
intermingled with my Metroglyph sculptures and audience members who were wearing antennae given to them upon
entrance and asked to evolve. An audience participation installation infused with pre-millennium tension.
Personal:
Born in Baltimore, MD, 1954. Graduated Middletown High School 1972. US Coast Guard 1975-1979. Cawood lives and
works at his residence in historic Antietam MD. where he has been a professional artist since 1992. His log house, circa
1790, was built to house workers for the nearby Antietam Iron Works (1758-1880) . Other than metal sculpting Cawood
tends to his prolific organic garden and writes short essays about his more subtle observations of life.
His work is included in public, corporate, and private collections nationwide. He has exhibited his work at Chi', Brooklyn,
New York; Galerie Francoise, Baltimore; Zenith Gallery, Washington DC; Bettcher Gallery, Miami; House Of Lounge, New
Orleans as well as countless local, regional and national venues. His sculptures have been commissioned by: City of
Frederick, MD; Baltimore Public Works Museum; Courtyard By Marriot: MTV's Real World New Orleans; and The
Contemporary American Theater Festival to name a few.
Upcoming Exhibitions:
* City of Baltimore Public Works Museum, Cawood exhibits his work with other selected found object
artists as part of the museum's new exhibit about recycling and the effect on the Chesapeake Bay.
Opening April 24. 2008 thru October 2008.
* Siren of TI Bike feature article in May 2008 Issue of Hot Bike Magazine (on newstands in April)
* Southern Living Magazine - September 2007: A profile of Scott Cawood will appear in the regional insert
called "Mid-Atlantic Living"
* "Booby Traps"; February 2007- August 2007; Celebrities Galleries, Maui , HI; 1.800.578.6991, Wailea, HI;
1.800.428.3338, Lahaina, HI.; WWW.CELEBRITYFINEART.COM
* "Retrospective"; July 2007- September 2007; Contemporary American Theater Festival, Shepherd University,
Shepherdstown, WV; 1.800.999.2283; WWW.CATF.ORG
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Cawood & Staff
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CawoodArt Studios, Antietam , Maryland USA
Telephone: 301.432.2131 eMAIL: Artist
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