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VAUGHN BABCOCK


INSPIRATIONS


Themes

I am interested in Greek and Roman mythologies and some challenges to--and by--the world’s religions with particular emphasis on Judeo-Christian histories, traditions, and behaviors.


Additionally, I explore themes of pleasure, love, war, personal conflict and struggle, sex, gender, sin, and social morals and mores.


Above all, my sculptures are nudes.  In his seminal study, The Nude, Sir Kenneth Clark says, "...the nude is not the subject of art but a form of art," and that "no nude...should fail to arouse in the spectator some vestige of erotic feeling...and if it does not do so, it is bad art and false morals."  [Doubleday Anchor, c. 1956, pp. 25 & 29.]


My work evokes emotions---perhaps joy, desire, passion, mystery, anger, humor, play.  The themes and materials, bronze and gold leaf, and the textures and colors set the moods.  Light is also critical here.


Methods

I work with bronze using the "Lost Wax Method" because of the material's permanence and the method's facilitation in replicating multiple copies.  This material and method also allow me to express my vision and goals over a long period of time, as opposed to a material such as terra cotta, which sets quickly.  After casting a piece, I select the patina color to achieve the desired mood.  The entire process is time consuming and complex, requiring significant interaction with the foundry from the earliest planning stages.


My work incorporates gold leaf to highlight certain elements and to create a mood with a brilliance and richness not achievable with patina color or paint.  Gold also suggests permanence.


Light

The quality of light---cool, warm, bright, dim, colored, direct, indirect, natural, artificial, etc.---is critical for capturing sculptural detail and creating a mood.


I enjoy viewing and photographing my work with both natural daylight and artificial lighting.  Natural daylight constantly changes, revealing detail and color in my pieces and creating subtle shifts in mood throughout the day, the season, differing weather conditions, and by geographic location.  Spot lighting can accentuate one or more elements.


Influences

Romantic nineteenth century bronzes and marbles in the United States, France, England and other countries from my travels inform my work.  In addition, Greek, Roman, Italian, French, English, and American temples and follies impact "New York Folly"---which is my current sculpture in progress.


When asked, "What inspires you?" British Architect Norman Foster replied: "Everything."


Exactly!


Please enjoy the work.

 


VAUGHN BABCOCK 


CURRICULUM VITAE


Education


1972

University of California at Berkeley


Bachelor of Architecture, 

Cum Laude (Five Year Program)


Graduate Courses in Architectural

Lighting, Urban Design, & Sculpture

(One additional Year)


Gallery Exhibitions


2020

Huntington Beach Art Center

Huntington Beach, CA 

("Nothing Between Them"

and "Modesty")


2019 

Lora Schlesinger Gallery

Santa Monica, CA ("Eve")


Sculpture and Architecture


2018-21

WhiteHotBronze, Bronze Castings, 

Laguna Woods, CA

             "New York Folly" (In Progress)

             "Colossus"

             "Paula"

             "Eve in Fall"

             "Adam in Fall"

             "Modesty"

             “Nothing Between Them” 

             "Eve" 

             "Adam"


2016-17      

VCB Terra Cotta

             “Monet’s Reclining Woman,” 

             “Green Pepper w/legs, feet” 

             “Classically Speaking”


2010           

VCB Bronze Casting

             “Adam, M-12”


1994           

VCB Terra Cotta

             “Adam’s Foot" 

             “Eve's Bust"

             “Adam & Eve,” bas relief

             “Form Massing”


1974-75

Sketches for Guy Dill’s 

US Interstate 1976 Bicentennial Proj.


1974-75

"Easy Edges" 

Furniture Design Display

San Francisco Mus. of Modern Art


1973-74

AIA Installations 

(with Tim Vreeland, FAIA)

Pacific Design Center 

West Hollywood, CA 


1972-75      

Lighting Design at office of

Frank O. Gehry & Associates 

Santa Monica, CA


1972-74      

“Easy Edges” Furniture Designs 

at Frank O. Gehry & Associates

Santa Monica, CA


1972-74       

Model Making with

Frank Gehry, FAIA

Santa Monica, CA

      

1971              

VCB Aluminum Castings

         “Mercury and the Astronauts” 

         “Winged Victory Orb"

         "Astronauts' Ladder to 

                    Split Moon’s Zap”


1971              

Art Display Project for 

         “3 Pieces by Andy Warhol” 

          (Mona Lisa, Marilyn, Jackie)


1970             

VCB Terra Cotta 

            “Monolith with Pillow” 

             and vignettes


1970             

Proposed Design for 

San Francisco MOMA near

the SF Ferry Terminal Building


1970-2021   

Over 220 Architectural Projects 

throughout the United States


Relevant Coursework


2016             

Saddleback College

Laguna Woods, CA

Emeritus Sculpture Program-  

Terra Cotta


2010             

VCB and Mc3 Foundry

Los Angeles & Hawthorne, CA

Bronze casting


1994             

Otis College of Art & Design

Los Angeles, CA

Sculpture Basics-Metal Casting

Terra Cotta, Marble Carving,


1971              

University of California, Berkeley

Sculpture-Metal Casting 

                          

1966-68            

University of California, Berkeley

Sculpture-Terra Cotta

Art and Architectural History



Art Associations 


2023

The International Sculpture Center

Hamilton, NJ


2023

National Sculpture Society

New York, NY


2023

Pacific Rim Sculptors

San Francisco, CA


2019-2021  

The Huntington Beach Art Center

Huntington Beach, CA

Artist Council


2016-2017   

Potters and Sculptors Club

Laguna Woods, CA


Architecture Associations


1985-2017   

Nat'l Council of Architectural

Registration Boards (NCARB)

Washington, DC


1977-2023 

State of California 

Architects License


1977-2023   

Member, AIA 

National, LA, Orange County, CA

                          

1973-77       

Associate Member

AIA Los Angeles, California


Travel


Egypt, Greece, Italy, France, England, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, 47 of 50 states in the US, several Canadian provinces, Mexico, and several Caribbean islands.



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