Betty Gold (American, b. 1935). Iron maquette for Monumental Holistic, 1979. An elegant maquette created by American artist Betty Gold as a model for her monumental outdoor work at the Oakland Museum of Art in Oakland, California. Gold has been creating such abstract sculptures inspired by geometry, space, order, and form since the 1970's - with her oeuvre ranging from tabletop pieces and maquettes like this example to monumental installations throughout the world. In this maquette, Gold not only masterfully envisioned and modeled the form in space, she also intentionally left the piece in its raw state to oxidize to a rich patina. What's more, the warm russet hues conjure classical references, despite the fact that the form is cutting edge modern. An outstanding work by a prestigious sculptor who has works in more than 75 permanent collections and has exhibited in more than 130 solo and group exhibitions. Size: 5.5" L x 7.75" W x 11.8" H (14 cm x 19.7 cm x 30 cm)
The monumental version created for the Oakland Museum of Art is published on page 39 of the catalogue entitled, "Betty Gold: Permanent Installations Monumental Sculpture" which accompanies this piece, along with a copy of the artist's impressively extensive resume which opens with a few quotes from the artist. Here is a statement in which Betty Gold discusses her maquettes, "Based on a flat rectangular structure, I deconstruct the whole and reassemble the pieces into one. From a basic set of shapes a small number of models, or maquettes, are constructed in steel. The maquettes provide a visual and architectural reference for what can then be scaled to monumental dimensions." A wonderful piece by Betty Gold, inspired by geometric models rooted in the linear geometry of rotational movement as well as paper folding.
Betty Gold studied at the Octavio Medellin Sculpting School in Austin, Texas (1959-1964) and the Texas Trade Welding School in Dallas, Texas (1966-1970). Born in Austin, Texas, Ms. Gold has lived in Mexico City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Aspen, Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Venice, California, and currently has a home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has received many honors including: Honorary Degree of Humane Letters from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia (2014); XAM's Artist of the Year in Mallorca, Spain (2014) - Betty was the second woman to receive this award; numerous government commissions including Presidential Garden, Bratislava, Slovakia, Gift of the U.S. Embassy, Monumental Sculpture, "Tiron IV" (2002); Universiada '99, Ajuntament de Palma de Mallorca, Spain, "Tiron 1" (1999); Ronald Reagan State Judiciary Courthouse, Los Angeles, California, Monumental Fountain, "Redwood Moonrise" (1989); and International Olympic Workshop, National Museum of Contemporary Art, Olympic Village, Seoul, South Korea, "Kaikoo Series" (1987); Ms. Gold has been granted countless Artist in Residencies and given dozens of lectures throughout the world; and her works are in many elite institutions including Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia – Madrid, Spain; Austin Art Museum – Austin, TX; Es Baluard Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma – Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Villas Buenaventura Sculpture Garden – San Juan, Cosala, Mexico; Milwaukee Museum – Milwaukee, WI; National Museum of Contemporary Art – Seoul, South Korea; Oakland Museum of California – Oakland, CA; Phoenix Art Museum – Phoenix, AZ; New Orleans Museum of Art – New Orleans, LA; Indianapolis Museum of Art – Indianapolis, IN; Orange County Museum of Art – Newport Beach, CA; Archer M. Huntington Gallery - University of Texas – Austin, TX; Georgia Museum of Art – University of Georgia – Athens, GA; Birmingham Museum of Art – Birmingham, AL; The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History– Albuquerque, NM; Art Museum of South Texas – Corpus Christi, TX; California Museum of Art Thousand Oaks - Thousand Oaks, CA; just to name a few.
In 2016, an independent, full length feature film entitled "A Year with Betty Gold" - directed and produced by Professor J. McMerty of Elon University - provided a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Gold's body of work. The film was a 2016 Academy Award Nominee. In the film there is a wonderful moment when Gold describes her process, "My whole life is about order, form, and shape, and geometry. The sculptures come from one rectangle of steel, because that's how you sell steel. That's how you buy it, by the rectangles. .. Whenever I get to playing about making models, I have an idea, and then it's like making sisters of that one shape. You know, you can take that shape and then say, oh, I think I'll turn that wrong side out and make something else. I make about 50, and I throw them all away but maybe about 7 or 8 that I really like, and I cull down, and then that is a series." ("A Year with Betty Gold, 2016 - a film)
Betty Gold's Artist Statement: "My inspiration comes from many directions, experiences and channels, but my work always begins with the simple act of folding paper. I create a flat, rectangular structure, deconstruct the parts and reassemble them into the whole, then create a set of drawings and geometric models based on the linear geometry of rotating movement."
"From a basic set of shapes, I design several different models - or maquettes – then build them in steel and choose which piece integrates best into the commissioned landscape. The maquette also provides the visual and architectural reference needed to scale the work to its monumental dimensions. I still continue to personally oversee construction and site preparation for each of my installations to ensure the rigid-quality standards I’ve upheld throughout my 45-year career as a professional artist."
"My continuing goal is to create art that brings a sense of joy and imaginative flight to those who engage with it, and that will endure long into the future. I also hope to motivate, represent, and inspire more women sculptors to assert themselves into the competitive art market, where they’ve yet to become dominant members."
Media and Catalogues about Betty Gold: "A Year With Betty Gold". Full length Independent Feature film. Produced and Directed by Professor J. McMerty, Elon, NC, 2016; Block, Dick and Henry Breitrose. The Remarkable Journey of Betty Gold. Book and DVD. Los Angeles, CA: Block Communications Group, 2006; Betty Gold: Selected Sculptures 1970 – 2004. DVD. Block Communications Group, Los Angeles, CA, 2004; Serra, Pere A. Betty Gold: Velas de Mar. Sóller, Mallorca, Spain: Museu Can Prunera, 2010; Serra, Pere A. Betty Gold: Mirades del Món. Sóller, Mallorca, Spain, 2008. Estacio del Ferrocarril de Soller; Pomar, Jaume, and Gold, Betty. Betty Gold: Retrospectiva. Casal Solleric. Palma de Mallorca, Spain: Ajuntament De Palma, 2005; Gold, Betty. Betty Gold: Acero. Santa Barbara, CA: Sullivan Goss--An American Gallery, 2004; Betty Gold. Nara, Japan: Nishida Gallery, 1989; Betty Gold. Seoul, South Korea: Walker Hill Art Center, 1987; Gold, Betty. Betty Gold: The Kaikoo Series. Venice, CA: Betty Gold Studio, 1985; Gold, Betty. Betty Gold: Venice. Venice, CA: Betty Gold Studio, 1984; Betty Gold: Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA: Baum-Silverman Gallery, 1981; Gold, Betty. Betty Gold, Holistic Images. Santa Ana, CA: Bowers Museum, 1977. Forward by Suzie Pettit. Essay by Reilly P. Rhodes, Director; Gold, Betty. Betty Gold, Holistic Images: Palm Springs Desert Museum. February 26 through April 26, 1981. Palm Springs Desert Museum, Palm Springs, CA: 1977.
Provenance: Private Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA collection
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#168269
Condition
Intact and excellent. Gold intentionally left the piece in its raw state to oxidize to a rich patina. Accompanied by a catalogue entitled, "Betty Gold: Permanent Installations Monumental Sculpture" as well as a copy of the artist's impressively extensive resume; both are in good condition save slight age wear.