Excited to announce the unveiling of my sculpture, 'another kind of growth', at King's Road Park in West Hollywood, CA. Here's the story and some imagery...
Introducing, the first public presentation of Los Angeles-based artist Cole Sternberg's 'another kind of growth'. The piece is a delicate reverence to nature in the form of a fourteen foot bronze of a young tree sapling. Surrounded by the green foliage of West Hollywood and emerging from the dirt, the work stands tall and ambitious reaching towards the sky, yet remains vulnerable as it blends into its environment.
There is a strong emphasis on the constant tension between nature and mankind and Sternberg examines this juxtaposition within the public space. Removed from the confines of a gallery, the work itself becomes subject to the dangers of human encroachment and interaction. It references Beuys and Giacometti, as well as, the continuing dialogue of Sternberg’s practice which questions humankind's role within an environment (that of the earth) that it depends on, but is continually trying to erase.
‘another kind of growth’ is built from human reorganizations of earthly minerals, that of bronze and concrete; a poor plagiarism of an actual tree. An allegory of its imperfection, its existence speaks to the need for green space as sanctuary in urban environments. The man-made copy yearns to find its place amongst the actual trees. The sculpture allows the viewer to question their own position in the environment and understand the dichotomy of co-existence by dissolving our barriers and igniting a new awareness of impermanence.
IF Innovation Foundation supports experimental interventions that respond to the complexities of urban space and fosters artistic excellence and innovation. Responding to the dramatic shifts in the landscape of contemporary art, IF explores new boundaries, platforms and initiatives that bring new art to new audiences and shift perspectives that effect the cultural dialogue. Based in Los Angeles, Producer, and Curator Lauri Firstenberg (Founder of LA><ART) and Producer and co-curator, Jessica Rich inspire the production and exhibition of art and culture as an agent of change.
Cole Sternberg practices in a range of formats including painting, installation, video, and writing. Series of his work have focused on a variety of social issues, from current human rights activism and its relationship to the law, to the environment, to the media and concepts of content overload. The works tend to be subtle or subversive in nature, driven by elegant visual concepts and poetry versus overt political statements. He is interested in the intersection between humanity and humankind and how their lack of congruity hinders social progression and development. His works are found in many prominent collections, including those of LACMA, PAMM, ESMOA, AUM and Deutsche Telekom. His upcoming exhibition calender includes shows with Praz Delavallade, Peter Blake Gallery and There There.
