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Artist information:
Cynthia Mckean
Saugatuck, MI
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Cynthia Mckean is showing at:
Bridgewater Place Bridgewater Place
333 Bridge St. NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
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Cynthia Mckean
Artist bio: Cynthia grew up in the West, Montana and Wyoming. The horizon there is chiseled against the sky. Lines are sharp. Colors are strong. Space is forever. She believes all of this influences her art.

She has a bachelor of arts degree in biology from Whitman College, WallaWalla Washington and a bachelor of arts degree in architecture from the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho. She has worked in both fields.

Cynthia came to Michigan in 1982 to work in industry. In 1993 she began sculpting. She continues to be inspired by the interaction between the built and natural environments.

Cynthia's work resides in both the public and private sectors.
Artist statement: Steel is a marvelous medium. Strong and pliable, it speaks to me. If I work it, respect it, and treat it gently, it will reward me by telling my story to others. If people walk around, touch, and occassionally climb on or talk to my work, I consider it a success. It means they have connected with it. It is speaking to them.

I dream of the natural and built environments and how they might interact. The results may lean toward Mother Nature or complement Her. Many ideas frolic without particular meaning. A few are serious.

I think in terms of cutting through space, blocking space, and what could result. Sometimes I see an object, sometimes it is the space around the object. Usually it is a combination.

When a piece is abstract, I don't name it causing viewers to make of it what they will. I want the piece to take on a life of its own. When this happens people imagine what I could never see.
About the work:
Title: WING

Art form: 3-D

Medium: Painted structural steet

Year created: 2009

Description of work: The "Wing" was laser cut from a single 1/2 inch thick by 10 foot long by 10 foot 7 inch wide steel plate.  After cutting it was bent vertically and then welded to a 5/8 inch base plate.  Then the piece was sandblasted, painted with an automotive primer and finished with high gloss bright yellow paint.  Because it weighs about 800 pounds a crane lifted it into position at the installation so it could be bolted down to a concrete slab.

Work statement:

Technical details:
Work width: 76 inches
Work height: 120 inches
Work depth: 70 inches
Required venue ceiling: 144 inches
Required venue door height: 78 inches
Required venue door width: 84 inches
Required wall linear footage: n/a
Required venue square footage: 100 sq. ft.
Additional considerations:
Audio/video needed: No
Electrical needed: No
Lighting needed: No
Internet access needed: No
Ground floor access needed: No
Indoor space needed: No
Outdoor space needed: Yes

Work Images

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