AS ONE
Reduction
by Shray

12.5" x 5" x 4" (approx)
Ed. 355

It was morning, a cup of tea in hand, two blocks of clay.  I saw them spiraling upwards holding a celebration in their hands.  Two hours later they filled my studio as I stood in the piles of pulled off clay to free them.  I became part of them.

 

Inspiration for my Olympic Piece

While I was creating my new "Artist Nostalgia" series, I was invited by the Olympic Committee in Beijing, China to participate in the 2008 Olympics Sculpture Competition.

At the time, I was reducing "As One" to a smaller size. The parents in "As One" are holding a newborn baby in the air in celebration of new life and all the potential it holds.

I was inspired by "As One" to create "Raising Tomorrow's Olympic Champions," wherein younger parents are holding a 4-year-old. I envisioned this monumental piece becoming an interactive sculpture, surrounded by Olympic rings that children would play on. My hope in this vision is that it encourages children to honor their parents, reminds parents to uplift their children and reinforces the power of Olympic dreams. Those dreams can be about achieving excellence in sports, or becoming a great teacher, writer, poet, artist or parent. The dream is as individual as is the dreamer.

This piece was selected by the jurors as a finalist in the 2008 Olympics Sculpture Competition.