IIW welded art exhibition, 2021

RYAN SCHMIDT (USA)

Ryan Schmidt is an American Artist from Arkansas sculpting in stainless steel since 2002. Designed to be reflective, his art captivates and entrances. Appearing as near line drawings occupying three- dimensional space, Schmidt’s sculptures are easy to enjoy with. His inspiration for creating his art springs from an idea that is captured in a sketch and is transformed during the fabrication until it reaches its final form. The

art penchant for curvilinear lines in triangular relationships are inspired by his early passions for Origami. Polished stainless steel, while labour intensive, ensures the reflective surface will withstand both external and internal elements to remain the mirror- finish as the day it was made. Schmidt’s creative process starts with a 2-D sketch from a blank canvas in his brain, and then is transferred to stainless steel sheet to be cut. Once the fabrication process is in motion, he push the limits of tension and twist in the form. Sometimes this changes quite a bit from the original concept and other forms may be added; thus, making for an organic composition as it continues to morph in the 3-D fabrication. The material used for sculptures is Type-316L Stainless Steel. The thickness of material is 10 and 11 gauge to minimize warps as he pushes those tensions.

Contact info Website: https://www.soulartinc.com • E-mail: rts@soulartinc.com Facebook: SoulArt Inc. Stainless Steel Sculptures • Twitter: @SoulArtinc • Instagram: soulartinc

Exhibit “WITH ABSTRACT CERTAINTY” comprising “RESTING DOVE” and “BREATH OF LIFE” The exhibit is curated in a way that allows the eye to sweep from artwork to imagination. The main concept of the creation is the reflection of the outside world on the artwork to demonstrate how moving contemporary abstraction can roam in providing a peaceful hiatus from the everyday. The sculptures were placed at a roundabout location in Ada, Michigan USA during pandemic last year. The placement is to provide a 360 degree view of the sculptures in different angles. In relation to the current world, most people were caught in the uncertainty. Artist, Ryan T. Schmidt is encouraging the viewer to engage in each piece through its atmospheric perspective, to reflect in the mirror of the sculpture that captures the outside world. His hope is to bring out the feeling of inspiration. The abstraction in the piece “Resting Dove” represents peace of the deepest kind. It soothes and quiets our worries or troubled thoughts, enabling us to find renewal in the silence. The dove’s roles as spirit messenger, maternal symbol and liaison, impart an inner peace that helps us to go about our lives calmly with purpose. The “Breath of Life” piece is literally sending the message to everyone through the implied motion of curves, smooth lines and rounds correlating to the flow of breathing. Dimensions “Resting Dove” 183 cm x 323 cm x 137 cm, “Breath of Life” 211 cm x 155 cm x 99 cm

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