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visions in stone

Black Spirit - 2000 (6)

Tearing granite, pulling apart rock that has not been exposed to the light of day, much less the touch of a chisel or pneumatic drill;  carving into stone that resists even a diamond enhanced saw blade, dulling an edge encrusted with a material harder than any other on earth; forming shapes that twist, entwine and even float in air, or coalesce through water that glistens softly over its surface, misting the spaces between vertical edifices rising majestically out of the ground. Such is the nature of the work of Texas born granite sculptor, Jesús Bautista Moroles.

Moroles was the keynote speaker during the opening day of the 2002 Art Educators of Minnesota's "Go Global" Fall Conference. In his presentation he showed a variety of works created both nationally and internationally, and discussed many contexts in which his works are conceived and displayed.  Works shown were either installed or have been on display in locations such as Italy, China, Texas, New York City, Washington D.C., Santa Fe, Houston, Dallas and Florida, as well as one recently completed near the Great Wall of China.

Granite weaving - 1988

During the course of his address to 340 art educators, Moroles made the point that he gave a large part of the credit for his success to the art education he received as a boy, growing up in Texas.  That artistic foundation gave him many of the necessary tools to help realize both his own potential and the desire to give that talent a voice.

One of the more interesting contexts explored in his granite work is the use of the sculptures as part of art performances. Similarities can be drawn here between works by artists such as Isamu Noguchi, whose fountain sculpture at the Detroit Civic Center is the center piece around which a variety of performing arts events regularly take place. Alexander Calder's wire sculpture circuses have a performance aspect, as did the multidisciplinary Surrealist art events back in the early part of the 20^th century.

Moroles' granite sculptures have been played as musical instruments, creating a variety of tonal responses that puts the meaning of granite on a completely different level. The pieces give off a wide range of sounds as they are hit, scratched, rolled and otherwise interacted with. In addition to the resulting concert, dancers were sometimes included in performances, along with special lighting effects providing a theatrical atmosphere.  The entire experience, even in a diluted, video taped recording, took on almost a spiritual and otherworldly aspect.

Jesús Bautista Moroles in front of a work in progress (1)

The size and weight of the material that Moroles uses are such that he has built an 'art factory' in Rockport, Texas where he does most of the work that is not done on location.  He has a number of employees who work for him, along with members of his family, who help to provide the sheer manpower needed to work in this extremely labor intensive art form.

In addition to the incredible physical undertaking that working on granite sculptures involves, is the prodigious number of works that he has created.  He has completed over 2,000 sculptures in granite, a feat that gives testimony to seemingly limitless energy and vision.

A view of the art factory (4)

The artist at work hammering spikes into the granite block in order to help to "tear" it apart. (5)

In conversation in Minnesota, he remarked that a problem in the past was the lack of control that he has had over the environment into which his sculptures have been placed.  Accordingly, the latest venture is the creation of sculptures in places that have had no human intervention and are totally pristine in nature.  These new works will not have to be viewed with any distractions that interfere with the relationship of the setting and the sculpture (which eventually becomes a part of the setting).  These locations have been identified as places that he feels have a significant spiritual atmosphere.

Perhaps by installing his pieces in this type of location, the works can be better defined and interacted with, in a way that reflects the transcendent nature he feels they represent.  One site he is currently working on is in the Wichita Mountain Range, one of the oldest ranges in the world.  Two large granite hills rise above a relatively flat vista overlooking a body of water whose level changes at various times of the year. The project that he has envisioned for this space involves a series of steps and paths (made of course, of granite), that will link the water to the hills. The path will emerge from the water and meander through the hills, crossing itself a number of times as it follows the terrain.  In order to have a place to stay during the course of his work, Mr. Moroles plans on building himself a house made of granite at the site.

As he described this latest undertaking, I couldn't help but wonder whether this project was somewhat autobiographical in nature. The path might well represent the life of this artist, as he has roamed across the world creating masterpieces and leaving his mark wherever he has ventured.

The following web sites are among the many online addresses that his work can be viewed at:
Jesús Moroles: http://www.ci.irving.tx.us/Arts/SculptureGarden/moroles.htm
Hawthorne Gallery: http://www.hawthornegallery.com/html/jm_body.html
Barbara Davis Gallery: http://www.barbaradavisgallery.com/Artists/Moroles.htm
Scultpturesite.com: http://www.sculpturesite.com/artists/Moro.lasso
Artcyclopedia.com: http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/moroles_jesus_bautista.html
Texas : http://www.texassculpturegarden.org/content-artists.asp?artwork=1013
A list of works and biography may also be found at: http://www.bienfeo.com/web/jcacciola/artists/moroles_bio.htm

notes

(1) http://www.getty.edu/artsednet/resources/Moroles/images/jm2.html
(2) http://www.ci.irving.tx.us/Arts/SculptureGarden/sculpture.htm
(3) http://www.getty.edu/artsednet/images/Moroles/gardens.html
(4) http://www.getty.edu/artsednet/resources/Moroles/images/shop.html
(5) http://www.getty.edu/artsednet/resources/Moroles/images/wip2a.html
(6) http://www.texassculpturegarden.org/content-artists.asp?artwork=1013

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