ART-PRESENTATION: Kurt Steger-Scribing the Void

Kurt Steger’s deep beliefs as an environmentalist and his interest in time and the way it transforms both natural and man-made elements have helped to shape his narrative.  His use of reclaimed natural materials enter the realm of metaphor, giving us complex images that speak to themes of loss and impermanence, fear and uncertainty, journey and transformation.

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: ODETTA Gallery  Archive

“Scribing the Void” is a monumental sculpture created by tracing the contour of a boulder found in Central Park, then transferring the form in the same orientation into the space at ODETTA. To construct the sculpture, Steger climbed and crawled over the boulder, bringing him into intimate contact with its mass. Using a simple scribe compass, then transferring a mark onto numerous sheets of stiff paper, he ultimately cut this line out of plywood sheets, creating a direct replica of the negative space that fits the boulder with tight precision. The sheets that are built up to hold the scribed contour of the boulder together create crystalline geometric forms, which contrast dramatically with the organic flow of the described surface. This formation echoes the juxtaposition of nature and the intervention of the human touch. Kurt Steger’s love of nature mixed with his deep concern for the environment, in his ongoing project entitled “Lodge”, the artist invites conversation in an open-aired construction that alludes to a Native American sweat lodge. Installed in a wide range of locations, the artist creates a spacious, sacred container for sharing stories. He believes that when we open our hearts to each other “We access the brilliance within and communally tap into our creativity. In doing so, we increase the chance of finding new ways to live sustainably”. Kurt Steger invited the composer RSM to create a sound element that would essentially “fill the void” of the missing boulder. RSM uses the scribed line of the rock as the musical score, filling the physical void of the stone with sound.  The exhibition also features works by: Jesse Hickman, Lisa Kellner and Karen Schiff.

Info: ODETTA, 229 Cook Street, Brooklyn, Duration: 7/7-21/8/16, Days & Hours: Thu-Sun 13:00-18:00, www.odettagallery.com