Exploring Brighton’s Sculpture: 'Welcome' and 'Vested with Authority'

Last week, we looked at three sculptures whose time in the Brighton Biennial is up. The BACC’s contracts with James Lawton (Landscape Sunset), Todd Erickson (American Beauty), and Robert Sestock (I-275) expire at the end of May.

Their work will be replaced by three new sculptures. The artists and titles of the new works haven’t been announced.

This week, on our tour of Brighton’s public art, we’re taking in two works by Jeffrey Bohl. All of Bohl’s works can be categorized as semi-abstract figurative bronzes.

Bohl’s creative process begins with sheets of wax. He breaks, scratches, melts, and sculpts the wax until it takes on an interesting shape. From these shapes, Bohl creates impressions of the human form. After making molds of the forms, Bohl uses foundry equipment he designed and made himself to create bronze castings of the sculptures.

When I asked what inspires him, Bohl said, “When I work, I actively try to avoid images that are familiar to me. If I create something that appears familiar, I'll break it apart and use the pieces in some other way.” 

Bohl currently has three pieces on display in the Brighton Biennial Sculpture Exhibit. We visited one of these sculptures——a few weeks ago. Here’s a quick look at the other two.  

'Welcome'

On first glance, Welcome, which is on display inside on Main Street, is reminiscent of Asian architecture.  But, when considering the sculpture’s title and Bohl’s body of work—all of which features a human figure—an embrace emerges.

The piece consists of six rough shapes: a rectangular head, a square-ish torso, two triangular legs, a brick-shaped base, and one horizontal half-moon-shaped piece that works as the figure’s arms.

One of the least expensive sculptures in the Brighton Biennial Exhibit, the 9" x 11" x 19" piece can be purchased for $800.

'Vested with Authority'

At 5" x 7" x 22", Vested with Authority is one of the tiniest works in the Brighton Biennial display. Its delicate structure is contradicted by its finish: a richly colored patina of raw bronze. Because it is so delicate, it must be displayed indoors. Currently, it is on display at on Main Street.

Like all of Bohl’s work, Vested with Authority isn’t an obvious representation of the human form.

Writing about his sculptures on his website, Bohl said, “When I sculpt, I try to force myself to let go of the familiar as much as possible—trying to create images that do not come automatically to mind.”

True to its master, Vested with Authority demands that its audience—us—let go as well. What each of us sees will differ. The important thing, as far as art—and maybe inner being—goes, is that we see something. Why not try to access Bohl’s perspective of the human form?

In the meantime, here’s his opinion of public art: “It reminds us that many of the things that are most important to living a full human life are intangible.”

Vested with Authority can be purchased for $600.

See more of Bohl’s work

Welcome and Vested with Authority were not produced using Bohl’s foundry equipment, but his recent work is. A collection of this work is currently on display at the Lansing Art Gallery. “Daydream Characters” runs through June 2, 2011. For more information, visit Jeffrey Bohl's website.

The Brighton Biennial Sculpture Exhibit, a project overseen by the City of Brighton Arts and Culture Commission, originated in 2006. It consists of 35 sculptures, twelve permanent and twenty-three temporary. The permanent pieces were either bought by or donated to the city. The temporary pieces, whose duration in Brighton depends on individual contracts with the BACC, are for sale. Prices and details are available at http://www.downtownbrighton.com/1/brighton/art_walk.asp.