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Sculpture by Davis Cornell

Artist's Statement

My abstract work in stone, laminate wood, and metal is, for the most part, more about form than meaning. Sometimes form with functionality in the "screen" case, and sometimes form with great personal meaning, but hardly conceptual in any outwardly public way, i.e. social criticism. I work out forms in thought and bring them to life concentrating on aesthetic qualities of the medium and the form itself. Process is a theme in my work leaving evidence of process is important to me in some cases for communicating ideas to the viewer. To this point my only contiguous body of work would be my laminated wood pieces. I don’t know if I lack the patience for a series, or if I am satisfied with my physical creation of ideas before they have a chance to stack up to a series. The ideas I try to convey are usually worked out with in the first or second piece. I am still working out some of the contradiction between my looser forms and others that are more precise. No matter how unrelated my work seems to others I know there is some connection there, but I realize it should be more apparent to the viewer. There are so many avenues I want to explore with my art and my abilities I am likely to set out on any one of them at any time, and I do constantly within my thought process.

My influences are rather non-specific. I have always had an interest in and been influenced by architecture and engineering. But, also by nature and its beauty having been raised in a geographically isolated area, and spending quite a bit of time observing my natural environment. I am continually influenced by other artist’s work, from ancient primitive to classical figure to contemporary abstract. Although I don’t consciously draw from the masters, the art they created is in my mental database, along with my observations in nature and my thoughts on human relationships. All of these things work for me to allow me to pull a quick form out of a small block of stone free hand or to hit the design board with a more methodical approach.

My commission work utilizes my artistic sensibility to create aesthetically pleasing pieces that meet someone else’s needs (not mine) and is very gratifying.

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Artist's Biography

My name is Davis Cornell, owner and operator of La Scimmia Studios. I have been an artist and sculptor for most of my life. My goal is to deliver quality work in design and execution of high-detail hand-carved natural stone. I have worked in stone for the last seven years, and before that in laminated wood, metal, and ceramic. I received a degree in sculpture from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. I trained in stone carving in Pietrasanta, Italy, and in Dallas, Texas under Harold F. Clayton. I was born and raised in West Texas and now live and work in Dallas.

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Resumé

• B.A., Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
  Major: Studio Art with an emphasis in sculpture; Minor: English Literature
  
• Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas, Fall 1996
• Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, 1993-1995
• Summer Study: Artist Assistant: Harold Clayton Sculptor, Dallas, Texas, 1999
• Nicholls State University, Spanish Studies Program, Cuernavaca, Mexico, 1995
• University Of Southern California film School, Los Angeles, California, 1994

• Architectural stone carver with Harold F. Clayton Carvings 2000 to 2005
• Personal Work, Marble Sculpting, Pietrasanta, Italy, Spring 2000
• Self-employed sculptor April 2005 to present.

• "Dallas Soars" aka. Pegasus Project 2001
• "Into The Woods" sculpture exhibition San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, March, 2000
• West Texas Rehabilitation Center fund raising art exhibition, February, 2000
• Senior Sculpture Exhibition, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, Fall 1999
• Burning Man 1999
• Sculpture exhibit, Aquarena Springs, San Marcos, Texas, Summer 1999
• Student sculpture exhibits, Southwestern University, 1995-1999

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Contact Artist

Also, please visit Davis's Web site: www.lascimmiastudios.com

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