And just ignore the seat that's empty in the second row

About The Sculpture

For the last twenty five years Gary Jones has inhabited the realms of dance, movement, manipulation, and sculpture in his international award winning career as a puppet artist. In l997 he was awarded a “Crystal Castle” by the Walt Disney Corporation; l998 witnessed a two page profile in People Magazine. As the director of his own company (The Blackstreet USA Puppet Theater set attendance records at The Smithsonian Institution, Division of Performing Arts and has performed throughout the United States, Germany, Iceland, Holland, and Portugal.

In l997 Mr. Jones expanded his sculpture activities into bronze. In the foundry furnace Gary sees a poetic compliment to the heat of performance. There is high risk involved in both processes. In these recent pieces Mr. Jones seeks to translate the exhilaration and mystery he experiences during his on stage appearances into metal. It is an attempt to crystallize the ethereal beauty of motion. Dance, whether choreographed or extemporaneous is always fleeting. The one dancing realizes this as does the frustrated audience who longs to linger on the passing perfection he beholds. Needless to say, this is impossible. Even in today’s electronic world of instant replay; the initial shock of a heart stopping graceful gesture can never be authentically recaptured. Nonetheless the desire remains. Gary responds to this futile longing.

He knows that there is always something about a dance that can never be communicated, no matter the skill and artistry of the performer. That nameless internal ecstasy is known only from within as the dancer moves through space. This feeling is hidden even from the choreographer unless he dances the performance full-out personally. It is orgasmic and elusive. Rarely is it revealed on stage, seldom is it photographed or written about. Gary Jones has felt it, has known it. In these works he endeavors to share it with you.