For some people, a hunk of rock is just that—a hunk of rock. But to North Shore resident and sculptor Michael Epps, a block of wood, granite or limestone is only waiting to be carved into what it is.
“You just begin. What comes out depends on the material,” he said.
What came out of a recent work by Epps, a sculpture now displayed at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center, was an ethereal face carved from a dusky piece of stone.
“It was just kind of a spiritual feeling of the material,” he said. “That’s really the truth.”
That work, entitled “Vod,” recently won second place in the Texas Society of Sculptors Spring 2010 Jury Awards. The jury wrote comments about each of the winning pieces, calling Vod a unique interpretation and a sculpture that really “spoke.” Jury member T.J. Mabrey said it gave her “an earthquake moment.”
Jurors considered craftsmanship, composition and its impact when selecting the winners.
“Collaborating with TSOS, and the other artists we’ve worked with on outdoor sculpture exhibits since 2006, is a great way for us to get sculpture in the gardens, and the artists have been thrilled to be a part of the Wildflower Center experience,” said Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Director of Horticulture Andrea De Long-Amaya. “Visitors always appreciate the added element of art and it has been especially nice in winter when the gardens are not as lively.”
Epps said he began creating art from an early age. After some artistic inspiration from his grandmother—who crafted beautiful quilts and other handmade goods—Epps became active in art programs at school from the beginning of his academic career and never stopped creating.
“I started drawing and painting and drawing and painting and drawing and painting from the time I can remember,” he said.
Epps sculpted his first piece in his early 20s when chance brought him and a friend an abundance of choice black walnut wood to work with. He said they initially rented a sandblaster to see what they could do with the truckload of wood, but that didn’t work out.
“You know, it cost a lot of money and we couldn’t think of anything to do with it, but I carved on it for awhile and all of a sudden a sculpture came,” Epps said.
Epps said he is but one of a thriving yet quiet group of North Shore sculptors and artists.
“There’s quite a large community around here of artists. They’re quiet, but I’m involved with Texas Society of Sculptors and there’s a surprising number of sculptors on the North Shore,” he said.
For more information on TSOS and upcoming events, visit www.tsos.org.