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Ken Thompson

Artist Statement:

I have long felt that profound art contained a high level of spiritual content, not necessarily that of religion, but that of the 'spirit of man,' a spirit defined by his truth and honor. My sculpture is based on this form of spirituality.

Both of the pieces in this exhibit have a monumental solitude conveying strength and peace. These sculptures present the viewer with strong forms where the positive and negative space are of equal importance.

Biography:

Kenneth M. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Siena Heights College and a Master of Liberal Studies in Sculpture from the University of Toledo. Ken has been making sculpture for over twenty-five years out of his car dealership turned studio in Blissfield, Michigan. From this facility he and his three employees also operate Flatlanders Sculpture Supply and Art Gallery. Ken is well versed in bronze casting and steel fabrication but prefers stone carving most of all.

The major focus of Ken's work for the last five years has been on large scale public sculpture with commissions like "Reclamation Archway" done for Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Detroit, "Peace Arch" for the City of Toledo in honor of the veterans of the Vietnam War. Other commissions include Copley Chapel at Georgetown University, Corpus Christi University Parish in Toledo, the LCVA Millennium Project in Adrian and Monroe County Community College. With three more works currently in progress at Ferris State University, Ohio Wesleyan University and Children's Park in Toledo.

In addition to making large scale work, Ken enjoys doing smaller scale work for gallery exhibitions. He has six one persons show and numerous group exhibitions to his credit. For a hobby, Ken teaches sculpture part-time for the University of Toledo.


2006 ADDENDUM:

Thin Series, Off the Diet is the first in a series of five new works that continue to
explore the fundamentals of sculpture: form, content and technique; it is carved
from black Swedish granite.

As with all my work, this piece is motivated by this simple philosophy: “... that
profound art contains a high level of spiritual content, not necessarily that of
religion, but that of the ‘spirit of man,’ a spirit (that is) defined by his truth and
honor.”

This piece, like many I make, is not based in content. But rather, guided by
process(es) used in creating sculpture, as well as, the interpla y between negative
space and the form itself. I've never felt that all art required a meaning. To quote a
great, but under appreciated, philosopher of the 20th century...Popeye, "I yam
what I yam!" Or more to my point, it is what it is...nothing more, nothing less.
Therefore, as a warning and a title, "DO NOT SEARCH FOR PROFOUND
MEANING IN THIS TITLE (OR SCULPTURE)."