GRUCZA SCULPTURE
My object in creating sculpture is to be able to engage viewers of all interests and to invite them to interact with my work. I want them to experience each piece from many perspectives and, in some cases, from the space created within a piece, seeing their surroundings from a new vantage point. The impulse and the time it takes to interact with a piece changes a person’s state of mind, if just for a moment. I seek to incorporate humor and a sense of play and wonder in my work. Children’s’ drawings as well as magicians’ illusions inspire me. I am also drawn to the complex images found in African, Oceanic and Native American art. These influences find their way into my work through simple lines, shapes and structures, many of which include kinetic and interactive elements. I also enjoy using industrial materials and techniques in unique, surprising ways. The world is filled with quiet, unexpected wonders that I try to capture in my work. While there is an element of lightness in what I create, I believe that humor and play in art can draw something unique and profound from each of us.
Michael L. Grucza
February, 2011