Michael Shewmaker- Conchatus

"My wife and I pursue 'Tai Chi Chuan' on a daily basis. Once, after a particularly moving session, I was inspired to try to capture the fluid energy that is chi. The result is the series of spiral sculptures that are an important part of my body of work. Conchatus (a conch like spiral, in Latin) came toward the end of the series. It is a tight spiral that is meant to capture the spiral essence of life itself. The spiral inhabits every living thing right down to our DNA. In Tai Chi, the spiral is where the power of the form resides.

I am often asked, "Why polished steel?" At first glance it might seem like 'bling' but anyone who knows me knows that I am not a bling kind of guy. The polish provides the contrast I am looking for between the organic and the inorganic. Stainless Steel is a most unnatural material. What material doesn't rot away? The polished surface of this piece could last 500 years unmolested. That is ridiculous. By creating a piece that implies life itself out of the most dead material there is, I am trying to put the viewer off balance. It is meant to be disconcerting and comforting at the same time. Of course the polished surfaces become liquid and reflect the mood of the day, bright and happy in the sun, cool and ominous when overcast. This piece is available in other finishes, though. The bronze version grows a beautiful green patina. The white version emphasizes the beautiful contours." -Michael Shewmaker