Review: Marist Professor Brings Bronze Sculptures to Recent Collection, ‘Reflections’
Marist professor and sculptor Ed Smith recently presented a collection of work in the BCK Fine Arts Gallery in Montauk, New York. The show, titled “Reflections,” was up from Aug. 19 to Sept. 10. The collection of 30 pieces displayed nine male torsos cast in bronze, as well as drawings of his sculptures, with the goal of investigating the meaning of life and the nature of humankind.
Smith utilizes a colorful patina, a green film produced from oxidation, on his sculptures to explore human individuality. His depictions are not limited to torsos—including full-bodied images and depictions of other parts of the body, like legs –– but his bronze-cast torsos are his showstoppers.
One of Smith’s more striking pieces is “Beautiful Torso.” Beautiful Torso is a stunning, visually symmetrical, shining bronze depiction of a man’s torso. There is a lovely, fluid line that moves from the top of the pectoral muscles to the “V” at the waist. The piece is reminiscent of the archetypal perfection of classical Greek statues. The fluidity of the lines and the softness of the contours are absolutely stunning.
Professor Ed Smith's Torso and other art pieces at the BCK Gallery. Source: BCK Art Gallery
In contrast, Poseidon is a more atypical piece. Unlike many of the more traditionally beautiful pieces in the collection, Poseidon is a bit rougher with its matte color and irregular, pockmarked texture. Yet, it still manages to convey beauty, strength and individuality. It manages to depict Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, in a way that feels natural. What makes this piece particularly visually interesting is the way Smith bisects the piece with an additional wavelike element, which further reinforces the depiction of Poseidon.
Smith has been working as an artist for approximately 45 years. Professions are sometimes hard to pinpoint when it comes to planning for the future, yet Smith knew that, “...there was nothing else [he] could have done.” He says that while in the past there were more opportunities for greatness, today, art is the last available medium to express the desire for greatness, nobility and valor. Smith knew he discovered his passion for art when, “the magic of creating something with your hands spoke to [him].”
He started his artistic career as a painter. While he did enjoy the medium, it lacked the physicality he wanted. He ended up developing a taste for sculpting and which then turned into bronze casting. He appreciates how cast-bronze pieces can exist indefinitely, like the bronzes constructed by the ancient Greeks.
Also displayed in this exhibit are the drawings that Smith did of many of his pieces. Although one might expect that his drawings are plans he creates before sculpting, he actually only draws a piece once a piece is complete. He feels that using a drawing as a mockup takes away from the necessity of actually building it. Instead, he uses his drawings to truly understand what he has made and their implications.
Over the course of his artistic career, Smith has had over 80 solo exhibitions and countless other group exhibitions. This was his first show at BCK. Smith said that the dealer at BCK was wonderful, and the many New York City residents who have relocated to the Hamptons during the pandemic are giving his collection a lot of exposure.