After reviewing nearly 100 images of artworks to choose from, I made a selection of 12 artists’ works that stood out from all the submissions for the 2017–18 Out of the Box: A Juried Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition. I am grateful to have spent time considering the multitude of artistic endeavors in contemporary sculpture and to arrive at this final selection that is presented on the grounds of Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art. Thank you to the museum staff for this invitation and congratulations to the artists!

Among the selected sculptures, I was struck by a number of artists who are embracing the concerns, materials, and forms of the everyday. In this approach, some artists repurposed, combined, or refer to architectural elements such as windows, wooden floors, and benches to reimagine the places that connect us, while other works metaphorically and literally speak to where we are. For example, an articulated square of artificial turf indicates the You Are Here spot or an all-mirror-surfaced, iconic Q stands for WHAT’S IN THE QUEUE? These works suggest a kind of perpetual temporality in our daily lives as we constantly try to locate ourselves in the world, and at the same time, are waiting to see what moves into position next. The sentiment of navigating our location in time and space is also articulated by the text based work that spells out “Eventually/Everything.”

The notion of movement is also present in several of the selected works. One large-scale, colorful red- and-white work moves fluidly over the landscape, suggesting roller coaster-like speed and curvature. A similarly vibrant sculpture shows whimsy as it appears to bounce from an impossible counterweight. In another curious sculpture, a tire on an axle is connected to a mysterious circular container without anything else on its load.

The last group of works invites viewer interaction. Exploring shifting identities, one installation that depicts a face submerged in water engages the public to mechanically reposition facial features, such as the shape of the mouth and the eyes. American Expressions, a sculpture in the form of a U.S. flag, asks audiences to share their thoughts about America. This is an especially poignant gesture in today’s current political climate. In the documentation, one participant writes, “Don’t forget America is beautiful.” Perhaps, this insertion is a fitting reminder for all of us as we walk around this beautiful landscape encountering sculptures to reflect on the positive aspects of our shared reality.

–Jean Shin, August 2017