About the Artist
About the Artist
Fielding Brown has been creating sculptures in wood and multimedia since his retirement as Charles L. MacMillan Professor of Physics at Williams College. He holds the BA and MA degrees from Williams College and the PhD in physics from Princeton University. He has spent a lifetime as teacher of undergraduates and as a grant-supported research scientist.
Invited Exhibits
Invited by Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, to display Bicycle Wreck sculpture in Gund Gallery Exhibition
Shop, 2016.
Invited by the Town of Summit, New Jersey to provide two Sculptures for National, year long, outdoor,
exhibit in town park. May, 2012-2013.
Commissions
“Tricycle Wreck”, for private client, Beverly Hills, California, 2016.
“88”, for entrance of LifeWorks,Inc. of Westwood, Massachussetts, 2007.
“Three Dancers”, for entrance foyer of Fox Hill Village retirement community, Westwood, MA 2013.
Others in various private collections.
Solo Exhibits
St. Botolph Club of Boston, Boston, MA, May-June 2009, 13 pieces
Arsenal Center for the Arts, Watertown, MA, April 2009, 12 pieces
Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA, March-June 2006. Seven pieces
Fox Hill Village, Westwood, MA, Six solo shows from 2002 to 2013
Juried Shows and Memberships
National, Juried, outdoor exhibit, The Mount, Lenox, MA, June-October 2015
National, Juried, outdoor exhibit, Ossining, NY, June-September 2012
National, Juried, outdoor exhibit, Lenox, MA, June-October 2012
National, Juried, outdoor exhibit, Great Barrington, MA, June-October 2011
National, Juried, Prize Show, Jenkins Arboretu & Gardens, Devon, PA, August 2010-June 2011,
two sculptures accepted (With Honorarium)
National, Juried, Prize Show, Annmarie Garden (AMG), Solomons, MD, June-September 2008,
AMG is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution
Cambridge Art Association, September-November 2009, Juried Show
Cambridge Art Association, November 2007-January 2008, Juried Show (110 works Selected out of 700)
North Shore Art Association, Gloucester, MA, 2007, Juried Sculpture Show
Cambridge Art Association, Oct-November, 2006, Juried Show (47 works Selected out of 330)
University of Massachusetts, Boston Campus Center, September-December 2006, Juried Show
Mill Brook Gallery, Concord, NH, June-October, 2006, Two pieces, Juried Show
Member of Cambridge Art Association, Juried membership
Member of New England Sculptors Association, Juried membership
St. Botolph Club of Boston, November-January, 2005, Juried Show
St. Botolph Club of Boston, January-February, 2004, Juried Show
Lynn Arts Gallery, Lynn, MA, Fall 2003, Juried Show
Ferncroft Hotel of Danvers, MA Fall 2003, Juried Show sponsored by Barn Workshop of
Danvers, Four pieces included
St. Botolph Club of Boston, May 2001 and January 2003, Juried Shows
Other
Finalist, Public Art competition, Appleton Mills, Lowell, MA, 2010
Permanent Collection, St Botolph Club of Boston, Boston, MA
“Juror’s
Choice-Sculpture” Cambridge Art Association, October-November 2005, Juried Show
Walsingham Gallery of Newburyport, MA, Summer 2002
Gallery North Star, Grafton, VT, 2009-2013
Artist's Statement
How does an artist think like a scientist?
Having spent a long career as a physicist, and now a short one as an artist, I can answer this question. Both the artist and the scientist are motivated primarily by the desire to create or discover something new. The scientist is driven to reveal undiscovered knowledge of the physical world, what lies beyond present understanding. The artist seeks to bring to life visions of color and space, visions previously unseen.
Experimenting with a new art medium is like inventing a new and special instrument. When first I imagine and envisage a new art work, I plan its execution and invent whatever I need to create it. Each day in my shop means solving some new problem. For example I’ve had to find the best way to glue wood to aluminum, or how to anchor dacron kite strings to my laminates. Michelangelo is said to have “seen” the David within the uneven block of marble that was given him to carve. His curiosity, vision, and inventiveness led him to the famous result.
My sculptures are abstractions of lines and curves in 3-D. Each of my sculptures originates as a set of mathematical equations typed on the keyboard of my computer and displayed as a moving curve on my screen. What matters is visual pattern: symmetries created and broken. Parallax between lines within a sculpture leads to changing patterns as one moves about. Each piece thus becomes fluid and varied. Although my pieces originate as abstractions, I often give them plausible representational names upon completion. Of the many possible patterns that I create, I choose only those that I find appealing and at the same time buildable. These I form into real lines and real curves in 3-D space.
My technique of turning mathematics into sculpture through lamination is unique. Curved lines are formed by laminating thin strips of wood, paper, fiberglass, plastic or sheet metal, a technique that exploits the elasticity and flexibility of these materials. A stack of thin strips is prepared with glue applied between layers and then wrapped onto a form to replicate the computer image. When the glue sets, a ridged curve results. Straight lines are formed from wood dowels with angles and stick lengths determined by computer. String sculptures use dacron kite string and imbedded eyelets. Recent development has shown that aluminum clad sculptures can be made suitable for outdoor display.