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| Chris Buck b.1956 |
Born: Slough
Studied: Redruth School of Art, 1973 - 74
Moved to Cornwall: 1982
Awards: Morris Singer Founders Prize, RWA. Autumn Exhibition 2001.
Elected member of the Penwith Society of Arts in 2003.
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Selected Mixed Exhibitions:
2010
'MMXMAS', Belgrave St. Ives
'Salmagundi', Belgrave St. Ives
Thompson's, London (also 2008-2009)
Thompson's, Aldeburgh (also 2005-2009)
Members Show, Penwith Society of Arts (also 1999-2009)
Members Show, St Ives Society of Artists
Martin's Gallery, Cheltenham (also 2009)
Broadway Modern, Broadway (also 2002-2009)
Stour Gallery, Shipston-on Stour (also 2005-2009)
Michael Wood Fine Art, Plymouth (also 2005-2009)
Artmill Gallery, Plymouth (also 2008-2009)
Plymouth Society of Artists, Members Exhibition (also 2004-2009)
2009
Royal West of England Academy, Autumn Show (also 2000-2008)
Ringstead Gallery, Burnham Market, Norfolk
Peinmore House, Isle of Skye.
2008
Millstream Sculpture Garden, Warminster, Wiltshire
Gallery Nine, Bath (also 2006-2007)
2007
'Cornish Show', Thompson's, Marylebone
'Art Colony in Transition', Belgrave Gallery, St. Ives
'St. Ives Selected Artists', Belgrave Gallery, St. Ives
'Stuff Art', Falmouth Art Gallery (public), Cornwall
'A Postcard from St. Ives', Belgrave Gallery, St. Ives
Wills Lane Gallery, St. Ives (also 1999-2006)
Mid-Cornwall Galleries, Par (also 2001-2006)
2006
Penwith Society of Arts (also 1999 - 2005)
2005
Royal West of England Academy Autumn Exhibition
Lynne Strover Gallery, Cambridge)
Michael Wood Gallery, Plymouth
Stour Gallery, Shipston on Stour
Thompson Gallery, Aldeburgh
2004
Plymouth Society of Artists, Annual Show
2002
Belgrave Gallery, St. Ives (also 2003 - 2006)
2001
Broadway Modern, Broadway (also 2002 - 2006)
1999
Wills Lane Gallery, St. Ives (also 2000 - 2006)
Lemon Street Gallery, Truro (also 2000 - 2006)
Mc.Hardy Sculpture Co. London (also 2000 - 2006)
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Overview:
Chris Buck is the son of a toolmaker. His industrial roots were further strengthened by working in several foundries where he gained a thorough knowledge of casting techniques and general metal and woodworking processes. Buck is inspired by the St Ives Modernist sculptors, predominantly Dame Barbara Hepworth and Denis Mitchell. His references may be in found objects, natural and man-made, or the open countyside surrounding his studio that is in a converted byre. However, it is in the industrial precision that he brings to the highly finished bronzes that Chris makes his contribution to the continuation of the tradition of polished bronze sculpture in Cornwall that was instigated by Hepworth.
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Artist's Statement:
'Most of the work I produce is pure abstract and sand cast in bronze. I can generally visualise the finished piece the moment I start working with what will eventually become the pattern. This may be wood, cardboard, cloth; plaster, resin or whatsoever comes to hand. For me the evolution of a piece is an organic process. There is no planning or drawing. Rarely am I aware of what the trigger for an idea was; perhaps something glimpsed somewhere or a long forgotten find. I surround myself with found objects; the studio is full of treasures of all kinds, everything from cuttlefish to scrap metal.
As soon as the casting arrives from the foundry, I set to work through all the finishing processes, grinding, filing, texturing, patinating, polishing and finally mounting. This usually takes several days and during this time I play with ideas for the next piece.
It still gives me a real thrill and sense of achievement to have a finished sculpture there in front of me. To finally see the contrast between the polished surfaces and textured patinated areas, this combined with the challenge of producing a balanced piece, is to me what it's all about.'
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