Julie Speidel | "Shikaku" Sense of Sight

About

“Shikaku” is the Japanese translation for the “sense of sight” and provides the inspiration for this most recent body of work. After forty years working with her hands as a sculptor of pieces at a substantial and often grand scale, Speidel’s artistic vision has evolved metaphorically with the ever-present passage of time. Entering this stage of life with limited visual acuity, inspiration for her work has transitioned from physically touching the large sculptures before her to an introspective and mindful practice of “seeing” that is meditative, internal and very personal. The intention of these new works is to ease the mind of the viewer and create a freeing experience of “sight” without the struggle to focus. These compositions reflect the artist’s deep appreciation for the Japanese aesthetic and its origins in simple, subtle, unobtrusive forms.