Sculptures on display: ‘Infinite Skyline #1’ and ‘Bird Feeder Made of Spikes’

Antonio Inserni is an artist living in the East Bay. In addition to his own work, he has contributed to large scale public art for UnScruz and Burning Man, including “Aurora,” “Trust Cats,” “Farmer the Rigger,” and the 2024 BM Temple. A retired chemical engineer, Antonio often recycles manufacturing materials to create his garden art, as is  the case with “Skipping Stones”on display at RBG. Antonio;s works can be found from Boulder CO to Richmond CA. The metal pieces are often brightly colored, and all metal pieces are protected against UV and sea salt spray. You can find Antonio’s other work on Instagram, at aainser1.

Sculptures on display: Totem of Many Seasons, Enchanted Fungi, and Colorburst Fungi

Xuan has worked on mosaics since 1999. Her mosaics aim to tell a story, to inspire, to delight the imagination, and to heal. The inspiration for her art is mostly derived from her life journey, as well as from her perception of the external world.  Creating mosaics gives her freedom, inspiration, the motivation to create, and the feeling of satisfaction when she generates something beautiful.  And that, in itself, nourishes her soul.

To capture the depth and complexity of such subjects, real or imagined, she delves into different artistic styles and techniques in her designs, such as impressionism, still life, and architecture.  She has evolved from only using ceramics to incorporating a wide variety of materials into her mosaics to pull unlikely materials into unique harmony.

Since “Xuan” is pronounced “Swan” in English, the mosaics she creates carry the hand-made swan logo that represents her signature. 

Sculpture on display: Ceramic Flowers

Sculptures on display: Roswell, Small Cactus and Hug Me

For more than 65 years, working metal into imagined shapes has been my fascination.  All the sounds, the sparks, the flames, and the smells of metalworking were my inspiration to get started.  Watching the molten puddle while I form a new weld is a hypnotic experience for me.  A flame or arc around five or ten thousand degrees can’t help but grab your attention.

Working with stainless steel, mild steel, and aluminum has given me an appreciation for their characteristics – some similar and some totally unique.

Some of the shapes I create now are inspired by the various things I dreamed up when I was a youngster.  I spent endless hours doodling with pencils and pens.  I made shapes in the dirt in my back yard, or in the sand at the beach.  Sometimes I would even carve shapes in watermelon, or in chunks of cheese, then draw them with paper and pencil before happily devouring them.  Later on in school, I took drafting and drawing classes where I learned formal techniques in visualizing and drawing shapes.  Most of my work today originates from imagined shapes I have created in my mind and in my sketchbook.

All my work is TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welded because of its quality and strength – it’s the best. Many artists teach themselves how to weld; I learned by taking many classes in high school and college.  I’ve also worked as a welder and metal fabricator for many years.  All these experiences have heightened my ability to shape and weld the forms I imagine.

Viewing a finished piece is always a revelation.  The sanding process blends all the surfaces and edges together so that the shape looks like it has been carved from a single, solid metallic chunk. Walking around the new sculpture and checking out all the different views is an exciting experience.  When asked which of my works is my favorite, I always answer the same way:  “The one I’m working on right now.”

More than 30 years of teaching metalworking techniques and skills to high school students have given me a lot of inspiration to create new sculptures.  So many shapes, and so little time to build them: I can’t wait to get started on my next project.

Sculptures on display: Rusty, Skippy, Reeds, and Stabile

My technique is instinctual and uncompromising—brute force guided by decisions made in the moment.

My creative process reveals itself through patterns. Pattern is the language that runs through all of my sculpture. I begin with a single piece of steel, adding to it or carving away from it, allowing the work to evolve until it fully embodies my creative energy. When that energy is alive and flowing, I work relentlessly toward completion. A sculpture is finished not by a plan, but by the moment the creative force subsides.

I have been an artist my entire life. My fascination with engineering and architecture informs everything I create. The shapes of metal—its patterns, textures, and grain—compel me to explore their potential. Through cutting and welding, I am free to shape steel into whatever form my vision demands. My aspiration is to create sculpture that is truly singular—work that has not existed before.

I resist conformity and reject mass production. My art is as individual and uncompromised as I am. My work belongs to the present, the future, or any time at all. It does not imitate reality or reference the external world. Instead, it draws from relationships between forms and patterns that exist independently—what I describe as contemporary abstraction.

I find deep satisfaction wandering through metal scrap yards, searching for discarded pieces of steel that speak to me. I feel a connection to inanimate objects. When I encounter something cast aside, I ask why. I wonder it was used for and where it might have been.

Every piece of metal carries its own story. Was it once part of a bridge, bearing travelers toward distant places? Was it part of a water tower, sustaining gardens below? Was it used to manufacture other objects like itself?

Once I rescue that piece from limbo, it may take moments—or months—for me to understand what it wants, or needs, to become.

Only then can I fulfill its dream.

Sculptures on Display: Birdbath/Bird Feeder

Sculptures on display: Yen for Yang and Sister One

Jeff Arnett resides in Santa Cruz, CA, with his wife Patricia and his beloved 1960 Metropolitan classic car. His journey as both a poet and sculptor began after earning two BAs from UCSC, followed by a detour into the world of retailing with local stores the ID (Integrand Design) and the BX (Basic Exchange). However, his passion for writing reignited, leading him to pursue a master’s degree in creative writing at the University of Colorado, Boulder. For 26 years, he dedicated himself to teaching writing at UCSC while nurturing his creative endeavors in both word and stone. Now retired, Arnett devotes his time and energy to crafting sculptures from stone, bronze, and wood.

Arnett’s artistic journey took a significant turn when he became involved in Santa Cruz Open Studios a decade ago. Since then, he has sculpted over two hundred pieces while continuing to write and publish poetry. Reflecting on his early influences, Arnett recalls how the arrowheads his father discovered in Alabama sparked his initial fascination with shaping stone. It wasn’t until his time at UCSC, however, that he truly embraced the tactile nature of working with clay, wood, and wax. Under the guidance of mentor and bronze sculptor Doyle Foreman, Arnett pursued a major in art, eventually delving into the realm of stone sculpture with the mentorship of local granite sculptor Peter Hanson.

Sculpture on display: Sweet Baby Jane

Sculptures on display: Nigerian Dwarf, Baby Elephant, Pig #2 and Frog #5

I weld an armature of steel, creating a very strong piece.  This is covered in several layers of aviary wire to create the form.  Concrete is pushed into the wire to a depth of approximately 1/2″.  The inside of the sculpture is hollow.  Several layers of concrete are required.  Then it is cured for three weeks to allow all the moisture to evaporate.  A concrete sealer and acrylic paint is applied.

Commissions are welcome.  Please contact me at nwgrahamart@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you and I’m always open to suggestions for future projects.

Sculptures on display: Dreamer Buffalo Dreaming Medicine,  Visitation, Extra Large Owl, Wisdom Owl on Pedestal

Born in St Charles, Missouri in 1956, Clayton Thiel received his BA in sculpture from Maryville University in 1979, then came to California to study with Peter Voulkos and Joan Brown at UC Berkeley.  At San Jose State he studied with David Middlebrook and Stan Welsh receiving an MFA in 1985 .  He has been a full-time professor of Sculpture (clay, stone, and bronze), Art History, and Design Chabot College in Hayward, CA since 1990.  Thiel’s work has been shown widely in exhibits and galleries, and he has received numerous commissions from private collectors.

Sculptures on display: Chambered Nautilus, Shell, Blue Pigeon, and Wandering Cat

Sculpture on display: Catching Flys

Denise Ding is a metal sculptor from Ione, California who finds new purpose for discarded metal junk. What started out as a ranch/shop clean up after her retirement from the state, turned into a passion for welding and turning found metal pieces into animal sculptures. She lives by the motto, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, and loves finding new life in old things.

Sculpture on display: Column

The act of creating has long been a driving force in my life.  After designing and building my own home entirely by hand and creating a sustainable, organic life style in rural Massachusetts, I worked as a fine art photographer with shows in New York, Boston, and other East Coast cities.  However, my primary career focus was as a filmmaker.  My work in this field has been recognized by over fifty national and international awards including honors from the New York International and Chicago International Film Festivals and inclusion in the Library of Congress CINE Collection.

Upon retiring, I began to channel my creative energies into sculpture.   Over the past few years, my work has appeared in over sixty juried shows from California to New York and has been featured in the books “Contemporary Sculptors” and “Art Folio, 2021.” 

Sculpture on display: Being

Jun Yan is a Sculptor based in the San Francisco Bay Area who draws inspiration from his Buddhist background to create art that goes beyond the surface. His works focus on nature forms, expressing an internal strength.

Using ceramic, bronze and other metals, he sculpts a diverse range of subjects that embody a philosophy of stillness and connection among all natural forms of life.

Before becoming a full-time artist, he worked as a fashion and costume designer in Paris and New York. In 2017, he began exploring 3D modeling and sculpting, leading to the creation of a fashion collection using 3D printing techniques, which transformed into wearable art. This experience inspire his passion for sculpture, making it an integral part of his artistic journey.

Sculptures on display: Talking Timbukyu, A meeting by the River, and Sonido Cosmico

Sculpture on display: Daughter of the Evening

Gary Marsh is an interdisciplinary artist working primarily in three-dimensional media involving clay, wood, plaster and found objects, with occasional explorations into ‘sculptural’ painting. Garys work can be ironically sardonic or intensely serious, with subject matter ranging from his playful approach to representing the human figure, to addressing current issues such as gun violence in America.

Over the past 50 years, Gary has shown on both the east and west coasts with works included in exhibitions at the Carnegie Museum of Art, the San Luis Obispo Museum, Blue Line Gallery, Desta Gallery, Los Gatos Art Museum, Epperson Gallery, Pence Gallery, Art Works Downtown and the Crocker Art Museum. His studio is located in northern Marin County, where he has been affiliated with MarinMoca since 2009, as both an active artist and a board member.

garymarshdesign.com

garymarshsculptor.com

Sculptures on display: Black Magic, Kimono Cat, and Faux Bois Bench

Sculptures on display: Phases
Moon Flight

Sculptures on display:

Sculptures on display: glorius

Sculptures on display: Sentinel #1 and Sentinel #2

Sculptures on display: Flower Power, Green Upright, and Yellow Side Cat

Sculptures on display: Untitled

Sculptures on display: The Offering, Guidance, The Space Flower and Mr. Snail

Sculptures on display: Moongazing

Sculptures on display: Oology, Ostium, and Holobiont

Sculptures on display: Focal Point

Sculptures on display: Mado and Ishidoro

Sculptures on display: Sea Maiden

Sculptures on display: Summer

Sculpture on display: Shelter

My exploration into garden sculptures grew from two deeply two distinct experiences. First, while traveling in Japan, I fell in love with the quiet, enduring presence of stone lanterns and the beauty of ancient architecture and art. Then, after returning home and moving into my new house, I discovered Gladding McBean pipe on my property — sparking a memory of the beloved Feats of Clay show, once held in that historic local factory, where the pipe itself became the base for works of art. Those two worlds — Japanese architectural form and local clay history — now come together in my garden pieces. In my work, I am drawn above all to the interplay of texture, form, and color, seeking sculptures that feel both rooted in place and open to the wider world.

Installation- $100 + mileage (from Colfax CA)

Sculptures on display: Drops, Neptune, and Blue Striped Egg

Sculptures on display: Arctic Mantis, Fire Dragonfly, Bee Gi Gone Mad and Surprise Surprise #3

Sculptures on display: Ballerina with Dove Sculpture

I create my sculptures using Hex Mesh Wire. I love the airy, flowing and enchanting feel of the mesh and enjoying pairing it with driftwood and other elements. You can find my work at High Hand in Loomis and in the Auburn Old Town Gallery, both north of Sacramento, California.

Sculptures on display: Urocyon cinereoargenteus

Sculptures on display:

Sculptures on display: Morning Exercise, Embracing Lovers

Melody Fombe was part of a recent exhibit at SFO airport (https://www.sfomuseum.org/exhibitions/stone-sculpture-zimbabwe/gallery#2).

We are House of Stone Charitable Organization (https://www.houseofstone-ngo.org) and use these sculptures for two purposes: to tell the story of modern, international art from Zimbabwe and support these artists, and all proceeds from the sale support our projects helping children in rural schools back in Zimbabwe.

Sculptures on display: Rainbirds

Nesbert Mukomberanwa was born in 1969 in Buhera, central Zimbabwe. In 1987, he began to study sculpture with his uncle Nicholas Mukomberanwa, one of the most famous and internationally respected artists of the Shona sculpture movement.

By 1989, Nesbert felt ready to begin working alone. He left his apprenticeship and established his own workshop at home in Chitungwiza. There he worked for nearly a decade, developing a distinctive style and gaining international recognition.

In 1998, Nesbert relocated to the tranquillity of the countryside, where he is finally free to concentrate fully on his art. He has created the ‘Village Gallery’ to display his work, where he sometimes also shows works by selected young artists.

These sculptures are being offered through our small non-profit House of Stone Charitable Organization (https://www.houseofstone-ngo.org/about). We believe Art is as a bridge between communities and cultures and humanizes connections across the globe. 100% of the proceeds of art sales fund our sustainable development projects for rural Zimbabwean primary schools.

Sculptures on display: Waiting for the Rain

Lorraine is one of the few female stone sculptors in a traditionally male world. She works to empower women in the world of Shona sculptures.

These sculptures are being offered through our small non-profit House of Stone Charitable Organization (https://www.houseofstone-ngo.org/about). We believe Art is as a bridge between communities and cultures and humanizes connections across the globe. 100% of the proceeds of art sales fund our sustainable development projects for rural Zimbabwean primary schools.

Sculptures on display: Smiling Brothers and Secretary Bird

Fanizani was born in Zambia, and came to Zimbabwe in 1949. He worked on Tom Blomefield’s Tengenenge farm where the famous sculpture community was based. In 1966, Tom gave him a set of sculpting tools and encouraged him to experiment with the stone. His early work showed promise and he was hooked: sculpting became his life-long career.

In the late 1970s, Fanizani decided to move to the city, to escape the disruption of the war of independence. He continued sculpting right up until his death when he was nearly eighty and was a much-loved character within the Harare art community. His work has been exhibited worldwide for decades and is in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Zimbabwe as well as many private collections.

These sculptures are being offered through our small non-profit House of Stone Charitable Organization (https://www.houseofstone-ngo.org/about). We believe Art is as a bridge between communities and cultures and humanizes connections across the globe. 100% of the proceeds of art sales fund our sustainable development projects for rural Zimbabwean primary schools.