Mike Roig, Sculpture
Georgia College
Proposal for Commission
Spreading Her Wings
Before I dive into the particulars of my proposal, I'd like to thank the members of the selection committee at
Georgia College for allowing me the opportunity to make my pitch. The themes expressed in the notes forwarded
by Anne Tracht as to what you'd like to see expressed in the art were helpful as I worked on the proposal. In particular,
those that emphasized the history of Georgia College's role in women's education, and the on-going priority of
preparing women for leading roles in both the sciences and the arts resonated with me.
The shape I’m playing with in this proposed sculpture is from a very recent series of small pieces inspired by kimono
robe designs.
I started thinking the form could be a good motif for this commission because of its strongly female quality
combined with the joy movement inspires - both in those who evince it, and in those who witness it. I once watched
a dance company perform a half hour piece composed of nothing but whirling-dervish inspired spinning that finished
with the lead dancer as composed, and as serene as when she began. I thought, "That's a person entirely at home
in her own skin." Just as a dancer embodies both the liberating abandon of extreme motion and the discipline
of controlled form, these revolving sculptures for me embody those twinned energies. Both
are helpful in creating anything of lasting beauty.
At the scale proposed Spreading Her Wings will also present a solid, powerful presence. When I think about female
empowerment, I think that's the key quality that can do with more emphasis - being boldly present - especially in a
manner that conveys assured grace, expresses strength, and unites these two concepts
in a celebration of form and motion.
As for the formal elements of the sculpture and how it fits into this particular setting, the site has some inherently strong organic
contouring in the concrete work that defines the planting bed and walkway. That contrasts with the rectilinear backdrop of the
wall casting a shadow over the site. I propose to extend the curving lines vertically in a bid to blur the visual divide. And while color
can be one strategy to stand out from the earth reds and muted grays predominate in the environs, I'm partial to the light-refracting
qualities of stainless steel which, especially when set in motion, presents a constantly shifting display of shimmering surface
reflections influenced by every color in the adjoining landscape.
One theme in my work I understand you were attracted to was sculpture composed of many, smaller wind
catching elements spread on an armature. But in this setting I strongly feel that a bold, solid shape is the best way
to compete with the background visuals. Indeed, I have a plan to use the wall as a surface to catch light as it plays
off the sculpture, especially at night. In a short video at the bottom of the page I show how reflected light plays on the
surroundings with two sculptures in different settings. Below that, I've staged a small scale simulation of how I imagine
a similar sculpture to the proposed might be lit to dramatic effect in your setting.
I’m thinking the sculpture should scale to about 12 feet tall with a 4-5’ base and a 7-8’ tall kinetic element.
Any additional height that could be generated by a raised pedestal would be great, and it will get the piece up into
the sunlight for a bit longer each day. And, of course, there’s
no denying sheer scale for impact.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to make this proposal, and should you elect to move forward with it I'll
be very pleased to include your community in the kind of running progress reports I like to create as I bring a
commission like this one to fruition. You can find examples of this from other commissions on my Making Sculpture
page. I'm working on a one now for company in Cumming, Ga. just down the road from you called On the Wing.
All my best, - Mike Roig
©2018, Mike Roig, all rights reserved