The AGM held on Nov 11th was opened with a rousing address by sculptor Bruce Armstrong.
Bruce Armstrong is a Melbourne artist trained in fine art at RMIT, who has been carving, painting drawing and printmaking for over 30 years. He is basically a studio artist with several high profile public sculpture commissions to his credit.
Unlike other speakers this year Bruce did not entertain us with a slide show of his works, but in a refreshing change choose to delve into the motivation and mental gymnastics that artists like him go through in keeping the creative juices flowing. He is perhaps most well known for "Bungil " the Eagle sculpture, in Wurundjeri Way at Docklands, 10 meters high on a 15 meter plinth, reinforcing the mantra that size does matter.
Bruce started his career by enrolling at RMIT as a painter, first part time then did an elective as a sculptor, benefiting from the encouragement and mentoring from Anthony Pryor who had switched from engineering to concentrate on sculpture and became a close friend. The creative wheel has come full circle as Bruce now spends more time painting, feeling it was a new experience again, determined that sculpture was not going to take over his life. Bruce advised us all to constantly try as many different creative activities and media as possible to broaden and keep our creativity alive.
Bruce emphasized the importance of stopping early when the sculptor’s equivalent of writers block struck. Stop while you still feel fresh so that you can start again full of positive energy and enthusiasm is his advice.
Leading a friend his electric sander, who returned it with a burnt out the motor, left Bruce with no means to complete his works with his usual high degree of finish. Since then he claims his works have had a much greater feeling of being alive and vibrant, with not faults but features. Less can be more in finishing a sculpture or a painting.
" Just do it " is not just a Nike slogan but also comes from Roald Dahl, whose advice was not to reflect on your work, but do what you like and like what you do. Jump out of bed every morning loving the day, smelling the paint and fresh coffee and having confidence it your own creativity, is the ideal start according to Bruce.
Several members asked Bruce about the present state of the arts industry. Bruce believes it is harder now to start a career as a sculptor or painter, but the way to succeed was to stay true to your self and not try to imitate other artists. He starts a carving say, with a piece of wood, in which he sometimes can immediately see what it will become. Sometimes the wood will sit on his studio floor for months or even years before the eureka compulsion to act strikes and he can start with full confidence in the outcome of the finished work. Best to let your thoughts flow he believes and let the wood tell you what it will be. "If you plan out in advance exactly what you intend to do" he said "you will be more like a carpenter or a craft worker than a creative artist" he said " you must have confidence that your work truly represents what is in your heart and soul, and go for it." The maquette for the Eagle or Big Bird sat on his studio floor for five years before he presented it for consideration to the Arts Council.
Bruce was critical of the large part of a commission or grant which is eaten up by galleries or fabricators leaving the artist with very little left. He reversed this situation when he won a commission for the Owl sculpture in Belconnen, in Canberra. In this case he became his own site and construction manager resulting in a much more satisfactory result.
There is a great deal of more detailed information about Bruce on the internet or from bruce@brucearmstrong.com.au
Contributed by Gordon Robertson
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