JOHN RAIS. Hard Leisure, 2004. Steel, copper, brass, paint. 24 inches x 29 inches x 24 inches. Photo Credit: D. James Dee.
JOHN RAIS: ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Through metal, I build a language that reflects the human condition as well as the fragility and strength of our relationships to each other, and our planet. At its core, my work is an exploration into connectivity—those things or phenomena that make us feel a connection to ourselves and each other. It is a celebration of connectedness and relationship in a time of separation, isolation, and solitude. I make the objects that I wish I could find, in a world I idealize, as an aspiration to our blended selves. Admittedly, the love of making prevents me from ever finding exactly what I am looking for, or even knowing what it is.
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