Temple Talisman
Stephen Knapp
1991
MATERIAL: glass; metal: steel
DIMENSIONS: overall: 60 in x 30 in x 14 in
EDITION: Unique
CREDIT: Grounds For Sculpture, Gift of The Seward Johnson Atelier
© Artist or Artist's Estate, photo: Ken Ek
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'Temple Talisman' was on view in the Museum Building as part of ‘Glass: A Group Exhibition’, which took place in the Fall/Winter Exhibition of 1998/99. The work is now installed in the Water Garden. Knapp created the upright shield-like form from kiln-formed glass, a process in which a sheet of glass is heated to a high enough temperature to cause it to slump or sag over underlying molds. The result is a bas-relief pattern, smooth on one side and textured on the other, as seen in Temple Talisman. The shape of the glass element and the raised designs were inspired by motifs found in artifacts from ancient civilizations. The swaths of bright primary colors enliven the sculpture and are set off against the transparency of the glass. A section of die-cut industrial steel with its repetitive triangular openings forms the base of the work. This industrial age material creates a counterpoint to the artist’s allusions to ancient times.
