How to Learn to Discover Yourself

By Alex Chaban

Imagine waking up one morning and then realizing that you are sitting in your car while being all dressed up, showered, and drinking a hot cup of coffee. You may have no recollection of your conscious memory, about how any of this may have happened with you. We have evolved so many in the present era that we run into our day's complex routine procedures. It’s like that our mind is on autopilot mode, and our unconscious processes are so much faster, reliable, and more subtle than our conscious efforts, to comprehend and understand the world around us. As things revolve around us, we need to know much about ourselves to get through life as we know it.

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Life is not a Ride but a Journey

Life is not a ride where you can just jump on the driver’s seat and start your journey, deciding on where to go and where you need to be. It is a journey of unexpected turns and twists. You may never know where you might end up. Learning to discover yourself is essential because you would know who you want to be and what efforts you need to achieve by exploring yourself.

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Importance of Discovering and Exploring Yourself

When you truly learn to discover and explore yourself, you know about your passion, what you want to achieve in your life, what career choices to make, what you are good at, and what skills you have to accomplish your goals. It can also help you understand the people you are comfortable with to spend your time. You can tell them about the things which you prefer talking about and give information about yourself. Knowing yourself can help you drive your motivation levels about new things in life and be comfortable. You can incorporate new information or let it go.

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 You cannot change without knowing yourself, and you cannot live in a world of change without changing yourself for the better.

Taking on Life’s Challenges by Discovering Yourself

Life will throw all kinds of troubles and difficulties at you, but you need to maintain your resolve and focus. To know yourself can gain you better benefits in life. It can lead to the results which you want as you can make the choices which suit you best. You just need to make a bit of effort to know yourself better. You cannot guarantee that you are smart, strong, or good, no matter how much you peel off your personality layers. One thing is for sure. The more you know about yourself, the more you can explore the things you are good at, the more opportunities you can gain in life and make the best of them. Try to learn different parts of your personality and explore what you like to do that works out well. Therefore, you don’t have to know the stuff and put it on autopilot in your unconscious.

Try to learn more about yourself by reading the book ‘For my Legacy’ by Carole Feuerman. She knew from a young age about her strengths to be an artist. Her Grandfather helped her realize and identify her passion, and by learning herself and her skills as an artist, she became a well-known artist and got to be where she is today. In her book, she motivates people on how they can know about themselves, just as she did, and by utilizing her passion and skills, her artworks are famous and owned by 18 museums. 

How to Understand Meaning and Creativity in Art

By Alex Chaban

Art is a dynamic phenomenon that keeps on changing, first as a visual in the artist’s mind and then as a  creation. However, art can only be created by those who have a sense of it, so it is necessary to find and define the meaning and creativity in art. Finding meaning and creativity in art is not an easy task, as much has already been inquired about it through artistic expressions. One must understand its implications through creativity, aesthetic forms, imagination, color, and expression. Defining the meaning and creativity of art is difficult, as many people can view it based on their perception. Many philosophers, theorists, critics, artists and muscians have argued about having the best approach to understanding art, meaning, and creativity.

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Famous Artists of the World

It still emerges as a question in contemporary literature. True artists who have a greater understanding of art can attempt to determine the meaning and creativity of art, as they have spent their entire lifetime to view and understand art. Artists like Carole Feuerman, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock, Edvard Munch, Claude Monet, Edward Hopper, Frida Kahlo, and many more. These artists can easily express their art and define its meaning and creativity. Art is always meant to be appreciated even when it may appear controversial or disturbing, as there is always a hidden meaning behind it. Art can only be appreciated by those who can understand and enjoy art. The best way to appreciate art is to understand its meaning and creativity from a different perspective, and not just look like different shades of color aesthetics.

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 Does Art Need to be ‘Understood’ or ‘Enjoyed’

 Most people argue that art needs to be enjoyed rather than understood. Just like life is simply meant to be experienced. However, the more we understand anything, the more we learn how it can  enhance our experience. To have a deeper understanding of art, its meaning, and creativity, we need to understand that art is more than just a visual expression. It can also represent an idea, experience, imagination, a thought-provoking subject, or even invoke motivation for the viewer.

It can be made by using different techniques, materials, technology, or even ideas. More importantly, an artist needs to have the ability to bring his thoughts, ideas, and imagination onto the canvas, a patch or a paper, through the use of different materials. Mere novelty is not enough. He or she must have something unique, relevant or unlock a new way of imagining or thinking. It can be difficult, but true artists find it to be intriguing to bring their imagination and ideas through the use of art. Many have accomplished so much more than just money through their artworks. Many of us may even think that creating art only belongs to those naturally gifted. However, every one of us has some level of creativity and potential or even some unique talent that we may not know. You just need to find and exploit it, just as an artist does with their paintings. One must understand to find its meaning and purpose.     

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Defining Meaning and Creativity in Art

 Most of us can view art as a product, but true artist finds their work to have a profound meaning and can easily define the creativity behind it. Art is not something that can be created by merely thinking about it. There is a thought process behind it. For example, the famous painting, Mona Lisa, by Leonardo Da Vinci, is believed to be painted between 1503 and 1506. The painting itself has captured the fascination of millions of people around the world. The artist claims that he wanted to capture the enigmatic facial expressions of Mona Lisa’s smile, but there are more hidden messages and creativity behind this painting. Many have argued that the painting reflects the idea of establishing a link between humanity and nature.

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 In contrast, others think her smile is fake or forceful, yet it appears to be alluring. Many historians, philosophers, and thinkers have argued over its hidden meaning and creativity, but none have achieved its conclusion. Yet, the painting has inspired millions of people to still look and think upon it. As art is taken as an expression, it can give out a unique meaning and creativity.

 To learn more about art and it's meaning and creativity, I would recommend the book ‘For my Legacy’ by the artist Carole Feuerman, who has motivated many people around the world through her story and art. She tells us about how she was inspired to become an artist as she loved paintings. She also tells us about how she never gave up on her dream to become an artist, as she started painting on the floor and decided to nurture her gift since the age of ten by perfecting different art techniques. She has founded the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation, and her artworks are owned by 18 museums. She is also one of the three founding members of the hyper-realist movement that began in the late ’70s and still exists today.  

Carole A. Feuerman on INSIDER

On Tuesday, July 26th, the Facebook sensation, INSIDER art posted a video featuring Carole A. Feuerman's hyperrealist sculptures.

In less that 3 days the INSIDER's video about Carole's work has gotten over 1.4 million views!

INSIDER, an online publication covering the latest trends in food, style, travel and culture, has achieved great fame on facebook in the past year. Now, it seems impossible to log onto facebook without coming across at least one of their posts. INSIDER is perhaps best known for its viral 60 seconds videos that cover anything from macaroon ice cream sandwiches in Bangkok to mind-blowing rope bridges in Costa Rica.

Here at Carole A. Feuerman Studios we are particularly excited about this NYC dessert covered by INSIDER:

However, it seems that our fans at INSIDER have left us no bread crumbs! Carole was not contacted by INSIDER, which makes this video a complete surprise to everyone here at Carole A. Feuerman Studios.

Thank you to the staff at INSIDER for recognizing Carole's work. We're not sure who you are, but if you're reading this, please feel free to say hello!

Share the video on Facebook HERE

Post by Dana Citrin

Feuerman’s Newest Monograph, “Carole A. Feuerman: 50 Years of Looking Good”

Feuerman started as a humble illustrator creating album covers and then thrived to the prolific artist that she is today. Her new book, contains stunning and powerful images that portray her growth as an artist. Feuerman has been creating life-like images of swimmers since the early 1970s. She started off with “Snorkel”, a woman with goggles on, hair slicked back and coming out of the water. Realizing that she wanted to capture more of a woman’s beauty, Feuerman created “Catalina”. The life-sized “Catalina” instantly became an embodiment for more iconic swimmers in her repertoire. 

Feuerman evolved bigger and stronger. She started experimenting with sizes and mediums creating stunning pieces of work such as “Double Diver”, a grand monumental sculpture in bronze. Spiraling a thirty-six feet into the air is not only an artistic feat, but also engineering. The book also mentions other notable pieces such as “The Golden Mean”, “Strength” and “Brooke with Beach Ball”. Flipping through the pages of the book does not do her work justice since each piece looks simply amazing. 

Feuerman’s work has not remained state-side. Her works have travelled all over the word with the most notable places as the Venice Biennale. Her latest life-size sculpture “Emma with the Red Hat” simply looked serene. The images of “The Thinker” are dramatic and thought provoking. 

Feuerman’s sculptures have been taking her audience down her journey. Her book, “Carole A. Feuerman: 50 Years of Looking Good” chronicles that journey for the reader to experience. You, the reader of this blog, can experience this journey yourself.  A personally signed book is available for pre - publication purchase through the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation Boutique. By making purchases through her foundation, you are supporting Feuerman’s mission of promoting deserving artists with residency and exhibition opportunities, internships for college credit and education/research and grants. Experience Feuerman’s journey for yourself and support a great cause.

Carole A. Feuerman: Fifty Years of Looking Good
Edited by John T. Spike
Hardback, approx. 192 pages, 119 color illustrations 24 Å~ 30 cm (9. Å~ 11. in)
978-3-85881-844-7 English
CHF 65.00 | EUR 58.00
GBP 50.00 | USD 65.00
ART
JANUARY 2020 (Europe)
MARCH 2020 (US)

The most comprehensive monograph to date on major American artist Carole A. Feuerman, a pioneer of hyperrealism in sculpture lavishly illustrated and covering Feuerman’s entire career spanning five decades, featuring more than 200 works Carole A. Feuerman is celebrated as a pioneer and one of America’s major pioneers of Hyperrealism in sculpture, alongside Duane Hanson and John De Andrea. Born 1945 and educated in New York and Philadelphia, she began as an illustrator before turning to sculpture in the 1970s, soon gaining much recognition and early success. Her work has been displayed in many group shows and solo exhibitions at private galleries and public museums, as well as at major art fairs, in America, Europe, and Asia. Over five decades, Feuerman has created visual manifestations of stories telling of strength, survival, and balance. Her subject matter is the human figure, most often a woman in an introspective moment of exuberant self-consciousness shaded by erotic lassitude. Feuerman’s works represent a female state of mind rather than an alluring body meant to attract the male gaze. They suggest that women look at themselves differently from men looking at them, that a woman is more innately creative than a man. This book is the most comprehensive survey of Feuerman’s oeuvre to date. Lavishly illustrated in color throughout, it demonstrates the variety of materials and media she uses and highlights the specific qualities of her figures.

John T. Spike is an American-born distinguished art historian, curator, author and lecturer specializing in Italian Renaissance and Baroque Art, and an eminent critic of contemporary art. Additional essays by John Yau and Claudia Moscovici.

Conrad New York Midtown Debuts Hyperrealist Sculpture 'Leda and the Swan' by Artist Carole Feuerman

This Permanent Installation Serves as the Cornerstone of Conrad New York Midtown's Avant-Garde Art Program

NEW YORK, August 16, 2019 

Conrad New York Midtown unveiled "Lida & The Swan" by hyperrealist t artist Carole A. Feuerman. This permanent sculpture installation in the lobby serves as the hallmark of the hotel’s extensive, curated art program and a nod to Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to the arts. Influenced by the Greek myth of the same name, this

contemporary sculpture revives the story by bringing in modern themes of feminism and strength. Upon entering the lobby, guests’ eyes are immediately drawn to the larger-than-life sculpture depicting a female figure in an ornate bathing costume and crystal-clad swim cap lounging on a bright white inflatable swan. The life-like sculpture appears to float on the plinth, layering in a Zen mood to the calm and serene lobby space. Feuerman’s interpretation of the classic tale – where Zeus, disguised as a swan, overpowers and seduces Leda who then bore Helen of Troy – showcases Leda, the bather, in a position of feminine dominance over Zeus, the swan. “Conrad New York Midtown’s art collection inspires guests to appreciate the array of art that New York City offers,” said Robert H. Rechtermann, general manager. “Given our location in Midtown, we’re steps away from the Museum of Art and Design, as well as the soon-to-be reopened Museum of Modern Art, and have a bevy of very talented artists at our fingertips. Carole’s sculpture is the perfect commissioned piece of art to entrance guests and introduces them to our art program.” Feuerman, a born-and-bred New Yorker, is the sole female founding member of the 1970s’ hyperrealist movement, and her art has garnered worldwide acclaim. Leda and the Swan is made with  Lacquer, 24k gold leaf, and Swarovski Crystals, which allow the light to refract and sparkle, much like it would if placed on the surface of a body of water. The sculpture is meticulously rendered with hundreds of layers of paint to portray the nuances of life-like skin tones. It was commissioned and purchased by Conrad New York Midtown and will be on permanent display in the lobby of the hotel.

“I like the idea that my work inspires the viewers to look closely at what stands before them. It
encourages flights of fantasy and involves the viewer with an intimacy they didn’t expect at first
glance. If museums and art are at the top of your itinerary when you travel, you’ll find the Conrad New York Midtown a great way to get cultured,” said Feuerman.

The sculpture Leda and the Swan is just one of the many notable pieces throughout Conrad New York Midtown that exemplify New York’s progressive art history. The hotel’s curated collection consists of over 40 pieces, incorporating pivotal artistic movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Pop Art, street photography, jazz improvisation, Broadway theater, and collections from the MOMA, the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Other standout pieces include an original Henri Matisse lithograph, two original Andy Warhol silkscreens and two limited edition photographs by Amy Judd.

About Carole A. Feuerman

Carole is a born-and-bred New Yorker who paid her way through art school at SVA by illustrating high-profile album covers for artists such as The Rolling Stones and Alice Cooper, as well as a cover of National Lampoon. Following school, Carole began touring Europe to establish herself among an art community that had historically valued male artists. She went on to become the sole female founding member of the hyperrealist movement in the 1970s. Her art has become her way of expressing her thoughts about female activism, and Leda and the Swan tells a story that mimics her own - one of strength, survival, and the struggle to achieve.
She has taught, lectured, and given workshops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Guggenheim Museum, Columbia University, and Grounds for Sculpture. In 2011, she founded the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation. Her art is in the collections of the President and Senator Hillary Clinton, the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation, Dr. Henry Kissinger, the Mikhail Gorbachev Art Foundation, the Malcolm Forbes Magazine Collection, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the State Hermitage in Russia. There are five monographs written about her work. Over the past 40 years, she has earned world recognition by sculpting monumental, life-sized, and museum-sized works in bronze, resin, and marble.

About Conrad New York Midtown

The only suite, only luxury Conrad New York Midtown offers travelers a spacious and innately
residential retreat. The 54-floor property encompasses 562 suites and luxury guest rooms; a well developed art program spanning several pivotal art movements; Dabble, an all-day lively restaurant and accompanying bar; and a 1,500 square-foot fitness center. Set on a quiet side street just steps away from Central Park, the hotel is surrounded by the best of New York City including Rockefeller Center, MoMA and the Theater District. Built in 1987, the property completed a full renovation touching all 54 floors, accommodations, and common spaces in 2019.

Visit newsroom.hilton.com for more information, and connect with Hilton on
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube .

Bollinger Atelier Visits With Carole Feuerman

“ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH OVERDOING” - Carole Feuerman                                                                                                                               

Carole A. Feuerman is acknowledged as one of the three major American hyperrealist sculptors that started the movement in the 1970s. Easier for her to express her emotions through sculpture than through her words, she tells stories of strength, survival, and balance. Her artwork is in numerous collections that include that of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, William and Hillary Clinton, Malcolm Forbes, and spans four continents in four decades. Feuerman seeks to connect with her viewers on an intuitive level, evoking emotion and engagement. It is often the viewer’s participation, or the object/viewer relationship, that completes her work. Feuerman maintains two studios in New York and New Jersey. On an ongoing basis, Feuerman’s work can be seen in selected galleries and museums worldwide.

We’ve worked with Feuerman for a while and on over 30 projects together! We feel like we have a true collaboration with her between foundry and artist; sometimes having to come up with innovative solutions to ideas and designs. Though a “traditional” sculptor, Feuerman doesn’t shy away from using new technology such as 3d modelling and CNC milling machines to push her work in monumental directions.

One of the most challenging pieces we helped Carole with was Double Diver, which now permanently stands at NetApp’s campus in Sunnyvale California.

This sculpture was made from scanning and piecing together her single diver piece so that the figure sat on top of itself, creating an “S” curve. Carole then made the hand and feet transition, making sure we had enough room to fit our armature inside. Once completed, it was once again scanned in and stitched together making the piece digitally finished. We had to make slight adjustments to the angle of figures with the foresight of it needing to be as stacked to itself as possible to ensure sculptural security. Once adjusted and redesigned this was then enlarged and milled on our FROG mill CNC machine and sent to Carole to put in the details and make molds.

 Carole’s original intent was to use her “painting with fire” technique which involves splashing different metals into an open face sand mold, creating an aggressive movement of a piece that feels very organic. However, due to the size of Double Diver (measuring 26 feet high), this would create several problems:

because this technique is a very organic method of creating work, it is unpredictable how much the final piece would weigh; also, pooling in certain areas and being thin in the high spots of the mold is possible, making the work unsafe even with structural engineering. Because of this, new and unique methodologies had to be invented to realize it.

Tom Bollinger had the idea to mimic the “painting with fire” method with wax instead of bronze, where it could be controlled enough to get our standard thickness consistent all around. Head wax artisan Ron Lyons spent some time to R&D different prototypes of the dripped wax method. The first couple attempts felt too stringy, and the artist wanted larger forms that fit like a puzzle. Ron pushed his skillset and was able to control the wax to create beautiful and carefully dripped large pools of wax. After Carole’s approval the wax department went to work and implemented Ron’s method to the Double Diver molds. The solution for dressing the seams was to create what Carole called “cookies”, making individual larger drips on a baking pan and then layering them on top of the piece.

Feuerman made several trips from New York City to work with our artisans.

“I loved working with Tom Bollinger and his team. They really did the impossible to help me create Double Diver!” –Carole Feuerman.

After final wax approvals, the piece went through the rest of the lost wax process. We poured 2 tons of bronze over several weeks of work.

Bollinger also designed and engineered the structure for Double Diver with the help of Caruso Turley Scott Structural Engineers. A key component was to use 17-4 Stainless Steel for the weakest parts of the piece (hand and feet connection, bronze to base connections). 17-4 stainless is ten times as strong as 304 or 316, but also much more expensive, which is why we had to design the armature to be as efficient with our materials as possible.

We also completely designed and fabricated the stainless steel base that Double Diversits on. This includes lighting, design, and access door for any maintenance work that may need to be done. The Double Diver slots into two sleeves that perfectly fit the posts coming out of the figure’s hands and are securely bolted from inside the base.

Working on The Faces For The Double Diver

For the patina, Carole used an iridescent paint which allowed the beautiful lustre of the bronze to shine through; drawing inspiration from the natural patinas her “Painting with Fire” series contains.

It was test fit with its base a final time and prepped to ship to California.  At the unveiling of this monumental piece on April 10th, its silhouette immediately took over the site. The details and hard work reflected the light and was revealed for all to enjoy for many years to come.

“As challenging as this project was, it was exciting to solve and engineer the Diver from beginning to end and once again proves the astute craftsmanship that our team does on a day to day basis.” – Tom Bollinger

Carole also established the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation in 2011, in order to generate excitement, interest and passion for the arts and to inspire and award deserving artists with exhibition opportunities, internships for college credit and education/research grants.

Visit Carole A. Feuerman’s website: www.carolefeuerman.coVisit the Carole A. Feuerman Foundation website: www.carolefeuermanfoundation.org

And to see more of the work we have made for her visit our portfolio page:  https://bollingeratelier.com/portfolio-carole-a-feuerman/

Double Diver in SunnyVale California, Bronze

Announcing MY AUTOBIOGRAPHY

My Hyperrealist Life And Legacy Available March, 2021

About the Author

 New York based artist Carole A. Feuerman is one of the world’s most renowned, influential, and popular hyperrealist sculptors.  She is one of the three founding members of the hyperrealist movement that began in the late 1970’s and continues well into the present. She is most known for her iconic figurative works of swimmers and bathers, such as ‘Survival of Serena’ and ‘The Golden Mean’. She has taught, lectured, and given workshops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Solomon Guggenheim Museum.  

In 2011, she founded the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation. Her artworks are owned by eighteen museums.  Her artworks are owned by nineteen museums. They are in the collections of the City of Peekskill New York, the City of Sunnyvale California. Feuerman’s public works have been displayed across the globe, including but not limited to: Central Park and Petrosino Square in New York City, l'Avenue George V in Paris, Harbour City in Hong Kong, and Giardino della Marinaressa in Venice. She is a wife of Ron Cohen, the mother of Lauren Leahy, Sari Gibson, and Craig Feuerman, and the grandmother of Hannah Leahy, Sam Leahy, Isla Feuerman and Kai FeuermanFeuerman’s prolific career spans over four decades and four continents. Through her sculptures, she creates visual manifestations of the stories she decides to tell: of strength, survival, balance. She seeks to connect with her viewers on an intuitive level, evoking emotion and engagement. It is often the viewer’s participation, or the object/viewer relationship, that completes her stories. She has produced a rich body of work in the studio and the public realm. By combining conventional sculptural materials of steel, bronze, and resin, with more unconventional media like water, sound, and video, she creates hybrid works of intricate energy and psychology. 

Survival of Serena and Immigration

In the late seventies and early eighties, Carole and her family lived in a house in Key West in Florida.  She would see Cuban asylum seekers floating to shore on rafts they had strapped together out of inner tubes and driftwood.  She was greatly affected.

Since 1966, seven years after the Cuban revolution put Fidel Castro in power and in the context of the Cold War, the US had viewed Cubans as political refugees eligible for US citizenship if they could just make it to the country. However, because of travel restrictions and limited resources, those desperate to leave the country scavenged raft materials and inner tubes to become balseros, attempting to float across the Caribbean waters to the Keys.

When balseros made it to Florida they were destroyed by the journey: dehydrated, sun-sick, hypothermic, starving.  However, they also become an integral part of the Florida and US community: in total more than a million would eventually call the state home.

Seeing these refugees, Carole was moved to produce Innertube Variant II, the torso and arms of a woman resting her head on an innertube.  It has been made and re-made since the 1980s in many forms, coming to be known as Survival of Serena.  

Survival of Serena

In one of the first blog posts I wrote after I started working at the studio, I talked about the “Miniature Serena” I had been learning to lay-up with resin to make a piece in the edition:

Yesterday a senior fabricator, Natasha Rodriguez, started teaching me how to do the lay-up of one of Carole’s sculptures, a Mini Serena.  Serena is resting on an inner tube, her head on her arm.  She looks tired and self-satisfied.  Talking with one of the artists here, Heath Wang, he said he saw in it the story of a woman who has escaped abuse and created a new life for herself, and is resting in that moment of security she has created… I'm attracted to Serena's floating, mobile self-security.

Learning more about the history of Survival of Serena in the time since, I’ve come to appreciate it as one of Carole’s most important works.  This sculpture can be more specifically discussed in a political context as an immigrant narrative and a refugee problem.  The floating figure is a direct reference to the experience of crossing the water that Carole watched the balseros take again and again.  

That self-security is something Survival of Serenahas won on the back of her journey as an immigrant, and that is part of why the sculpture has remained one of Carole’s most popular pieces. It has a resonance through different refugee crises that the US and the world have encountered since.  Those who view Survival of Serena can connect it to the Cuban balseros, but it can also be linked to the Honduran, Guatemalan, and Salvadoran families that have been escaping Central American violence since the 1990s.

A Mexican border patrol agent looks out at the river at the border with Guatemala. Photo by N. Parish Flannery @LatAmLENS.

That violence has roots in the United States.  Many Central American criminal organizations can be traced back to Los Angeles, the weapons they use to control and terrorize are primarily a US export, and the market that they sell narcotics to is the US.  Many of the migrants who flee this violence are children and women who choose not to cooperate with these gangs and are faced with death. They have an aspiration to become Survival of Serena, to have built their own self security.

Unfortunately, the Trump administration is actively seeking to destroy that possibility for migrants from Central America and from around the world.  

The public debate on migration in this country is centered on the intense coverage of family separations occurring this summer on the US-Mexico border. It’s reported that more than 2000 children have been separated from their parents while those parents are being detained and tried criminally for illegal entry into the country, even if they have a legitimate claim to asylum.  Meanwhile, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has released recommendations for strict limitations on what an asylum claim looks like, by rejecting the threat of gang or domestic violence as valid grounds for a claim.

Additionally, Trump has successfully pursued a ban on travel and immigration of those from five Muslim-majority countries (along with North Korea and officials of the Venezuelan government), a ban which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court in Trump v. Hawaii.  Two of the countries, Syria and Yemen, are currently undergoing civil wars that the US fights in and supports, creating a massive refugee crisis that the Middle East and Europe have largely borne the weight of.  However, those Yemenis and Syrians who have family in the US and even with US citizen children are now unable to come to the US by any means, continuing the administration’s policy of family separation.

Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions aspire to destroy the meaning and hope of Survival of Serena’s meaning and to destroy that aspiration to a safe and peaceful life for those who are threatened by violence that is often a US export in the first place.  

Ultimately I just want to say this: more than half of the people who work in Carole’s studio right now were born outside the US, myself included.  Carole herself is born of immigrant grandparents escaping Hitler, and being allowed to have asylum in the USA. Our lives have been profoundly affected by the vagaries of policy around migration and immigration in this country and abroad. Making sculptures themselves is not an effective way to fight immoral policy, but producing symbols that have cultural resonance is tool that can be used to suggest moral, aspirational alternatives if the conversation around those symbols happens.

Carole says that Survival of Serena is a universal sculpture. She points to the fact that even for those who weren’t born outside of the US, migration have been a part of most families’ experience.  There have been so many different migrations: those who are refugees from war or famine or flood, those who survived the Trail of Tears and colonial terror, those who were enslaved, those who fled north during the Great Migration, those who moved to the suburbs, those who came to cities because rural economies were corporatized, those who escape their families, those who send money back to their families because there are no jobs at home.  I don’t know if Survival of Serena can speak to all of these histories, and exist in dialogue with them, then her mobile self-security is probably the best that all of us who are at the mercy of history can hope for.

—Craig Hartl