Artvoice: Buffalo's #1 Newsweekly
Home Blogs Web Features Calendar Listings Artvoice TV Real Estate Classifieds Contact
Previous story: Gallery Gazetteer: A Road Map for Patrons of Small Places
Next story: Felice Koenig - Painter and Sculptor

Scott Bye - Painter and Sculptor

Scott Bye

Sculptor & Painter

Scott Bye’s most recently completed work is a sculpture called Sherpshaw, which he describes as “my version of a rickshaw and a Sherpa combination.” Sherpshaw consists of more than a dozen found objects, and it will be on display at the Buffalo Arts Studios 20th anniversary exhibition, October 1-December 23.

Looking back on last year, which art events or exhibits stand out in your mind?

Last year, I met Michael Beitz while I was welding a roll cage on my sculpture Hybrid at the UB sculpture studios. He mentioned he was having a dual solo show at Big Orbit Gallery and that I should stop by to check it out. When I showed up in the gallery Michael had a full-sized couch tied in a knot. I was really inspired by his clever ingenuity and simplicity with object and form. I’ve always been drawn to art work that seems improbable or “off the wall work” that makes you question how they pulled it off.

What has influenced your artwork recently?

Lately, I’ve been inspired by knots, luggage, and things that carry weight. Also, I tend to read plenty of books on mountain climbing Everest or hiking the Appalachian trail. These stories mention the Sherpas and the things they carry up to Everest and how they pack for the expedition. I’m a big fan of packing or what I like to call “packology”; to be able to fit a multitude of stuff into a specifically size space. Packology excites me for it is a perfect mental life puzzle, its math in action, its packing a car for a big move, arranging my mountain bag for a big hike or specifically stacking multiples of the same object into an unexpected form.

What are you currently working on?

As of now, I’m working on four different styles of work and medias. I have my illustrations that are a little different than my paintings but sometimes use the same subjects matter and then there is my festival sculptures and studio “found object” sculptures. Lately, my festival sculptures have been requested for places like Art Park in Lewiston, the Chautauqua Institute, Slyfest 6 at Northfork Music Park, and even the Buffalo Harbor. Its been a big year for the festival sculptures and I could just feel next year being bigger. My studio “found object” sculptures is the work that I love to indulge in. Time alone with an idea and artifacts brings me back to childhood, building forts and making contraptions out of random garage stuff. These sculptures people can relate to, they tell a story, but not my story—it is a story that only the viewer knows, and they find it through the objects I use. After this year of showing at the Castellani Art Museum, the Buffalo Science Museum, Buffalo Arts Studios, and even a little pocket park in Niagara Falls, I see my style having so many open options that I have more than enough to play with for a while. Like most artists I have a few uncompleted works and an overabundance of ideas that fill my sketch book. I try to organize my projects to suit my budget and materials that I’ve acquired over the years.

Which art events are you looking forward to this year?

I’m absolutely looking forward to Buffalo Arts Studios 20th anniversary along with Joanna Angie’s last ask fundraiser. The open studio event and sale exhibit, Megan Greene, Esther Neisen, Balint Zsako exhibit. Plates and Pasta with Christian Campos, and Marie-Claire Bozant, Lai-Chung Poon, Allen C. Topolski exhibit—and they are all there at BAS.

blog comments powered by Disqus