Chapman receives Hayes sculpture for public display

For public display, Chapman Cultural Center has received a painted-steel nonobjective sculpture by the noted artist David Hayes. The multisided sculpture is painted in bright primary colors and sits at the entrance of Chapman’s theater. It is on permanent loan from an anonymous patron.

Mr. Hayes, 1931-2013, was an American sculptor noted for pioneering sculptures in metal and for his work’s graceful curves, shapes abstracted from sketches of objects and ideas. His earlier works were usually black, however, early in this century, he began adding bright and bold colors to his work, which became his iconic style. The unnamed piece at Chapman is a fine example of his later work.

Mr. Hayes’s work is sought after around the world and displayed in the most prestigious galleries, such as the Museum of Modern Art, Guggenheim Museum, and Smithsonian American Art Museum.

In reference to his work, Mr. Hayes once said: “Each sculpture begins with the ink and gouache drawings that I do each day. The forms and shapes, and their interaction, are delineated on paper, with the color showing each different form. The drawings themselves are derived from copious notebooks of sketches that I make to depict objects and shapes that I respond to in nature and the environment around me. Later they are painted with several coats of primer and weather resistant colors. The coloration of the pieces is determined by what I see in the shapes themselves. And though the pieces have individual titles, I leave the interpretation of each to the realm of the viewer’s imagination. The sculptures are out in the open and can be viewed under different weather and light conditions as they are all made for out of door exposure. I have a strong conviction about art in public areas where it can be seen and enjoyed in uninhibiting surroundings.”

The Hayes sculpture at Chapman can be viewed daily. For extensive information about Mr. Hayes, please visit his website: DavidHayes.com.