Joel Shapiro, Visiting Artist Lecture 1976

Joel Shapiro gives a lecture at Skowhegan showing a series of works over the last seven years. Shapiro is interested in investigating ideas of destiny and establishing a language for this through sculpture. Shapiro uses a wide range of material in his work ranging from but not limited to marble, limestone, and marble. Shapiro is further interested in exploring ideas of touch and establishing a presence in his work that is not ordinary. Shapiro states how he has a regular drawing practice which he uses to establish size and thickness for his sculptural pieces. Shapiro also states how for him, sculptures should have solid shapes inside and erratic forms outside: this gives his sculptures solidity and negative space so he can further play with ideas of space and volume.