Barbara Baer - "Trellis"

Hello, my name is Barbara Baer, and welcome to a look at my sculpture, called Trellis.

This work was designed for a home’s patio or yard or for a sculpture garden like this one.

The sculpture began with a stiff piece of paper and a pair of scissors, playing with the idea of combining geometry -- like the garden trellis outside my studio -- and organic forms – like the floating curves of windblown petals.  I was also interested in contrasting materials:  the opaque metal paired with a translucent plastic material.  The sculpture is aluminum (it’s rustproof) and ½” thick acrylic plastic (often used for the protective barriers around hockey rinks).  

As you walk around this sculpture you see a leafy metal silhouette contrast with glowing, almost “stained glass” painted images.  The work can be imagined as a perpetual garden.

I’ve always loved making things and have completed sculpture commissions across the U.S. and in Germany, Japan, and New Zealand.  Recently I served as director for Spark Gallery, Denver’s oldest artist’s coop.  I’m lucky enough to work hours and hours in my studio in central Denver.