David Phillips

 “Schrodinger’s Cat, particles in fields”, an exhibition by David Phillips will open at Boston Sculptors Gallery on April 16 and continue thru May 18, 2008.  There will be an artist’s reception on Friday April 18, 5-8 and a Sowa first Friday reception onFriday May 2, 5-8

This exhibition offers us a glimpse at a process developed by the sculptor over the past three years. A hybrid of metal properties and invisible forces fuse to reveal unique textures, shadow and light. No traditional drawing or printmaking media is used. The work is composed entirely of iron powder and string affixed to aluminum panels, Phillips’ starting point is a series of magnets positioned beneath a metal sheet.  Working horizontally iron powder is sifted onto the surface. Areas are refined using various tools and then fixed with sprayed resin. The magnets are then removed. Superimposing layer upon layer, control and chance together create an intricate web of lines, delicate traces and clusters of Fibonacci patterns.

From afar Phillips’ work looks like a view through a microscope or a slice of a solar system, His choice of images and titles reflect an abiding interest in math and science. Titles all come from physics, cosmology, and biology. “Schrodinger’s Cat” refers to a thought experiment by quantum physicist Erwin Schrodinger. These wall pieces might be seen as metaphors of a multi-dimensional space. Einstein described the warping of space. The presence of planets, stars, galaxies deform the fabric of four dimensional space-time like a bowling ball deforms a bedsheet.

Distortions of the metal surface influence and order the flow of particles. In some pieces the aluminum panels are slit, then warped. In others, the plates are embossed with geometrically arranged bumps so that the iron builds up or slides off the peaks.   In “String Theory” string is used, acting as a dam against the pull of the magnets. Several large horizontal works, “Cosmos” are shaped like the micro background radiation .Combined, these techniques create immense diversity and complexity.