East Hampton - Continuing with our artist profiles of artists both living and working in the Hamptons, our next artist is Bob Schwarz, who lives in East Hampton.

Polaris, 2009, Aluminum, Monofilament, Acrylic Inlays and Metal Hardware, 37 x 37 x 10"

Bob Schwarz was born in Boston, MA, where he attended and graduated from Emerson College, having studied Drama, and Harvard University, where he received his B.A. in English Literature. He was also in the U.S. Army from 1954 through 1957, stationed in Munich, Germany, were he was an announcer for the Armed Foces Nework.

Redirecting his energies after a successful career as director in television, Schwarz is rightfully proud of the description Olivier Bernier, Art Historian/Lecturer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art wrote to describe his work: "Bob Schwarz's sculptures cross boundaries: they are three-dimensional, but open and transparent; they are solid but create illusions. As the artist plays with the complex geometry of the materials, he produces intricate forms which are developed in space and change as the angle of view changes; and then, as we keep looking, we realize that the image we see, complete with in-and-out folds, is not real: half reflection in the polished ground, half reality. These works fascinate because they trap us into looking again every time we think we have seen them as a whole. Always, they are as elegant as they are intriguing."

Emerald City in Candyland, 2009, Aluminum, Acrylic Rod and Monofilament with Metal Hardware, 37.5 x 37.5 x 9.5"

Regarding his "Starbridge Series" Schwarz explained "The Starbridges are three-dimensional works of art. These works resemble models of titanic vessels the size of Manhattan Island that range far and wide across the vastness of the cosmos, bridging the distances between the galaxies. They move populations to settle distant planets. They transport materials, make voyages of discovery and patrol the universe to maintain the peace. I imagine the central plinths to be hundreds of stories high containing the command and control area, the living quarters and the cargo. Modules radiating out contain the mechanisms that create the energy that propels the vessels at unimaginable speeds."

Continuing Schwarz revealed "Years ago, I stumbled upon the work of Naum Gabo. His ability to produce three dimensional parabolic shapes by the intersection of straight wire appealed to something in my psyche. I began experimenting with creating designs that were pleasing to my eye and could be constructed with materials I was able to manipulate. The results are the Starbridges that I make. When I began constructing them I had no conscious objective in mind. I did it, I guess, as a form of meditation."

"As it turned out they became Mandalas of a sort, and as I gazed at them they explained themselves as journeys into unknown reaches of outer space - that is the unconscious. In fact many years prior to establishing this series a dream came to me foretelling the existence of the Starbridges. Not until 30 years after the dream and the creation of this work had I made the association."

Sagittarian String Quartet, 2009, Aluminum, Monofilament, Acrylic Rod, Metal Hardware and Fluorescent Lights, 37.5 x 37.5 x 10"

Concluding Schwarz commented "Folks ask me how I can concentrate so intently and create such compulsive structures. I respond that it all comes from years of counting ceiling tiles and not stepping on cracks."

When did you start making art and what medium(s) do you consider to be your roots in art?

Bob Schwarz: I began in the early 1970s working with sheets of polished stainless steel cemented to plywood. On these reflective grounds I attached aluminum, Lucite and monofilament. The result is a sculpture reflected in the stainless steel mirror.

What is it about the Hamptons that brought you here and enticed you to stay, work, and pursue your art here as opposed to some place else?

BS: My wife and I bought our home in Springs in 1971 because we loved it here, and I started working on my pieces then.

How do you support yourself as an artist?

BS: I worked as a Television Director in NYC before I retired in 1997. My credits include "The Ed Sullivan Show," "Live From Lincoln Center," "Search for Tomorrow," "As the World Turns," and "Another World" where I won an Emmy.

Duke of Wellington Passing Beyond Alpha Cygnus, 2008, Polished Black Formica, Lucite, Monofilament and Metal Hardware 18 x 25 x 9"

Why live and work in the Hamptons as opposed to elsewhere?

BS: Since my retirement my art work has become more and more important, and I have concentrated on experimenting with different reflective surfaces and have begun to incorporate wood and plate glass into the sculptures. I also use fluorescent light to shine through Acrylic rods creating a parabolic effect where it reflects on the stretched monofilament.

What local environmental or historical aspects of the Hamptons do you relate to that may be reflected in your medium?

BS: The aspects of the architectural ambiance created by pioneering
architects who created homes here.

What artists do you feel have influenced you and your work?

BS: The main influences on my work were the Russian Constructivists of the 1920s and 1930s. Naum Gabo, Anton Pevsner, Archipenko, Rodchenko. I'd never heard of these guys until I saw Gabo's work at MOMA. Their work is greatly influenced by architecture, and although I have not had any training in Architecture I was captured by that very quality. My work is very architectural as well. I called my early creations Starbridges, because they seemed to me to be models of huge intergalactic transports conducting commerce between unimaginably vast distances in the universe. In reality, they are all three dimensional mandalas; meditations which, when I am working on them, are calming and centering. When I began using color, I started a Candyland Series (Candyland is just as far away as another galaxy). I have a Starbright Series for my illuminated work, and an Astronomer Series honoring those who made sense of the deep unknown.

Duke of Wellington Passing Beyond Alpha Cygnus (detail)

What advice would you give an emerging artist?

BS: I would advise that they get guidance and hire someone like Beth McNeill to help them manage them.

What gives you an edge (if any)?

BS: If I have an edge, it is that no one that I know of is creating the sort of work that I do.

What are you working on now, and are you involved in any upcoming shows or exhibitions?

BS: I am currently showing at the Bridgehampton Archives (it was the library annex while the Library was being repaired, and before that, Charlie Marder's old headquarters) through Labor Day, Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. I will be at Studio East Gallery (129 Front Street, #9, Greenport) from October 9 through November 1. At the Barnes Gallery (2 Nassau Blvd., Garden City); and at Ashawagh Hall (780 Springs Fireplace Road, East Hampton), from February 19 through March 2, 2011.

For more information on Bob Schwarz go to www.bobschwarzart.com, or www.mcneillartgroup.com.