"Verde"

Alabaster

17" X 4"

2019

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is largely process-driven. Hammering away at the stone with a chisel is aggressive and confrontational. Removing sharp edges, and imperfections, and releasing the stone of all that needs to be removed is a liberating and therapeutic experience.

Rasping the stone is my opportunity to begin to shape more intimately and with intention. During this stage curves, tears, holes, faces, or waves begin to reveal themselves. Sometimes the form and God-given color that emerges from this process are enough, while other times the object emerging from the stone holds a deeper meaning or speaks to something occurring in my life that suggests further development.

Once satisfied with the shape, I begin sanding the stone. After such an aggressive introduction to the stone, and spending weeks or months carefully rasping and acquainting myself to its shape, I find the sanding stage to be intimate and sensual. Smoothing over every chiseled line and rasp mark, with only sandpaper, is the first time I touch the stone without hard metal tools. With each higher grade of sandpaper and water, the stone becomes softer, smoother, and darker. This stage reveals the final form, which, whether figurative or non-representational, communicates a sensory experience of texture and movement to the viewer.

ARTIST BIO

Adrienne Brenner was born in York, Pa in 1973. Brenner works predominantly in alabaster; however, she has also worked with pastel and photography. Brenner earned an MS in Art Therapy with a specialization in Phototherapy from the College of New Rochelle, NY in 1998.

Brenner has exhibited her sculptures in the Senior Art Therapy Exhibition in the Castle Gallery at the College of New Rochelle, the Grand Opening of The Lofts on George Street in 2002 in the 2015 Rottler Award Selection Exhibit, and the Spring Members Show at the York Art Association where she was one of the professional winners. Brenner also exhibited with Matthew Clay-Robison in the Pennsylvania Art Experience Marketview Art's June 2015 show "Curves and Edges," the 2015 Yorkfest juried show, and won an Award of excellence in York Art Associations 2015 and again in the 2021 Juried art show. Brenner won an Award from Creative York in the York Water Company show and showed her work in the 2017 Show "Transitions" in Creative York. Most Brenner won an award of excellence in the 50-anniversary juried show at York Art Association in October 2021.

Brenner is served as a Board member and President of the Board of YorkArts now called Creative York. Brenner has accepted commissions and her work is in several private collections, including those of Karen and Dennis Strine, Rick & Carol Smith, Attorney Bill & Sanfra Anstine, Attorney Lawrence & Tina Young, Shannon and Richard Lopez, Jack & Yvonne Garner, Fred Rosenmiller, Scott & Ellen Hancock, Ed & Jamelle Magee, Bill & Kim Kerlin, Dot & Walt Rohrbaugh, Russ & Janie Mcknight, Joe & Sandy Brillhart, and Barbara and Phil Shepp.

www.facebook.com/adrienneb.stonesculptor

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