William Tucker Sculpture

Sculptor receives international honor

ROME, NY -- Sculptor William Tucker was awarded with the distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Sculpture Center n London this spring. The Lifetime Achievement Award was established by the International Sculpture Center in 1991 to recognize individual sculptors who have made exemplary contributions to the field of sculpture. Tuckers gateway piece "Turning" (1976) can be viewed locally at the Griffiss International Sculpture Garden in Rome, NY where it was installed in 2008.

The weathered steel sculpture "Turning" is one of a group of sculptures Tucker constructed in steel or wood in the late 70s and early 80s which explored the idea of a central void surrounded by a geometric frame in the case of "Turning," a triangle with curved sides. The Griffiss International Sculpture Garden is a long-term regional public art project. The sculpture park is free and open to the public year round. By the end of the year it will include 19 sculptures. Some are visible while driving on Route 840, others are installed along a new walking trail near the traffic rotary and others at Technology Heights overlooking the airfield. The sculpture park is a visionary collaboration among the Griffiss Park Landowners Association, Griffiss Utility Services Corporation and the Griffiss Local Development Corporation of Rome, New York, working in partnership with Sculpture Space, an international artist residency program. Sculpture Space is responsible for the curatorial project development and management of the park.

Tuckers 1976 residency at Sculpture Space was a formative experience for the British sculptor, who was born in Cairo Egypt to British parents and moved to New York City as a young artist. He wrote, "Whenever I could find the time I would head up to Utica... The sense of community and dedication among the artists, the lack of distractions in the area and the resources of the Boiler Works all contributed to make the experience of Sculpture Space one of the most fruitful periods of my career. " An alumnus of Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, Tucker is known for his work with the luminary Sir Anthony Caro and for his seminal 1966 "Primary Structures" exhibition at the Jewish Museum in New York. His 1974 book, "The Language of Sculpture," is considered to be an important collection of essays on the emergence of contemporary sculpture.

Sculpture Space is the only artist-in-residency program in North America specifically designed to serve professional sculptors. Sculpture Space provides a fellowship, studio space, special equipment, technical expertise, and specialized resources for artists to make new works of art -- works that are first seen in Utica before being exhibited in galleries, museums, and sculpture parks worldwide. Drawing artists from throughout the world, Sculpture Space also fosters a growing audience for contemporary art. The institution provides local community members with opportunities to meet contemporary artists and learn more about sculpture through quarterly work-in-progress receptions, studio tours, and presentations for local organizations.