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Inspiration for Mannequin: What starts as a model for the human form, is transformed into a creature of a human deer cross breed. Recognizable still as a mannequin, it challenges the viewer to comprehend what exactly the form is. Neither a deer, nor a live human, Faux Foe is an anomaly that embraces the mutation nature.
Bio:
Benjamin Lavender was born and raised in Austin, Texas, an artistic
and musical city. When he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, he earned his
Associates of Fine Art from Watkins College of Art and Design, with
first place in ceramics and second in sculpture during his exiting
student show. Lavender then moved to San Diego and received his
BA in sculpture from San Diego State University in 2003. Benjamin
quickly established himself in local group and solo shows in the
surrounding area. Lavender's most recent exhibitions include his
second appearance at San Diego Fine Arts Society's annual,
"Sculpture in the Gardens," at the San Diego Botanic Gardens
(formally Quail Botanical) in Encinitas, CA, displaying his latest
large-scaled desert sculpture "Second Century," along
with a permanent piece "Ocotillo," that was purchased and
donated to the gardens the previous year. Lavender recently
exhibited his largest sculpture to date, "Kite of Paradise,"
in the annual "Kites Over Vista", in Vista, CA, with an
appearance in Vista Magazine as a featured artist. Lavender has
also participated in several other juried group shows including: the
annual "Sculptures in the Street" in Mesa, AZ, "Art and
Science" at 2nd City Council Gallery, Long Beach, CA, and
"San Diego Art Prize: New Contemporaries," at Simay Space,
San Diego, CA, and the Port Of San Diego Sculpture Show (now
named Artwalk on the Bay) at the Embarcadero Marina Park North, San
Diego. Benjamin has shown at Planet Rooth, San Diego, CA multiple
times over the past 4 years during "Ray at Night," San
Diego's longest running art-walk located in North Park. Other benefit
shows Lavender has participated include, Jeans For Justice Benefit
Auction, Mozart Foundation Benefit Auction, and Party With A Purpose,
a New Orleans Benefit. Benjamin Lavender has claimed San Diego
as home, but continues to spread his artwork throughout surrounding
areas.
Abstract Naturism is an appropriate way to describe my work, as well
as industrially-organic. Both define the outcome of mimicking
nature through intense hours of manipulating metal, concrete, paint.
and found or reclaimed objects into organically formed art.
Benjamin Lavender's work can be found at: http://www.benjaminlavender.com/.
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