Official Guide to Art Week Great Falls, Montana March 15th-19th, 2023
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/951966
portfolio • 21 outwest art show & sale Chip Jones SCULPTOR passion for texture, is what draws Chip Jones to his studio in the Bitterroot valley each day. He has spent the last decade trying to perfect a technique which by its very nature will never happen and he seems to be ok with that. Chip has been creating and pouring his own bronze art since the mid-eighties, but it took a dramatic turn when a man came into his studio and bought a pile of spilt bronze right off the floor. Jones spent the next three years refining and experimenting with molten bronze to create a technique few others have attempted. He describes it as, "painting at 2300 degrees, using cast iron brushes". He now pours exclusively using this technique of throwing, splashing and dripping bronze into beautiful wildlife and western bas reliefs. He will tell you that after learning the rules of metallurgy and foundry work, he takes every opportunity to break those rules, because that is where he finds unique shapes and texture. You will hear him use terminology such as, "pebbling, wet pours, hot on cold, and bombing". He admits he had to make up these terms to explain the process, since no one else works in this method. Every piece is an original since he could never duplicate the pours. He is often asked why many of his pieces have the subject pushing out of the frame. This is just one of many visual metaphors in his work. Breaking out of "the box" and always creating new ways to express the beauty of nature. Another metaphor is the splashing, flow and layers of the bronze, frozen in time, representing nature in all its chaotic wonder, juxtaposed with a recognizable image. Working at these temperatures doesn't come without risk. The blisters and burns are just part of working in the hot room. The grinding, cleaning and patina work are seldom viewed; however, many clients and school children have enjoyed the fascination of the pour from a safe distance. The larger risk is sharing a new concept of sculpture with the public. It seems to be paying off for Jones as many pieces have been placed in prestigious museum shows and homes around the country, while earning recognition such as the "Most distinguished body of work" award at the Out West Art Show in 2016. Jones' passion for art is infectious. He considers it an honor to share his work with young artists around the country. His studio in Stevensville, Montana is open to the public where he has hosted many field trips, classes and art intensives. When he is not in his studio, he can be found hiking the high country or enjoying a summer day on the river. Please take a minute to stop by room 179 in the Heritage Inn hotel during the Out West Art Show to visit and view his newest work. A SHOW: Out West Art Show & Sale (BWP) Heritage Inn: Room 179