Cherokee
Steel, 8' x 3' x 2'Marvin Tadlock, Bristol, VA
Location: Blakely Mitchell
Dr. Marvin Tadlock is a professor at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia. He has a Master of Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and received his Doctorate of Education from the University of Georgia. Many of his works are on permanent display throughout the Southeast, and he is a frequent exhibitor with numerous awards and accolades throughout his career.
"Creating sculpture is my passion. I have made my living for the past thirty-six years teaching, and helping others discover, enjoy, and make art. My preferences are rusty steel over bronze or marble, tee shirts and jeans over suits, Tuesdays over Sundays, and, show me rather than tell me. I love people, dogs, nature, storms, humor, passion for a cause, and working with fire. Without question, I prefer contemporary art above art from the past. My sculpture usually falls in one of two categories: aesthetic art, art with no content other than design. And, content art, art that is built in response to, or portraying, a strong message.
'Cherokee' is a sculpture that is about designing with steel. Much care was given to the design elements of rhythm, shape, and balance in the placement of these forms within the work. All of the individual sections are geometric, being derived from circles, rectangles and triangles. Suggestions of mountains, rock and crystal formations, drum or moon forms, aided in the naming of this sculpture."