BIOGRAPHY
Artist Statement:
Growing up in West Philly Spear had attended the University City New School. There Spear’s buddy Hiroshi introduced him to the Japanese folding Art with flying paper birds folded during class. Subsequently while attending Tyler School of Art, Spear began to experiment with Origami created with metals rather than only in paper. The two techniques primarily utilized are Fabrication and Casting metals like Aluminum and Bronze thru the lost wax process. Fabrication can utilize new or repurposed metals to be manipulated by metal working tools such as grinders, plasma torches and welders. Original paper models are often reverse engineered to reveal the best path for this undertaking.
Spear was born in Philadelphia PA in 1972, receiving a BFA in Sculpture from Tyler School of Art in 1996.
Over 20 years of focus applying a fondness for Origami, gained during childhood, with a Contemporary approach to Sculpture making. Spear has studied under and worked with Acclaimed Artists such as Winifred Lutz, Jude Tallechet, Joe Tiberino, Melvin Goldfield, Bruce Wolfe, Larry Ludtke, Star York, Estella Loretto and David Pearson, etc. . Meeting Ruth Asawa in San Francisco was an honor, as she was a master Sculptor and the primary pioneer of Metal Origami. Spear's approach to Sculpture is archiving traditional origami in bronze as well as developing Contemporary Abstract Origami Determined Sculpture. Figurative Bronze Sculpture is an approach Spear is focusing on lately, depicting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the forte of his brother Noah the Boa. Noah attained a ranking of Best in the World in 2003 competing in Brazil and has developed Spear Jiu Jitsu. Spear Seeks Free expression thru sculpture with the intent of attaining maximum quality in the beautiful peaceful art of origami captured in metal.