I was cleaning up some files and came across this article. It was published about the last one man show I had in Virginia. It was before my move and I found it interesting. I thought you might like it as well.
I was fortunate to be able to save most of the mentioned pieces and they are now stored at the farm in Torrington , CT. If you would like to visit the studio give me a call or email and we can set up it up.
Ed
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Gracie Hart Brooks
Local sculptor and painter Ed Jaffe will unveil two new bodies of work Saturday evening at his studio on West Main Street in Orange. Jaffe has created large three-dimensional paintings from sketches he drew while in the Berkshires this summer. The paintings, which feature an array of colors, are approximately 48 by 60 inches, larger than his usual size of 36 by 48 inches. Here is one of them.
Local sculptor and painter Ed Jaffe has been an artist for more than 40 years, but his latest artwork is anything but old.
This weekend, Jaffe will debut two new bodies of work, both with a common three-dimensional geographic theme. For approximately 40 years, Jaffe sculpted stone, a passion that ended two years ago due to an injury in his hand which prevented him from using power tools.
But one of his new artistic forays offers a nod to his past through a different, more ergonomic medium-Jaffe’s latest works are three-dimensional wall sculptures crafted from foam core instead of stone.
“With my paintings I always look for how much three-dimensional quality can I get on a two-dimensional plane,” Jaffe said. “Twenty years ago I did a series of sculpted three-dimensional masks. I thought if I use that same technique, what would it look like?”
That idea led to rough sketches of three-dimensional sculptures, which Jaffe then used as a sort of layout for his sculptures, created out of foam core. He uses a photograph of the original drawing to experiment with colors, determining which work best, before painting the actual piece.
“Once I get the three-dimensional piece done, I then say, “this is my canvas” and paint it as if it was my painting,” he said.
Jaffe said each piece takes approximately a month to complete, with him cutting and re-cutting pieces six or seven times until they are finished. He has created approximately 10 of the wall sculptures, which took a year to finish. Each one is light, weighing only seven or eight pounds, and can be hung on the wall using a basic picture hook.
Jaffe said he’s searched everywhere to see if anyone is doing anything similar to his new sculptures, but he hasn’t been able to find similar works.
“I haven’t found anything like it,” he said. “I’d be proud to hang this show in any gallery in New York, Boston, London or anywhere in the world.”
In addition to the wall sculptures, Jaffe has also been painting, creating three-dimensional paintings on a larger scale than his previous works. The new paintings were inspired by sketches he drew in Sheffield, MA and are named “The Sheffield Series.”
“I went to the Berkshires for the month of July,” Jaffe said. “Usually I take painting gear, but this time I only took sketch pads.”
Jaffe said he drew several sketches, with four or five of them turning into the pieces that are hanging in his showroom on Main Street, awaiting Saturday’s reception.
The size of the new paintings makes them difficult to hang and difficult to sell, but Jaffe said he loves it.
“It’s the first time I’ve worked that big, but it’s a fun size,” he said. “I prefer the bigger pieces.”
It’s not hard to imagine that Jaffe had a fondness for geometry in school.
“It made sense to me,” he said. “I didn’t realize that was what I was dealing with until I started doing the three-dimensional pieces. There’s tons of math in there. It’s all geometry.”
Jaffe said there’s never an end to his art. Over 40 years, his work has changed as his interests have changed, but it all shares a common thread.
“I have collectors that can spot my stuff,” he said. “It’ll be different, but still have the same look. I’ve been fortunate to do what I like to do and have the market like it.”
Up next, Jaffe said he’ll probably continue making the larger paintings and creating the three-dimensional wall sculptures.
“I have a long way to go with the [sculptures],” he said.
“I haven’t even begun to find out all of what can be done.”
Jaffe’s new pieces will be featured in an opening reception at his gallery at 108 West Main Street in Orange Saturday, Oct. 27, 5-8 p.m. His gallery is open Saturdays and he employs a bell system throughout the week. Those wishing to come in can ring the bell or some even call ahead.
“When you operate a metropolitan gallery in small town Virginia, you open for the clients,” he said. “It works for everybody.”
More information about Ed Jaffe and his work can be obtained online at www.edjaffe.com.
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