American; b. 1953
Strange Attraction, 1992.
Material: Painted Steel
Measurements: 27” x 16” x 25”
Location: UBalt Welcome Center
Main Lobby
Intersecting crescent shapes convey a sense of movement, the openings between them creating airy and expansive spaces. The solid circle on one side adds an unexpected element. Strange Attraction is imbued with multi-layered significance: from afar the sculpture resembles a fish, a perception enhanced by the mid-toned blue that evokes a serene ocean. On a more profound level, the crescents form an abstract circle, alluding to the concept of infinity. The title suggests a relationship between the curved segments, the pieces involuntarily pulling towards each other in perpetuity, as well as the oversize nail piercing one of the bottom sections.
Colburn’s practice is driven by his desire for people to slow down and appreciate the simplicity of everyday things and experiences. By crafting sculptures that can be interpreted in many different ways, he hopes that viewers contemplate not just art, but their own existence and relationship to the earth. Strange Attraction accomplishes these goals with its sophisticated yet approachable form and scale. The artist states: “My interest in creating this kind of artwork is one of provocation. Many times we pass by simple things in our rush for knowledge; and we try to sort out the complex. In this rush to know, it is difficult to see the building blocks of the world around us. I hope that my sculptures will help to set a course for the contemplation of the seemingly simple and inevitable things in our lives as we develop a sense of discovery, and appreciation of our interdependent existence with earth.”
A native of Rahway, New Jersey, Colburn received a degree in Business Administration from the Gardner School of Business in 1971 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of Maryland in 1976. In 1979 he founded Chalco Metal Works, a custom metal working shop in which he creates his own sculpture and provides fabricating, design, consulting, art handling, and installation services to local arts communities. In 1989 he became a senior member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers.