Sometime in the mid 1980s, I got the idea of making a two-part figurative piece built with rolled out slab clay. The first was quite abstracted and austere. I was thinking, perhaps, of some kind of ancient Buda-like statue.
As I made more of them, the pieces began to assume personalities. I named them ‘Toolyman,’ corrupting the French ‘Tous le mond’ (Everyone). Then I decided that each Toolyman should be contemplating something. The result was a kind of mini series addressing contemporary concerns in a humorous way.
The only Toolymen that weren’t made in two pieces was the one contemplating the new age, because I wanted him meditating, but couldn’t figure a way to do that in two pieces, and adam and the snake, which wasn’t really part of the series, but influenced by it and made a few years later.
I had fun with these pieces and am a little disappointed that I didn’t make more.
theopneusty (Toolyman I), 1986 30 cm h, manganese metallic glaze, on clay, ∆5
theopneusty (Toolyman I), back, 1986, 30 cm h, manganese metallic glaze, on clay, ∆5
toolyman II, 1987, 30 cm h, glazed clay, ∆02
toolyman contemplating the absurdity of life, 1987, 30 cm h, glazed clay, ∆02
toolyman contemplating the absurdity of life, detail, 1987, 30 cm h, glazed clay, ∆02
toolyman contemplating the cartesian theorem, 1989, 46 cm h, burnished unglazed terracotta, ∆04
toolyman contemplating the cartesian theorem, right, 1989, 46 cm h, burnished unglazed terracotta, ∆04
toolyman contemplating the Cartesian theorem, 1990, 50 cm h, glazed clay, ∆04
toolyman contemplating acid rain, 1990, 50 cm h, glazed clay, ∆04
toolyman contemplating acid rain, detail,1990, 50 cm h, glazed clay, ∆04
toolyman contemplating modesty, 1990, 38 cm h, glazed clay, ∆04
toolyman contemplating modesty, side, 1990, 38 cm h, glazed clay, ∆04
toolyman contemplating the greenhouse effect, 1990, 52 cm h, glazed clay ∆04
toolyman contemplating the greenhouse effect, detail, 1990, 52 cm h, glazed clay ∆04
toolyman contemplating the greenhouse effect, back, 1990, 52 cm h, glazed clay ∆04
toolyman contemplating the new age, side, 1990, 38 cm h, glazed clay ∆04
toolyman contemplating the new age, 1990, 38 cm h, glazed clay ∆04
toolyman contemplating the new age, back, 1990, 38 cm h, glazed clay ∆04
Adam with snake, front view, 2001, 47 cm h, glazed earthenware, ∆04.
Adam with snake, detail, 2001. The snake was a separate piece resting on his hands.
