Black Tower (Garden) 1985

Ronald Bladen made this sculpture, called Black Tower, from what looks like painted wood. I love how the two sides echo each other, but not quite. It's like they're trying to have a conversation. The thing that really hits me is how the black paint, thick as it is, doesn't hide the wood grain. You can almost feel the texture, the way the tool moved across the surface. It reminds me of working in my studio, building up layers, letting the material guide the way. And those angles! They push and pull, creating a tension. They're sharp, but somehow still inviting. Like you could walk through them, into another world. It's interesting that the sculpture has ‘garden’ in the title, maybe because it suggests this might act as some kind of gate? Anyway, it makes me think of artists like Barnett Newman, who used simple forms to evoke big feelings. It's all about stripping things down, finding the power in the essential.