Column IV 1974

James Garrison Hagan carved this wooden sculpture, Column IV, into a tall, twisting form. It is as if the artist coaxed this spiraling shape into being through the repetitive, tactile process of carving. I can almost feel the artist’s hands on the wood, the push and pull of the chisel, each mark a deliberate act. I wonder what Hagan was thinking about as he made it? The material aspects of the sculpture draw you in - the color and texture of the wood, the way the light catches on the carved surface. The wood is thick, and the marks in it are distinct and give the piece an emotional heft and intellectual resonance. The twist in the middle of the sculpture communicates a feeling of energy, maybe even tension. Hagan reminds us that art is always a conversation, an exchange of ideas across time. He inspires us to be creative and to find new ways of seeing the world. Like all good art, this piece embraces ambiguity, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings.