steve roden
satellites (mute objects), 2001-2002
solo exhibition: some reconstructions of wandering and inner space, contemprary arts forum, santa barbara, california (catalog)
exhibition: cross cuts, ben maltz gallery, otis art institute, los angeles, ca

the satellites are a series of 20 sculptures, made from the same size hand cut wooden 'blocks' of bass wood. each is painted with two colors of acrylic paint and covered lightly with bees wax. each is approximately 12" x 12" x 12".

every sculpture is modeled after an existing unmanned satellite, based on research from astronomy books from the 1960s. each work is titled after one of the nameless characters from all of the films of robert bresson (as there are 50 unnamed characters in all of bresson's films and i had hoped to make 50 pieces - one for each character). the titles are the first initials of the character's descriptions in the credits: "the book seller", "the girl's father", "the police man", "the woman in the photo shop" etc.

this work follows a sound and drawing installation i did around 2000 relating the demise of the russian space station mir with the death of robert bresson. basswood was originally used for cigar boxes, which were then transformed into tramp art - these works more than any seem to overtly reference my interest in this stuff as well as combining high science with hand made. they are also the beginnings of my building works that use pre-determined elements.

all sculptures are hung from the ceiling by fishing line, and were shown as a group.


installation at santa barbara contemporary arts forum 2002


t.g.m., 2001
12" x 9" x 12"


t.w.i.t.p.s., 2001
7 " x 7" x 12"


t.b., 2001
20" x 6" x 6".


t. p. o., 2001
16" x 10" x 10"

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