Unit of Study III.
Isaac Witkin - A Lifetime of Re-Inventing Oneself
Lesson 3

Objectives

Students will

1. generate a list of questions to pose during an interview with the artist. (thinking skill: Application)
2. analyze questions and categorize them according to one of the following (thinking skill: Analysis)
   • biographical
   • technique related
   • image related

Isaac Witkin, Garden State 1997, Zimbabwe black granite, 228" x 132" x 114". Courtesy of The Sculpture Foundation, Inc., Photo Credit: Ricardo Barros.

Materials

• images of the work of Isaac Witkin
• reference materials

Vocabulary

• No additional vocabulary is required.

Teacher Preparation

• Collect images of as many of Witkin's work as possible. While the studio lesson corresponds to the artist's later work, early images would be helpful for students to understand his development.
• Familiarize yourself with information available on Isaac Witkin. (See Resources.)
• While our interview was with Isaac Witkin, should you create a lesson parallel with this one using another artist, determine the method of interview, i.e., in person, e-mail correspondence, live Internet chat, video, video conferencing, or telephone.
• Schedule the interview.

Procedure

• Remind students that they have researched the artist and replicated an experience to approximate the process he uses. Ask students the following
  • What questions would you ask the artist if he were in front of you now?
  • What information would be necessary in order for you to complete your understanding of Isaac Witkin and his work?
• Instruct students to individually generate a list of questions.
• When they have finished, compare student questions to determine similarities and to eliminate duplicates.
• Assign each student a specific topic area and questions before the interview with the artist.

*Below is a sampling of the questions that students generated before their meeting with Isaac Witkin at Grounds For Sculpture. These questions were generated after students

• read Isaac Witkin: The Past Decade Grounds For Sculpture exhibition catalogue
• read Isaac Witkin by Karen Wilkin
• viewed Grounds For Sculpture Artist Lecture Series videotape of Isaac Witkin discussing his work at Grounds For Sculpture
• viewed the Witkin sculptures at Grounds For Sculpture.

New Jersey Public Television's "State of the Arts" program as featured on New Jersey Network captures the interview between artist Isaac Witkin and students.

Questions

1. Where did your inspiration come from for the direct pour pieces?
2. In the pours that inspired The Bathers did you deliberately set out to produce human forms or did the resulting pour simply remind you of human form?
3. Has there ever been a time when you wanted to stop creating sculpture and pursue another art form?
4. Do you prefer working large? Do you have a specific scale that you use?
5. Because your experience with techniques and materials is so broad, do you have any preferences for certain ones?
6. How beneficial, for you, is the use of a maquette? Do you sketch as well?
7. Are there times when you don't plan but just keep working until you get a form that you like?
8. How much of what you create is personally hands on, as opposed to foundry services?
9. How did you become involved with Grounds For Sculpture?
10. Why was it important to you as a young sculptor, (student) to challenge the notion of "proper sculpture?"
11. Your mother was a strong influence on your studying sculpture. Do you think that you would have found your way there if it wasn't for her encouragement?
12. How were you influenced by the time frame in which you began to work? Is there a decade that stands out for you?
13. How is your mind set different when working as an individual rather than a member of a group?
14. While you and your fellow artists were at St. Martin's were you aware of the impact your sculpture was having on the art world?
15. Some sculptors create limited editions of their sculptures. Since a direct-pour doesn't allow for multiple casts, is there ever a time when you create molds from a direct pour piece?
16. Do other artists inspire you? Will you talk about the influence of Sir Anthony Caro (Witkin's teacher at St.Martin's) and Henry Moore (Isaac Witkin worked in Moore's studio)?
17. Would you characterize the evolution of your work as an artist from massive steel planes to direct-pour bronze?
18. What are you most concerned about as an artist working today?
19. What do you believe is your legacy to the world of sculpture?
20. Garden State is your second work in stone. Why did you use stone instead of bronze?

Isaac Witkin shares his creative process with students as he refers to his sculpture, Linden Tree.

Isaac Witkin, Linden Tree, 1983, cast bronze, 120" x 85" x 85". Courtesy of The Sculpture Foundation, Inc.

Unit of Study III.
Isaac Witkin - A Lifetime of Re-Inventing Oneself
Unit Overview | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3
Critique and Assessment | Extensions

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