CHRISTOPHER T. RAY

sculptor

internet address: www.chrisray.com

__________________

BORN:

USA - 1937

EDUCATION:

Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts:fine arts studies (painting & sculpture) - 1958-1960

Howard Keyser - Master Blacksmith:advanced training in ornamental ironwork - 1964-1967

Group Motion:informal studies in dance and movement - 1982-1986

Independent study:

music composition, electronic - 1982-1985

computer -aided-design, computer graphics, - 1984

continuing studies as needed : architectural & interior design principles, eastern philosophy, and other disciplines on a need to know basis.

PRINCIPAL MEDIUM:

Forged iron sculpture, wrought copper & bronze

Forged iron ornamental and design work for architectural settings

CAREER PATH:

My early professional years were devoted to studio works of carved wood sculptures, shown and sold through galleries and exhibitions. This work evolved into a more extensive use of iron, the result of an association with Howard Keyser, a traditional Gothic-styled, master blacksmith. After three years of training from Mr. Keyser, and assisting him on major forged iron gates for the Washington Cathedral, I devoted my energies to creating sculptured works almost exclusively in metal.

Since 1967, the focus of my efforts has led to architectural commissions and major exhibition pieces. Among the works created, were fountains, outdoor sculptures, forged iron sculptured gates, and decorative architectural detailing. The corporate and private clients, who commissioned my work, and collectors who bought them, are nationally based.

A creative down time occurred around 1981 through about 1984, which then became a time for experimentation and exploration of other forms of expression. The corridors of miscellaneous adventures and experiences had expanded my personal outlook and skills, leading back to my professional path. The net result of this diversion, has been to broaden my aesthetic outlook. I gained a deeper understanding of some potential avenues to investigate and seeing richer prospects for creative adventures, in areas not wholly familiar to me.

During the early to mid-eighties, I experimented with another human dimension that would, eventually, key into my work in a positive manner. The study and practice of music composition and body movement, broadened my perception of scale, patterns and rhythm, in relation to the human environment. This experience has since, been incorporated into my design work.

Since about 1985, I have been expanding my skills and studio facilities, in order to accomplish a greater range of architectural metalwork. This work included frame structures for landscape settings, decorative gates and a more extensive range of ornamental ironwork.

The focus of this work in relation to architecture has been shifted to the decorative aspect of ironwork rather than sculptural. The use of formal and informal design elements as expressive devices, offered a different kind of challenge. Balancing the weight of form and function within the parameters of decorative design, called for a multi-level approach, to achieve an appropriate resolution. My aim was to create either a bold enrichment or a transparent and seamless presence within an architectural context, to create a sense of place.

Since 1992, my work has evolved into two separate but complimentary paths. One direction is the continuation on a restricted architectural scale, of the architectural metalwork.

The second and the most important path is a return to my fundamental roots, as a sculptor, creating a new series of studio works that most appropriately expresses what I now need to say.

The series entitled 'QUADREVERZ" is an interpretive mythology created principally in iron. The grouping of sculptures are augmented with interactive components consisting of writings, kinetic performances, mixed media installation pieces, sound compositions and drawings. This work simply fulfills itself and has, of necessity, no material or applied function.

All the myths, legends and folktales being written and produced in metal as "QUADREVERZ", are a compilation of metaphors, expressing my understanding of what The Whole Thing Is About. It is a personal journey, that is non-circular, yet is interconnected with past, present and future.

Faces and masks of universal truths and contradictions, are elusive shadows that piqued my interest for as long as I can remember. It is at this stage of life that I feel ready and prepared to encounter these issues in my own way.

"QUADREVERZ" offers up no definitive answers, but perhaps only the inside or the outside of the question, maybe both. In a way, this extended work is the building of a temple without walls, incorporating the iconography of images, ideas and experience. The summation of these ideas are written in the form of the "Quadreverz Journals" which are the writings of an imaginary Loberlym, a principal character in this series. Eventually the Journals will be bound as limited edition, studio produced books.

In the final years of this decade, my interest and extensive involvement within the digital realm especially the internet, is opening up new doorways for other creative adventures. I'm not only involved now as a website developer but am also engaged in developing an off site learning program that will be accessed through the internet.  The passing on of traditions through this medium has great potential for reaching out to students throughout the world who may not have access to this knowledge and experience.

http://www.chrisray.com

Contemporary Metal Sculpture - A comprehensive web site featuring a retrospective of works, recent works completed and the Quadreverz Series, a work in progress.

BOOKS:

"Contemporary Architectural Ironwork" by Dona Z.Meilach
Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2000

"Direct Metal Sculpture", Dona Z. Meilach
Shiffer Publishing Ltd., 2nd ed. printed 2000

"Decorative And Sculptural Ironwork", Dona Z. Meilach
Crown Publishers, 1977, 2nd ed printed 1999  by Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

"Art For Everyday", Patricia Conway
Clarkson Potter, 1990

"Ornamentalism", Robert Jensen & Patricia Conway
Clarkson N. Potter Publishing, 1983

"Architectural Ornamentalism", Jim Kemp
Whitney Library Of Design, 1987

"Ornamental Ironwork", Michael & Susan Southworth
D. R. Godine Publishing, 1978

"Source Book Of Architectural Ornament", B. Brolin & J. Richards
Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1982

"Public Sculpture In Philadelphia", E. Bach
Temple Univ. Press, 1992

"Sculpture Of A City", Fairmount Park Association
Walker Publications, 1974

"Home Security", Adrian Allen
Time/Life Books, 1979

"Who's Who In American Art, Ed.Marquis Publications, current editions

"Daedalus Forges On" by Frank D. Quattrone
Art Matters, Fall, 1999

"Chris Ray", by Joseph McGlynn
Anvil's Ring, Spring 1997

"1983 ASLA Awards - Chestnut Park", Awards Panel
Landscape Architecture, 10/83

"Vision Forged In Iron", Ruth Deming
Art Matters, 2/83

"The High Cost Of Success", Frank Rossi
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/29/82

"The Art On Our Buildings", Thomas Hine
The Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/15/79

"The Home As Gallery", Ellen Kaye
Today Magazine, 2/77

"Beyond Good Design, Toward Poetic Expression Of Place", J. Morgan
Architectural Record, 11/72

"Works In Iron For A Richer Environment, Nessa Forman
The Sunday Bulletin, 8/27/72

American Institute Of Architects, Philadelphia, Pa.

Delaware County Community College, Media, Pa.

Fairtree Gallery, New York, N.Y.

Germantown Architects Workshop, Philadelphia, Pa.

GENUS, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.

Hahn Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa.

I.F.A. Galleries, Washington, D.C.

International Moderne Skulpturen, Lindau/Bodensee, W. Germany

Louisville Art Museum, Louisville, Ky.

Langman Gallery, Jenkintown, Pa.

LaPelle Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa.

The Marketplace, Philadelphia, Pa.

Moderne-Art Deco, Philadelphia, Pa.

Museum of the Phila. Civic Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

Lee Nordness Galleries, New York, N.Y.

Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pa.

Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa.

Philadelphia College Of Textiles And Science, Phila., Pa.

Philadelphia Museum Of Art, Philadelphia, Pa.

Renwick Gallery, The Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.

Sculpture Center, New York, N.Y.

Snyderman Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa.

State Museum Of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pa.

Susquehanna Museum, Harrisburg, PA

Tempe Art Center, Tempe, Ariz.

Temple University, Ambler, Pa.

Walnut St. Theater, Philadelphia, Pa.

Wildcliff Museum, New Rochelle, N.Y.

Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, N.Y.

Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, Pa.

Xerox Corporation, Rochester, N.Y.

National Museum Of American Jewish History, Phila., Pa.

Port Of History Museum, Phila., Pa.

State Museum Of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pa.

Ascension Manor, Philadelphia, Pa.

Barberry Rd. Residence, Bryn Mawr, Pa.

Beachcomber Club, Center Square, Pa.

Black Cherry Lane Residence, Elkins Park, Pa.

Chestnut Park, Philadelphia, Pa.

Cline Company, Philadelphia, Pa.

Commadore Barry Court, Philadelphia, Pa.

Conference Center, Green Lake, Wisc.

Curtis Institute Of Music, Philadelphia, Pa.

Curtis Instruments, Inc., Mt. Kisco, N.Y.

Delancey St. Residence, (300 block) Philadelphia, Pa.

Delancey St. Residence, (1800 block) Philadelphia, Pa.

Dept. Of Recreation, Philadelphia, Pa.

East Gate Industrial Park, Mt. Laurel, N.J.

Feltoon & Parry Associates, Philadelphia, Pa.

First Pennsylvania Bank, Philadelphia, Pa.

Great Valley Corporate Center, Malvern, Pa.

Harrisburg Parking Authority, Harrisburg, Pa.

Hart Corporation, Southampton, Pa.

Hart Corporation, LaGrange, Ga.

Kahn House, Norristown, Pa.

Kenilworth St. Residence, Philadelphia, Pa.

Kielinski Residence,Malvern, Pa.

Medical Center, Cherry Hill, N.J.

Metro East Industrial Park, Landover, Md.

Mid-Atlantic Industrial Park, W. Deptford, N.J.

Mill Creek Residence, Gladwyn, Pa.

Museum Of American Jewish History, Philadelphia, Pa.

North Rose Lane Residence, Haverford, Pa.

North Lakeway Residence, Palm Beach, Fla.

"O" St. Residence, Washington, D.C.

One Buttonwood Square, Philadelphia, Pa.

122 Spruce St. Residence, Philadelphia, Pa.

Penn's Landing Square, Philadelphia, Pa.

Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine, Phila.,Pa.

Phillip St. Residence, Philadelphia, Pa.

Righter's Mill Residence, Penn Valley, Pa.

Rodman Associates, Philadelphia, Pa.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, Pa.

Sandringham Residence, Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

Scheie Eye Institute, Philadelphia, Pa.

Spartengreen Corporate Center, Spartengreen, S.C.

Spruce St. Residence, Society Hill, Philadelphia, Pa.

Temple Beth Zion, Buffalo, N.Y.

Union Hill Rd. Residence, Malvern, PA

Wetherill Court, Philadelphia, Pa.

Woodlawn Memorial, New York, N.Y.

E. Feldman,  New York, N.Y.

M. Bostin , New York, N.Y.

K. Horner,  Seattle, Wash.

D. Wallace,  Berkley, Calif.

T. Burden,  Washington, D.C.

A. Possof,  Merion, Pa.

K. Possof,  Washington, D.C.

E. Bernstein, Philadelphia, Pa.

P. Murray,  Lewisberry, Pa.

H. Berger , Eluthera, The Bahamas

W. Chanoff,  Philadelphia, Pa.

R. Somners,  Algau, W. Germany

D. Mark , Phoenix, Ariz.

G. Leavitt, Media, Pa.

S. Sardinsky,  Bala Cynwyd, Pa.

E. Gubitz,  E. Nassau, N.Y.

L. McQuirk,  Schenectady, N.Y.

B. Segal,  San Francisco, Calif.

G. Risley,  Clinton Heights, N.Y.

J. Friedman,  Jupiter, Fla.

J. Feldman W. Palm Beach, Fla.

B. Denker,  Santa Fe, N.M.

T. Henon,  Southampton, Pa.

A. Luden,  Haddonfield, N.J.

D. Rubenstein , Penn Valley, Pa.

R. Goodman, Jupiter, FL

W. Jarrell,  Media, Pa.

C. Burris,  Los Angeles, Calif.

G. Tittleman , Merion, Pa.

A. Riley,  Philadelphia, Pa.

F. Locheim , Southampton, Pa.

I. Karten,  New York, N.Y.

M. Weiss , Norristown, Pa.

H. Jenoff,  Erdinheim, Pa.

N. Van Bract,  Chicago, Ill.

S. Pollak,  Merion, Pa.

H. Wagman Philadelphia, Pa.

C. Dunham , Lake George, N.Y.

I. Rosenstein,  Philadelphia, Pa.

D. Eichman, Philadelphia, Pa.

F. Meyers,  Denver, Colo.

E. Marwell,  Mt. Kisco, N.Y.

L. Sanford , Brainard, N.Y.

A. Willner,  Maplewood, N.J.

G. Falcione,  Philadelphia, Pa.

R. Glaser,  Philadelphia, Pa.

D. Robkin,  Philadelphia, Pa.

R. Aibel,  Elkins Park, Pa.

D. Goloveyko,  Lansdale, Pa.

W. Gichner,  Ocean View, DE

G. Falcone,  Palm Beach, FL

G. Romeu,  Chesterfield, NJ

J. McGlynn , Mountain View, CA

E. Olson,  Elk River, MN

D. Plummer, Phoenixville, PA

E. Vega, Apex, NC

P. Kaufman, Philadelphia, PA