Peter Reginato For Adolescents

Silhouette of sculpture

Kingfish: An Homage to Tim Moore

1986

Peter Reginato

American, born 1945

Subject: Geometric Abstraction

Activity: Expressing personality through shape and color

Materials: Paint and paper

Vocabulary: Abstract, Geometric Abstraction, biomorphic, dynamic

Introduction

Peter Reginato is a sculptor working in a style called Geometric Abstraction but he focuses on softening the contours of hard lines to create biomorphic shapes. His goal is to represent experiences and emotions through boldly colored geometric forms, rather than depicting them realistically. The artist used a variety of vibrant colors and dynamic shapes to give this sculpture personality and make it visually interesting.

Questions

Does this sculpture look like a person to you?

What characteristics of a person might this sculpture represent? What colors or shapes correspond to specific attributes?

If this sculpture was not brightly colored, how would its mood and personality be affected?

Activity

Choose a person that is a role model to you. Make a list of the actions and character traits that you associate with this person. Next, choose a color and shape to represent each of these attributes. Using paint on paper, make a composition that combines these colors and shapes to depict the personality of the person you chose without depicting them realistically.

Vocabulary

Abstract -- expressing a quality apart from the way an object appears to the eye; the opposite of realistic

Geometric Abstraction -- a style of art that uses geometric shapes to create a composition that is not representational or realistic

Dynamic -- characterized by action, the opposite of static

Organic/Biomorphic forms – resembling the forms of living organisms