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Ad Code: 3
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An example of work by Jim (Lee) Collins
Artwork images are copyright of the artist or assignee
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This biography from the Archives of AskART:
| The following biography is submitted by the artist:
Primarily a sculptor, Jim Collins, born in Huntington, West Virginia, has been figurative in his art from the beginning. In the early 1960's, he was carving large female figures from logs of walnut, elm and cladding them in appliqués of copper, brass, lead and, in some cases, fine fur and leather. Each figure was a statement about the contemporary style and fashion of the times.
During this same period, Collins constructed assemblages of commonplace objects and foundry patterns into human and animal forms. Even though he ceased carving from the 1970's until the middle of the 1980's, his work with assemblage continued and remains an important part of his technique today.
Collins was a Professor of Art at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1966 until 1983 when he resigned that teaching position to devote full time to his career as a professional artist. His sculpture style has since been characterized by the use of silhouette figures constructed of stainless steel, brass, and copper, galvanized and painted steel.
His initial collages with assembled frames started in 1984 with the KIN SERIES telling a story of an imagined family. The early composite works were influenced by studies of the Bible and classical mythology as well as traditional American folk art. The major works in collage are concerned with real human situations: death, heroes, race, justice, etc. in which Collins juxtaposes personal and public icons in what appears to be "story telling". He utilizes the methodology of the theater, setting the stage and allowing the viewer to become the narrator of the story, limited only by the individuals imagination.
Collins has an extensive exhibition record, dating back to 1957 and including numerous one-man shows, invitationals, and competitions. During the last twenty years he has been involved in many commissions for both private and public collections.
The landscape of Chattanooga, Tennessee is dotted with the works of that citys adopted son. Pieces range from a stainless steel tow-truck that doubles as a public bench in front of the International Towing and Recovery Hall of Fame and Museum to the bronze dance steps imbedded in the pedestrian walkways near the citys popular Coolidge Park.
Collins, almost as well known for his wit as he is for his sculpture by his friends and patrons, established himself as a critic, albeit tongue-in-cheek, years ago when he designated as art several stones of varying size that were left behind by indolent landscape workers. The rocks had rested on the Hamilton County Courthouse lawn for several months, their presence ignored by elected officials. Collins held a press conference where he posed in The Thinkers position for photographers, theorized that the accumulation of boulders was the work of the "Phantom Artist and christened it "Stone Awareness." The Phantoms "sculpture" was hauled away shortly.
He received an A.B. degree from Marshall University in West Virginia, a M.P.H. degree from the University of Michigan and a M.F.A degree in sculpture from Ohio University.
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