The Mastery of Russell Whiting's Sculpture or Icarus

The sculpture Icarus has always been one that I have been drawn to. The appearance of the figure along with its perfect placement has always provoked thought and entertained me. The steel sculpture, carved, hammered, and welded by Russell Whiting is my favorite of the River Gallery Sculpture Gardens’ exhibits. It is presumably based on the Hellenic myth of Icarus and Daedalus, one of the the more enticing as well as well known myths. It’s location overlooking the Tennessee River also gives a nod towards the myth.

Russell Whiting is a Louisiana based self taught sculptor who learned how to weld steel using an oxy-acetylene torch to create many beautiful sculptures. He began his artistic journey as a young boy carving wood and admiring the work of other renowned sculptors, but he contrived his true method in 1990 while working in oil fields around the Gulf of Mexico. He is no stranger to Chattanooga though, as he has been exhibiting his pieces here since 1996. He draws heavy influence from classical forms and describes his pieces as “classicism with contemporary execution. ” He also draws influence from religion and ancient cultures, hence the classicism, as well as cinema and other artists, which shows in the modern execution. His sculpture all have a similar appearance in that they are all steel and blown with his signature torch method. This gives his pieces a look and texture that is unique to him alone. He has many sculptures on exhibit around the United States, and they are all similar in textural appearance, but different in shape, subject, size, and meaning.

The tale of Icarus and Daedalus is one of great intrigue, mythically and historically. Daedalus was a great architect in Crete, so great that King Minos commissioned him to create the Minoan Palace of Knossos along with monumental sculptures. The palace Daedalus created was was so magnificent, with its over 1000 rooms and its countless frescoes and sculptures, that it remains today one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and Crete.

Along with the palace Daedalus was instructed to create a labyrinth so entrapping that King Minos could lock away the mythical Minotaur, along with any enemies he should make, for all of eternity. Daedalus delivered and created a maze that would never allow the escape of anyone who found themselves there. Unfortunately, Daedalus and his son Icarus became some of those trapped in it, when Daedalus’ relationship with King Minos went south. Determined to escape the prison in which they had been cast, Daedalus contrived the idea to create wings for himself and his son to escape, as the seas were heavily guarded and the labyrinth was inescapable. He fashioned the wings from tree branches and wax, taught Icarus to fly, and the two escaped. Daedalus had forewarned his son about the wings, as they were made of wax and would melt if he flew too high, but Icarus was young and careless. His ambition overcame his sense and he flew way up into the air. Then, as Icarus’ wax wings melted, Daedalus watched his only son plummet into the sea.

Russell’s sculpture of Icarus does an amazing job in portraying the naive and youthful ambition that led to Icarus’ literal down fall. His hopeful leap and excited posture truly convey the tragedy of the myth, and exhibits the boy as he leapt into the unknown. I have always thought this sculpture was an incredible representation of the myth, but even more of a representation of the danger of youthful naivety when unhindered by reality. Russell’s sculpture of Icarus does not have a date of creation, but is on permanent exhibit in the River Gallery Sculpture Garden. The final appearance of his sculptures he says, is dictated by the material itself. Since he is working with actual molten metal he says that the “ steel grabs the molten stream of the torch and cuts its own path,” which leads to its unique texture and the free flowing feeling it depicts.