Randy Olson

ARTIST'S STATEMENT My sculptures rely heavily on geometric shapes; however, they all start from an idea for a motion; so, to a greater part - I design motion and a sculpture is the result. When I begin a sculpture I envision a piece that is alive with action!   I strive for a piece that sparks curiosity from a distance, and invites viewers to approach for an up-close look.

A strong connection exists between these works and their environment.   Both the energy crisis of the '70s, and the current sustainability movement; provide a conceptual framework for an art form that transcends mere moving shapes.    The dynamic movement that my sculptures derive from the energy incident to the site gives the viewer a chance to reflect upon the microenvironment we all occupy.   In effect, reminding the viewer that we can do more with these overlooked and often neglected resources

EXHIBITIONS

Selected Early Works

"Cenotaph for a Rock" 1985

•       Commissioned steel sculpture marking the location of SD town's namesake
•       abstracted steel form   5' x 18' x 4' plus 20' "Wheat Staff" flag pole

"Main Street Photographic Survey" 1986

•       SD Fine Arts Commission project documenting main street business of Rosholt, SD

"All Nations Festival" 1987

•       Graphic design for Minneapolis, MN event promotional t-shirt and button logos

"Rosholt 75 th " 1988

•       Prairie skyline logo for South Dakota town's 75 th anniversary celebration

"Oliver Kelly Farm" 24-minute documentary video, 1989

•       First place award for documentary video, Local Cable Programmers of Minnesota

Current Works

"(Non)commercial" 2003

•       Katherine Nash Gallery, University of MN, exhibition of non-commissioned
•       artwork, exhibit featuring three metal sculptures from past five year's work

"River Walk Art Plaza" 2003

•         Ella Sharp Museum & Consumer's Power Co-op, Jackson, MI.
•         Outdoor, public exhibition featuring kinetic sculpture "Velocity"

"Washburn University Eight Annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition" 2003

•       Washburn University, Topeka, KS. Outdoor, public exhibition on university campus commons,
•       kinetic and sound sculpture "Siren"

"Upper Midwest Sculpture Exhibition" 2004

•       Minnetonka Center for the Arts, Minnetonka, MN. Received "First Place" award
•       in juried competition for kinetic sculpture "Synchronous"

"Art-a-Whirl" 2004

•       Gallery - T, Minneapolis, MN.   Participant in gallery art crawl event with
•       exhibition of kinetic sculpture "Spin-Tail"

"Downtown Art Corridor" 2005

•       City of Topeka, KS.
•       Wind kinetic and sound sculpture "Siren" exhibited in downtown plaza

"Sam Barker Outdoor Sculpture Competition" 2005

•       University of Alabama Birmingham, maqueette for kinetic sculpture "Eclipse"
•       selected & exhibited as finalist in national competition for commissioned work

"Modern Art in the Historic City" 2005

•       Chicago Athenaeum and Ulysses S Grant Historic House, Galena IL
•       Kinetic, wind speed reactive, sculpture Velocity installed in state park site

"Downtown Eau Claire, Inc" 2006

•       City of Eau Claire, WI
•       Maquette exhibited - chosen to construct full-scale work for public park

 "Outdoor Sculpture Showcase" 2006

•       City of Hot Springs, AR
•       Kinetic sculpture Synchronous purchased from national juried competition

RFP - University of Florida, Gainesville 2007

•       University of Florida, Powell Structure Lab
•       Kinetic sculpture "Velocity" purchased for grounds of LEED certified building

RFP - Florida International University, Miami 2008-9

•       Florida international University, Graduate School of Business
•       Kinetic sculpture "Luna" commissioned for grounds of LEED certified building
  

PERMANENT COLLECTIONS

• Cenotaph for a Rock - Centennial Park, White Rock, SD
• Eclipse - maquette purchased for private collection, Birmingham, AL
• Synchronous - City of Hot Springs, AR
• Velocity - Powell Structures & Materials Laboratory, University of Florida, Gainesville
• River Vane - Phoenix Park, City of Eau Claire, WI
• Luna - Florida International University, Miami