Cluster of Four Cubes 1992

George Rickey made this sculpture, Cluster of Four Cubes, from stainless steel. He took these perfect geometric shapes and set them in motion. I imagine him in his studio carefully calibrating each plane and joint. When I look at sculpture, I think about weight, gravity, and balance. How does something stand? Here, Rickey uses a long, thin stem as a counterpoint to the bulky, almost cartoon-like cubes. I am really drawn to the way the artist has marked the surface of the steel: each block has these beautiful, soft, cloud-like abrasions that catch the light, making the solid metal almost airy and light. Like an Alexander Calder mobile, this sculpture makes me consider how artworks can create a sense of play and wonder. The way the cubes are stacked, teetering and touching, looks precarious, but also buoyant and full of possibility.