Boober 1965

Mark di Suvero’s “Boober” is made from steel, and the rust feels like it’s been there a while, right? It gives the piece a sense of history. Di Suvero's work is often about assembling, and you can see that here. It's like he's playing with found objects. I imagine him in his studio, moving heavy pieces, figuring out how they can lean on each other, balance, and create something new. The surface texture invites touch but the materials suggest a cold heaviness. Take the vertical beam on the right. The way it’s bent and sort of squashed at the top. It’s like it has been through something, almost anthropomorphic! It has a sense of weight to it that makes the sculpture feel solid, grounded. Di Suvero's work reminds me a little of David Smith, another sculptor working with steel around the same time. But di Suvero’s got his own thing going on. It’s about this dialogue, this conversation, that keeps art alive. It's not about perfection. It’s about possibilities.