Fingertips is inspired by my love of Stevie Wonder’s music and his humanitarianism throughout the world. Fingertips was created from a porcelain-like ceramic clay called EM330 which is very smooth and refined to the touch. Although it is fired at a 1900-degree temperature, it is durable but delicate. The clay will sometimes absorb the moisture from your hands as you explore its features. You must caress the sculpture like a new born baby in order to feel the energy and emotion that runs through your body from the clay. 

 

The form of the sculpture is organic, meaning that it is not anatomically correct but has some of Stevie Wonder’s features combined with other human similarities. There is a graphite color process applied to the sculpture that further defines the clay’s smooth appearance; think of the comforts you feel during a warm quiet, summer night, that feeling of peace represents the color of this sculpture. 

 

The sculpture consists of three life-size human heads attached side by side exposing only frontal views of faces with five ears because one of the sculptures shares his ear with the other. You have to walk around and feel the entire piece to experience its form. There is no facial hair on any of the heads and the eyes are quietly closed with the expression and joy you feel from playing or listening to your favorite music in bliss. There are five life size hands atop of the heads reaching upwards as if they are rejoicing in the moment. 

 

Each face is tilted up towards the sky in celebration of life. The first side of the sculpture has one head with two arms that make up the neck and is playing a piano. The arms are well defined and muscular with protruding veins pulsing down and flowing through the fingertips that softly plays a note from the Songs from the Key of Life. 

 

The second side also has hands that are smooth and slightly muscular with no veins but you can still feel the blood running through them as they play a song from the harmonica like the softness and melodic tones of the ocean. 

 

The third side is the head portrayed as singing. His voice is the instrument, his mouth is open, upper teeth shining like the warmth of the sun, his head tilted back with a kind of facial slant expression you use when you are truly feeling the music and the song you are singing informs and educates your mind!

 

The sculpture was created to express my deep love and appreciation of Stevie Wonder and music. I see with my eyes, more importantly I feel with my soul and my emotions, without this I could not create!

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