The Inventor
Date1995
Maker
Dan Webb
American, born 1965
Label TextDan Webb often works in wood—carving figures and objects that remind us of the time-honored tradition of using this material in sculptural practice. This humble figure holds in his hands a chisel and mallet—the craftsman’s tools from which he has shaped his own image. Self-made, The Inventor reveals the potential of the creative act and the individual’s will to create his own future, an act motivated out of necessity. In this context, The Inventor prompts us to think about the precarious interdependency between man and nature, and how we discover inventive ways to sustain ourselves. The artist describes the process of self-invention as sculptural: “Everyone’s a sculptor creating a version of themselves ready for public consumption.”
Object number95.141
Photo CreditPhoto: Nathaniel Willson
Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, "Northwest Acquisitions", March 1 - November 10, 1996Published ReferencesHackett, Regina. "SAM's selectivity reflected in 'Recent Acquisitions' show," in Seattle Post-Intelligencer, March 8, 1996Credit LineNorthwest Purchase Fund
Dimensions75 x 14 x 22 in. (190.5 x 35.56 x 55.88 cm)
MediumWood
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