With an interest in anthropology and the archetypal imagery—ancient symbols that recur across religions—Schelling creates bronze sculptures that explore universal ideas of time and energy. The artist uses a semi-abstract vocabulary and geometric forms to recall potent cultural signifiers, drawing from Chinese, Indian, and African sources. The results are surreal sculptures that suggest powerful mandalas, fiery braziers, commemorative altars, and contemplative stelae.
In Time at the Museum, Schelling draws together different cultural symbols. The multi-tiered base is reminiscent of ancient Mayan or Egyptian pyramids, and the three extended arms support a lightning bolt, planet-like spheres, and an hourglass. Together, these symbols connect to form a bastion of energy. The sculpture is made out of bronze using the “lost wax” process, whereby the molten bronze is poured into a wax mold, which is then melted away.
Schelling grew up in Boston spending his high school years assisting Boston area artists, and earned a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley. Art and anthropology combined during his travels to India, where he studied with traditional bronze sculptors casting sculpture for Hindu temples and tribal shrines. His work is in the collections of the Rose Art Museum, Brandeis Univertiy, Waltham, MA; Boston Public Library, and Fidelity Investment Corporation. He was a founding member of the Boston Sculptors Gallery.