Artist Eric Rudd is a well-known sculptor/mixed media artist who has exhibited for over sixty years. His work is in many museum and private collections in the United States, Europe and Asia. Originally from Washington D.C., the artist moved to North Adams, Massachusetts in 1990. His studio in the Beaver Mill is one of the largest private art studios in the world. He works with new technological processes and materials including robotics, industrial spray polyurethanes and blow molded polycarbonates.
Art Exhibitions & Studio Projects
Works and themes from the following exhibitions are available for museums and exhibition spaces. See 'Visit' for information about tours and access to various sections. For more information, contact Rudd Studio.
Discover Eric Rudd
A Chapel for Humanity
Books for Artists by Eric Rudd
Books for Artists by Eric Rudd
A CHAPEL FOR HUMANITY (the Berkshire Art Museum Annex) contains a contemporary sculptural epic that includes more than 150 life-sized figures along with fifty-four ceiling panels containing more than two hundred and fifty additional monotype/painted figures assembled in low relief.
A CHAPEL FOR HUMANITY is housed in an historically importa
A CHAPEL FOR HUMANITY (the Berkshire Art Museum Annex) contains a contemporary sculptural epic that includes more than 150 life-sized figures along with fifty-four ceiling panels containing more than two hundred and fifty additional monotype/painted figures assembled in low relief.
A CHAPEL FOR HUMANITY is housed in an historically important structure (built 1893, formerly the Unitarian-Universalist Church). Artist Eric Rudd first began the sculptural epic in 1991. Working on and off for the next decade, it was conceived of as an installation in the present structure when the church was acquired by the artist in April,1996. The epic was finished and installed during the summer of 2001 and was first opened to the public on December 15, 2001.
The main sculptural work is made of painted acrylic enamel on spray polyurethane foam over wood and fabric. The figures are approximately life-size or larger. Figurative groups are placed on “islands” with footpaths that allow the viewer to walk into and through the many scenes. A balcony allows the entire assemblage to be viewed from above. An adjacent room contains ‘floating’ figures above an ash-colored terrain. This installation is in homage to the September 11 victims.
Fusing traditional and contemporary art, A CHAPEL FOR HUMANITY offers both an art experience and a place for meditation. Along with the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas, it is one of the few artist’s chapels or contemporary, large-scale religious installations in the United States.
The public will find many references to both religious and social history as well as current political conditions, especially as it relates to the tragic events of September 11.
The city of North Adams is known for its contemporary art venues and for its many church steeples. This project integrates contemporary art into one of the city’s important historical gems.
To respect the nature of the work and place, visitors are asked not to talk or take photographs. Due to the mature nature of the content, children must be accompanied by an adult.
Books for Artists by Eric Rudd
Books for Artists by Eric Rudd
Books for Artists by Eric Rudd
Eric Rudd is the author of several respected books for artists, including A Short Seminar on Becoming a Serious Artist,The Art Studio/Loft Manual, The Art World Dream - Alternative Strategies for Working Artists, Strategies for Serious Older Artists, and his memoir, Did I Leave the World a Mona Lisa. See Books in this website.
Eric Rudd Summary
Books for Artists by Eric Rudd
Eric Rudd Summary
Eric Rudd is a widely exhibited, first-generation American sculptor and mixed-media artist whose early work was displayed in the White House. Over a long career, his work has been shown in major galleries and museums across the U.S. and abroad. Working from one of the largest private art studios in the country, Rudd combines traditional m
Eric Rudd is a widely exhibited, first-generation American sculptor and mixed-media artist whose early work was displayed in the White House. Over a long career, his work has been shown in major galleries and museums across the U.S. and abroad. Working from one of the largest private art studios in the country, Rudd combines traditional materials with new technologies, including robotics, theme park rides, industrial spray polyurethanes, and blow-molded polycarbonates.
He is the author of several respected books for artists, including A Short Seminar on Becoming a Serious Artist, The Art Studio/Loft Manual, The Art World Dream - Alternative Strategies for Working Artists, Strategies for Serious Older Artists, and his memoir, Did I Leave the World a Mona Lisa. For more information, see "About" on this website.
Featured Projects
Iceberg Installation with Polycarbonate Lexan Sculptures
Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation - Berkshire Art Museum - www.BAMuseum.org
Iceberg Installation with Polycarbonate Lexan Sculptures
ICEBERG INSTALLATION WITH LEXAN SCULPTURES
Eric Rudd’s “Iceberg Installation” in the Berkshire Art Museum (North Adams, MA, three blocks from MASS MoCA) is a sculpture onto itself. The artist wanted viewers to experience it by moving around and under it as well as traversing the “crevasse.” Not only does it allow the viewer to explore the sculpture from the inside out, the iceberg also serves as a stage for placement of Rudd’s Lexan™ sculptures. Rather than restricting viewers to the floor level, viewers can access these sculptures from different angles as well as from various heights.
It is interesting to note that adjacent to the historic Beaver Mill (North Adams) which houses Rudd’s studio and loft, there is a marble formation located in the “Natural Bridge State Park.” This marble formation offered Rudd the inspiration for presenting his iceberg in similar ways that would allow its visitors access to his sculptures, via what he described as a creative “un-natural bridge,” using angular planes.
In 1987, Rudd uniquely developed in cooperation with G.E. Plastics (continued with Sabic Innovative Plastics in 2011), the first blow-molded, clear polycarbonate (Lexan™) sculptures ever made. These monumental sculptures incorporate many of the traditional characteristics of glass blowing, but with a strength, complexity and scale not possible with glass. In some of the sculptures, color was incorporated by adding pigments into the liquid plastic before the forming of the shapes.
In designing the “Iceberg Installation,” Rudd purposely left the architectural shell of the church intact. It is this combination of Rudd’s structural iceberg with the Lexan™ sculptures along with the stain glass windows and architectural components of the historic building that offers a unique juxtaposition of art and history for viewers to explore.
80,000 Square Feet of Contemporary Art
Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation - Berkshire Art Museum - www.BAMuseum.org
Iceberg Installation with Polycarbonate Lexan Sculptures
Rudd's extensive studios and museum installations are accessible by guided tours, Now part of the Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation (d/b/a Berkshire Art Museum and Rudd Studio Museum in the Historic Beaver Mill) in North Adams, Massachusetts) access is available by guided tours, summer/fall open admission days, and by special events. See "Visit" on this website for more information, or use the 'Contact" page.
Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation - Berkshire Art Museum - www.BAMuseum.org
Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation - Berkshire Art Museum - www.BAMuseum.org
Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation - Berkshire Art Museum - www.BAMuseum.org
The Berkshire Art Museum opened to the public in 2014. The museum presents changing and permanent art exhibitions in 25,000 square feet of space within two repurposed buildings. Open Summer and Fall (late June to early October); Call 413.664.9550.
Mission:
BARBARA AND ERIC RUDD ART FOUNDATION
BERKSHIRE ART MUSEUM
The mission of the Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation, the umbrella organization for the Berkshire Art Museum, is to preserve and examine six decades of artwork by Eric Rudd through the foundation’s permanent collection, as well as to showcase engaging contemporary art through rotating exhibitions in the Berkshire Art Museum’s galleries.
Having rescued two historic former churches and the historic Beaver Mill, the Foundation exemplifies the adaptive reuse of over 150,000 square feet of architectural space for cultural and educational purposes. By establishing and maintaining these unique art destinations, the Foundation contributes to the cultural economy of North Adams. For more information, visit www.BAMuseum.org.
Did I Leave The World A Mona Lisa? - A Memoir by Eric Rudd
Studio Spaces for Rent: Historic Beaver Mill: BeaverMill.com
Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation - Berkshire Art Museum - www.BAMuseum.org
This book will be of interest to people in the arts who want to know more about the art and art processes of
artist Eric Rudd. Other art related books geared for artists are available at the Berkshire Art Museum or on Amazon.com,
Studio Spaces for Rent: Historic Beaver Mill: BeaverMill.com
Studio Spaces for Rent: Historic Beaver Mill: BeaverMill.com
Studio Spaces for Rent: Historic Beaver Mill: BeaverMill.com
Studio spaces ranging from 400 to 4,000 Square Feet! Wonderful opportunity to rent large - but low-cost art -studios in a great environment. If you are an artist, join the 40 artists working in the Historic Beaver Mill, North Adams, MA, adjacent to Natural Bridge State Park and just a mile from MASS MoCA and downtown North Adams.