Jeff Spaulding

Riker

1994

CHECKMATE by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with black ink, acrylic paint, and asphaltum. It is framed in aluminum and measures 108 x 48”. It features some of the artist’s notable motifs – the number 13-1/2 (refers to 12 jurors, 1 judge, half a chance), a monstrous tower of brick with crenelated towers, inlaid with eyes, hooked daggers and barred windows, clouds with lightening bolts, tongues of flame drifting down... Though the swirl of black cloud near the top of the tower also rewards our attention – the engraving here suggesting floral as well as cosmic patterns, biological patterns. Checkmate also contains more subtle mark-making and ritualized ornamentation, such as the wheat sheafs across the expanse of copper, names of people are inscribed in the borders of the tower, vertical hash marks counting off months or years in bundles of five. For over 40 years, outsider artist Rocky Dobey has been producing intaglio prints, etched metal plaques, engraved copper sheets and site-specific public sculptures. Working anonymously for the first two decades, his work has drawn attention to social and political issues like prison and justice reform, neighborhood gentrification, globalization, indigenous sovereignty, drug rehabilitation and homelessness. With striking imagery of demonic towers toppled in flames, horrific machines and cryptic symbols of oppression, Rocky's work soon became a recognized and sought-after stamp of organized resistance. Several of his prints are held in collections, particularly the “Carnival Against Capitalism” poster he produced for the 2001 Quebec City protests against the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Rocky’s poster...

WELCOME HOME by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with cut diamonds, black asphaltum and fired porcelain paint. It measures 36 x 32" and is fra...

DOES IT LOOK EXPENSIVE by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with cut glass, asphaltum and fired porcelain paint. It measures 24 x 36" and is fr...

HOME SWEET HOME by Rocky Dobey is a hand-inscribed copper sheet with cut diamonds, black asphaltum and fired porcelain paint. It measures 36 x 24", and framed in bronze it measures 37 x 25”. Part of the "Home" series of recent works, Home Sweet Home features a darkly shimmering chandelier...

Cocoon Mahogany, pigment, lacquer 9" x 19" x 8" As an artist I strive to create elegant sculptures that capture the true essence of the subject matter. Form, line and surface are us...

Medium: reclaimed wood, pigment and lacquer As an artist I strive to create elegant sculptures that capture the true essence of the subject matter. Form, line and surface are used a...