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1. ”The medium is the message”…not like the phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan, but like the medium and the message is the same - grits, grits and more grits! 2. Do not make the sculpture so big or so heavy that you will need a sumo wrestler to help you get it into Central Park…remember the first rule of Grits Sculpture…don’t build anything you can’t carry - it is a trek from Fifth Avenue to the picnic site in East Meadow. The end justifies the means… it is perfectly acceptable to use various creative methods of sculpture, including but not limited to an under structure of armatures and papier-mâché. Don’t be afraid of color. Once you get that armature built, layer it with papier-mâché, apply layers of grits mixed with polymer to build up the grits’ effect, then bring on the paint and glitter to bring life to your grits. Your concept should be clever without being contrived, however, if you don’t have anything clever, settle for contrived – it’s all good. The author’s past grit sculptures have included a mockingbird taking a bite out of the big apple and the Stature of Liberty holding a watermelon and a magnolia. Remember, “All’s fair when it comes to grits,” except … 7. Do not use the sculpture as a weapon…remember, we are from Mississippi and we are friendly and polite…disregard the fact that it may be heavy and/or pointed enough to inflict bodily harm. 8. Take a holistic approach to the grits – broaden your focus and embrace the medium for what it is – grits! Purists might believe in the mold method, however creativity should be expansive, not limited to the size and shape of the mold. . . 9. Avoid the appearance of a “Kiss my Grits” approach to your piece. The sculpture should appeal to a broad audience - it shouldn’t be created for the sheer enjoyment of the sculptor. Don’t eat the finished product, unless you limited yourself to using grits, water, salt and butter and did not physically touch the grits in the process. However, eating the sculpture might defeat the purpose. If you really want to eat grits, just cook up a pot and skip the sculpture.
Sandra Bloodworth (www.sandrabloodworth.com) has exhibited widely from Charleston, Mississippi to New York City and has a solo exhibition, “Intimate Feasts,” at SOMA Gallery in Cape May, NJ from May 17- June 15. She is currently director of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Arts for Transit program. In 2005, she was awarded the Sloan Public Service Award for her work in bringing art and music to the New York subway. She is the co-author of Along the Way: MTA Arts for Transit.
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