His work captures in unique, memorable, and often allegorical form the wonders of nature we see, and meaning and implica- tions we may have overlooked. In this important volume, Tobin's principal bodies of work are explored, from his early blown glass Cocoons and cast-glass Doors, through his luminous Waterglass, to the more recent Shelters and Earth Bronzes (including his highly acclaimed African Termite Hills, Bone sculptures, and signature Roots) and his provocative new Exploded Clay. Copiously illustrated, and complemented by a probing investigation of the artist by critic Donald Kuspit, Steve Tobin's Natural History offers the first comprehensive treatment of Tobin's work, and helps to place his contribution to art and sculpture in the larger context of the discourse of art in our time.

For more than twenty years the work of iconoclastic sculptor Steve Tobin has affected the public, curators, and critics on a profound level in its transformation of the wonders of nature into monumental sculptures in bronze, steel, glass, and ceramics. In seeking to formalize nature, Tobin, who was trained as a mathematician, has turned his technical understanding of process and materials into an exploration of form and energy, order and chaos, as inspired by the creative events in nature. His work captures in unique, memorable, and often allegorical form the wonders of nature we see, and meaning and implica- tions we may have overlooked. In this important volume, Tobin's principal bodies of work are explored, from his early blown glass Cocoons and cast-glass Doors, through his luminous Waterglass, to the more recent Shelters and Earth Bronzes (including his highly acclaimed African Termite Hills, Bone sculptures, and signature Roots) and his provocative new Exploded Clay. Copiously illustrated, and complemented by a probing investigation of the artist by critic Donald Kuspit, Steve Tobin's Natural History offers the first comprehensive treatment of Tobin's work, and helps to place his contribution to art and sculpture in the larger context of the discourse of art in our time.

Sculptural Events

DONALD KUSPIT

NOTES  31

Color Plates

EARLY WORKS  34

COCOONS 38

TORSOS 56

FACES  66

DOORS  80

MARKERS  96

TOY BRONZES  106

SQUEEZES 140

WATERGLASS    152

NEW NATURE  162

SHELTERS 180

BONES 196

EARTH BRONZES  206

TERMITE HILLS  230

ROOTS  244

EXPLODED CLAY  254

Documentation

CHRONOLOGY    292

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS    298

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY  300

INDEX  305

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS  309