Back

GEORGE RICKEY (1907-2002)

ARTIST BIO INQUIRE
 
<div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div>
<div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div> <div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div> <div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div> <div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div> <div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div> <div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div> <div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.</font></div> <br> <br><div> </div> <br> <br><div><font face=Calibri size=3 color=black>With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.</font></div>
Eight Lines II---Sketch for Twenty Four Lines196357 3/4 x 54 x 54 in.(146.69 x 137.16 x 137.16 cm) stainless steel
Provenance
Sale: Sotheby's November 1983
Mr. Pollyea, acquired from the above
Private Collection
Exhibition
Kalamazoo, Michigan, Kalamazoo Institute of Art, George Rickey: Kinetic Sculpture / Ulfert Wilke: Drawings and Paintings, February 5-25, 1964
Boston, Massachusetts, Institute of Contemporary Art, George Rickey:  Kinetic Sculptures, March 14-April 26, 1964 (Listed as Eight Lines)
Trace a line from Alexander Calder to the kinetic achievements of George Rickey, and it is clear both are engineers of beauty. Their creations are feats of invention and artistry that honor our experience of them. The present Rickey sculpture "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" exemplifies the artist's intentions to bridge the gap between engineering precision and artistic expression, offering a mesmerizing display of motion and balance. Measuring 57 inches by 54 inches by 54 inches, the arms of this sculpture move within spherical parameters deliberately yet unpredictably, responding to the slightest movement of air. This intricate dance of elements, driven by natural forces, transforms the sculpture into a dynamic interplay of mechanical precision and organic fluidity.


 


A generation removed from Calder, Rickey came of age during World War II and widespread devastation. Ironically, yet without apology, Rickey honed his skills in precision and complex mechanical systems due to his military experience as a design technician focusing on the maintenance and instruction of aircraft gun turrets. These skills, of course, would later serve him well in fashioning his kinetic sculptures. With that in mind, the precise engineering and organic movement inherent in a Rickey kinetic sculpture symbolizes a bridge between destruction and renewal and serves as a testament to the resilience and innovative spirit of the post-war ethos.


 


With its radiating arms extending in multiple directions, "Eight Lines II – Sketch for Twenty-Four Lines" captures the essence of Rickey's meticulous design and engineering prowess. A design full of complexities, each arm, crafted from sleek stainless steel, moves gracefully, reflecting light and creating an ever-changing visual experience. This attention to detail highlights Rickey's skill in making connections that allow fluid movement while maintaining structural integrity.
Back
Inquire