...of the father

two channel, sculptural video installation by: John Sturgeon

Regina Gouger Miller Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA

John Sturgeon ©2000

Evoking issues of the father and the nature of fathering, through video, poetry and sculpture elements, ...of the father hints at two sides of the coin –

​

                that which is perceived, inherited, desired

               and that which is unknown, held in secret, or discarded.

​

Set within a rock triangle sculpture serving as a viewing well, one enigmatic video loop depicts a stone being thrown into a dark pool of water.  Out of this tarn reflecting twisted branches, the face of the artist’s father is revealed.  Imperceptibly, the video reverses direction - sucking the stone back out of the pool into hands, waiting to be cast to water once again. 

​

Inside a free-swinging suspended copper cone, the other video twists clockwise, then counterclockwise, as a dark figure recites an incantation of attributes “...of the father.”  After endowing each coin with a quality - “of the father,” he drops the coin, seemingly with recognition, or a wish - splash - into a black bowl of water.