Kurt Goodrich Artworks

2019-2024 : 32 x 27 x 91" wood, aluminum and forged steel

Dual proscenium presents a freestanding two sided frame containing a foraged tree branch wrapped by an invasive oriental bittersweet vine mounted to capture their kinetic display in all of its drama.

2020-22 : 36 x 55 x 12" wood, blackened steel, plastic, and foraged leaf stems

A wall mounted southern yellow pine case with blackened steel hardware supporting a dense orthogonal grid of Staghorn Sumac leaf stems manifests the duality between rational and entropic bliss. The case is deliberately not enclosed by glass in order to allow the leaf stems to emerge from their frame three dimensionally in all directions. Shadows highlight their poetic fluidity.

2021 : 11.25 x 11.25 x 49.5" stone, wood, metal rod

Portrait of a Stone is just that, embedded on a solid eastern pine pedestal.

2021-2023 : 18.25 x 38 x 64.25" wood

No Passage frames the emergence of interwoven vines nestled within a palm leaf from the mouth of an implied tunnel embedded in the wall.

2018 : 11.25 x 11.25 x 47” wood and stone

Two large stones set vertically within an orthogonal wood lattice enclosure. The stones are engaged initially from outside, modulated by the lattice enclosure, followed by engagement from the interior with the lattice enclosure becoming the background. The weight and scale of the two stones from this vantage point imparts a distinct impression of imbalance between counterparts, while the lattice enclosure binds the drama.

This is a piece in and of itself, but it also represents a model for a full scale piece in the landscape. Thus, it belongs in both galleries the website.

2018 : 128 x 19 x 7” solid wood, blackened steel, rope

The second installment in the ‘Walking Stick’ series is an ode to a very prominent and exceptional artist capable of the highest craft and subtle although sublime impact.

The ‘Walking Stick Series’ is and will continue to be a critical ode to various artists and movements that hold a significant place in my understanding of art and its importance within the multiple and ongoing dialogues that define us culturally.

2019 : 130.5 x 40 x 40” solid wood and blackened steel

The third installment in the ‘Walking Stick’ series is an ode to the early Surrealists: Three separate unrelated segments of foraged tree branches, portions of which are entwined and disfigured by invasive vines. The three segments are aligned and propped in place with a repetitive series of orthogonal blackened steel frames that modulate the curvature of the branches three-dimensionality. There are two off-chutes from the lead branch that give the piece a rather compelling anthropomorphic quality when mounted horizontally on a solid 2-part eastern pine wood plank as though captured in mid-flight…falling/not falling.

2018 : 29 x 13 x 22” solid wood and blackened steel

An intact branch disfigured by an invasive vine that has since been reclaimed by the wooded landscape. The affected branch, propped-up by a series of orthogonal blackened steel frames laterally disposed, gives this piece a sense of floatation. ‘Untitled’ is not freestanding like most of the artworks in this folio, but composed instead of a solid block of eastern pine lying horizontally to enable a shelf or table mounted orientation.

2017 : 20 x 20 x 61"  blackened steel, plastic, foraged leaf stems

This piece consists of a wisp of leaf stems foraged from an Ailanthus Tree and suspended by their petioles within a small grid of plastic fittings that are set within a tall blackened steel stand. The tall slender stand is composed of solid steel legs, which reduce the center of gravity of the stand to stabilize it from tipping. The solid steel legs remain unbound at their base, which give the stand an anthropomorphic quality of movement that plays-off well with the entropy of the stems.

2018 : 4 x 18 x 1.5” solid wood, plastic, metal, and leaf stem.

A single leaf stem foraged from a Staghorn Sumac mounted on a small 2-part wood plank hung vertically on the wall as an initial study for the larger ‘Walking Stick Series.’

2017 : Photographic Document

A photographic series documenting the trunk of an individual palm tree within a private garden near Calatafimi, Sicily. The garden is populated with this type of palm marked by a distinctive series of textures as you ascend from the base of the tree to eye level. This photographic series inverts the balance of the Studio/Land Artwork in this portfolio in two ways: First, it is a singular found object photographically documented in 2-D rather than foraged as a piece in and of itself and; second, it is an object upon which a temporary non-binding grid is placed to facilitate the photographic documentation from the base up. Rather than initiating 3D entropy via a 2D grid, this work establishes 2D entropy via a 3D grid. However, the end result is analogous to the underlying thrust of the Artist’s body of work in general. This first installment in the Palm Series includes 48 individual images that can be assembled in multiple combinations up to four wide by nine high. The mounting in this portfolio includes only nine of the images, each of which are 8 x 10”. The images can also be printed any size between 4 x 5” up to 20 x 25” depending on whether the piece is for a residential setting, or an institutional one. In either case, the piece can encompass an entire wall in expressive detail.

2106 : 6 x 7 x 50.75"  blackened steel, wood

This first installment in the ‘Walking Stick’ series is a segment of a found tree branch embedded within a blackened steel stand. The handle-like branch projects above and below the top of the steel plate as if captured in movement. The tall slender stand is composed of solid steel legs, which reduce the center of gravity of the stand to stabilize it from tipping.   The solid steel legs remain unbound at their base, which give the stand an anthropomorphic quality of movement that plays-off well with the organic shape of the Walking Stick.    

2014 : 11.5 x 12.5 x 55"  wood

An ensemble of left-over wood fragments from the studio composed perpendicular to the growth rings within an eastern pine pedestal. The density of the piece and the modulation of the individual fragments of wood in both scale and orientation vertically and horizontally, leaves the impression of a dense urban fabric, although one that is both impenetrable and non-functional. It is almost as though fragments of this piece could become the source for a number of large scale Artworks themselves. ‘No Passages’ is an interesting break from the orthogonal geometry of much of the Artwork in the folio to date.

2014 : 14 x 15 x 52"  wood, foraged leaf stems

‘Chorus’ is a simple composition of foraged leaf stems embedded vertically within a dense grid of lines inscribed on top of a timber pedestal. The duality between the orthogonal grid and the entropy of the individual leaf stems is a primary motif within this portfolio. 

2014 : 12 x 16 x 61"  blackened steel, plastic, quills

‘Quill Stand’ is an upright wisp of porcupine quills that are set within a small orthogonal grid of plastic fittings embedded within a blackened steel stand. The tall slender stand is composed of solid steel legs, which reduce the center of gravity to stabilize the stand from tipping. The legs remain unbound at their base, which gives the stand an anthropomorphic quality of movement that plays-off well with the subtle entropy of the quills. The tips of the quills project below the stand in random lengths based on their thickness.

2014 : 12 x 14 x 43"  blackened steel, plastic, foraged grass

‘Grass Stand’ is composed of a wisp of chutes from the stems of prairie grass that are suspended by their knuckles through a small grid of plastic fittings set within the top of a blackened steel stand. The tall slender stand is composed of solid steel legs, which reduce the center of gravity to stabilize the stand from tipping. The legs remain unbound at their base, which give the stand an anthropomorphic quality of movement that plays-off well with the subtle entropy of the grass. 

2015 : 12 x 14 x 43"  oxidized steel, plastic, foraged leaf stems

‘Leaf Stems Stand’ consists of a wisp of leaf stems that are suspended by their petiole through a small grid of plastic fittings set within a blackened steel stand. The tall slender stand is composed of solid steel stock, which reduces the center of gravity to stabilize it from tipping. The legs remain unbound at their base, which gives the stand an anthropomorphic quality of movement that plays-off well with the entropy of the stems. 

2014 : 48 x 48 x 176"  wood, foraged grass

‘Wisp’ is a simple composition of very tall foraged marsh grass stripped of their stalks and embedded vertically from within a dense grid of lines inscribed on top of an eastern pine pedestal. The duality between the orthogonal grid and the entropy of the individual grasses is a primary motif within the folio.   

2016 : 13 x 14 x 45.5"  timber, pine needles

This piece is composed from foraged eastern white pine needles embedded vertically within an eastern white pine stand. A small square opening is created in the middle of the needle stand to evoke an earlier series of pieces in the ‘Land Art’ portfolio. There’s also a narrow passage leading into this opening from the perimeter. These two elements lend a sense of ambiguity to the piece's scale.

2011 : 11.25 x 11.25 x 1.75"  wood, mdf, foraged grass

‘Grass Framed Upright’ converts the predominantly horizontal format of the portfolio to a vertical orientation in plane with the grass. The opening is large and window like, with the grass providing a subtle screen to both animate and foreshorten the view through the aperture. 

2012 : 6 x 14 x 11.5"  wood, mdf, foraged leaf stems

‘Stems with Backdrop’ is the first of three pieces in this series.   As with ‘Grass Framed Upright’ the format of this piece is shifted to the vertical to provide a simple backdrop for the leaf stems. The stems are embedded within a shelf that projects out from its backdrop. Further, the tips of the stems project below the shelf randomly, based on their variable thicknesses.

2012  7.5 x 14 x 16"  wood, mdf, oxidized steel, foraged leaf stems

‘Stems with Steel in Tension’ is the second of three pieces in this series. Again the format is vertical, with the stems embedded in a small grid of lines at the top of the frame. The stems above are then placed in tension visually by oxidized steel threads that are visible within a narrow aperture cut horizontally near the bottom of the frame...

2012 : 14.5 x 15.5 x 7.5"  wood, mdf, stones, foraged leaf stems

‘Stems and Stones’ is the third of three pieces in this series.   The format is horizontal. The composition is simple. The surface of the piece is shifted slightly off-frame to provide a small shelf for the stems on one side and a chamber for the stones on the other.

2012 : 11.25 x 11.25 x 2.75"  wood, mdf, foraged seed pods

‘Seed Pods’ is the first of three pieces in this series. A linear opening is provided along one edge of the frame. The pods are set within, and emerge above the opening, to provide both contour and relief. The number of seed pods relate in scale and quantity to the number and scale of openings within the second piece in this series, ‘Grass Compartments.’

2012 : 11.25 x 11.25 x 2" wood, mdf, steel, tape, foraged grass

‘Prairie Grass Compartmentalized’ is the second of three pieces in this series. Five compartments are provided along one edge of the frame. The compartments are covered with operable hatch type doors and filled with grass laying horizontally in plane with the frame. The contents in this piece relate to the contents in the third piece in this series, Grass. 

2012 : 11.25 x 11.25 x 1.75"  wood, mdf, foraged grass

‘Prairie Grass’ is the third of three pieces in this series.    A linear opening is provided along one edge of the frame and filled with fragments of prairie grass laying horizontally in plane with the frame. The linear opening relates directly to the first piece in this series, whereas the contents within the opening relate directly to the second piece. Seen together this triptych becomes circular.....