Creator Record
Metadata
Name |
Bomberry, Vince |
Notes |
Vince Bomberry Cayuga Nation, Wolf CLan Vince Bomberry has lived at Six Nations for most of his life. His first attempts at carving were with wood at the age of 12. Shortly afterward Vince shifted his focus to stone, the material he is best known for today. He recalls no real instruction, but acknowledges the value of watching gifted community members such as Jake Thomas, Sr. and Bradley Logan carve lacrosse sticks, masks and other items. Early in his artistic journey Bomberry's carvings were influenced by abstraction and the simultaneous perspectives characteristic of Cubism. Today his work, drawn from Haudenosaunee tradition and symbolism, continues to feature composite imagery and/or opposing elements of human nature. He occasionally uses pneumatic tools to shape the raw alabaster and Brazilian soapstone, but most of his sculpting is accomplished with hand chisel and file. Completed pieces are wet sanded to achieve the lustrous finish he seeks. Despite the length of time Bomberry has exercised his craft and the difficulty of working primarily outdoors, no other profession has merited his attention. Despite fluctuations in the art market and the cost and physical challenges of his material, Vince remains passionate about his artistic practice. Large scale projects represent his most compelling personal accomplishments. The Woodland Cultural Center (Brantford, Ontario) commissioned Bomberry to create a homage to the Two Row wampum for Planet IndigenUs (2012). The work was constructed with painted wooden posts and stands 40 foot in length. Such endeavors furnish Bomberry with remarkable momentum. On one such project he recalls, "I didn't want to sleep. I couldn't wait to get back to work on it." Bomberry is represented in a number of private and public collections including the Museum of Civilization (Ottawa), the Woodland Cultural Center (Brantford, Ontario), the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum (Salamanca, NY), Ganondagan Historic Site (Victor, NY) and the Iroquois Indian Museum (Howes Cave, NY). *Bio text cannot be used in print or web publications without IIM permission. Use for other purposes (such as research papers, presentations) should credit the IIM. |
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