Solar Plains imagines expansive solar fields blanketing the rolling hills and soft valleys so commonly associated with the landscape of North Carolina, echoing a commitment to renewable energy so desperately needed in today’s evolving world. Through industrial metalworking processes, flat sheets of stainless steel are formed and bent along numerous vertical lines into undulating horizontal strips, then fabricated and welded together to create a complex network of stainless steel facets. Each individual facet reflects light in its own unique way.

PINES AND PIEDMONT (TIAA)
Thomas Campbell’s sculptural installations, Pines and Piedmont, offer a profound connection to North Carolina’s landscapes through distinct yet complementary approaches. “Pines” draws its inspiration from the serene experience of meandering through a pine tree forest, aiming to instill a sense of calm and introspection. As part of Campbell’s Broken Volumes Series, this piece leverages the aesthetics of industrial steel fabrication, utilizing bends or “brakes” to sculpt form, depth, and dimension, mirroring the forest’s natural architecture. Piedmont adopts a more organic perspective, employing similar brake techniques to evoke North Carolina’s iconic rolling hills and valleys. The sculpture’s form undulates in a manner that suggests the gentle slopes of the region, while a carefully applied gradient of blue paint adds an illusion of depth, reminiscent of gazing towards the horizon. Together, these works by Campbell not only celebrate the beauty of natural landscapes but also showcase the versatility of steel in capturing the essence of the environment.

-Hodges Taylor Art Consultancy