Bio:
Rachel Friedman has been stone carving for only 3 years. Although new to carving, Friedman allows the stone take her through the process. Friedman exclusively uses hand tools and consequently must work with softer stone such as Alabaster, Limestone, Sand-stone and Wonder-stone (a type of volcanic rock). Friedman has been influenced by artists such as figurative artist, Camille Claudel and abstract artist, Editt Davidovici.
Artist Statement:
To carve is to dance. I am a modern dancer and choreographer. I am a stone carver. I want to embody and represent the full movement of dance in a permanent and tangible way. I want to be able to touch the corporeal body of a dancer. I want to feel how the body responds to movement. Contrary to how a choreographer takes a concept and builds movement, shape and fluidity with dancers, I sculpt in the negative. I read the stone looking for movement, sinuosity, flow and sensuality. Removing and removing until I’m dancing with the stone.