Artwork Description
Karen Yank – Trust
Dimensions: 53 x 53 x 1.5″
Year: 2005
Medium: steel
Karen Yank – Trust portrays an intersection between two fundamental elements in Yank’s work: the line and the circle/semicircle. The line and its symbolization of the boundary between the earth and the sky stabs into the circle, representative of nature’s many circular things, such as the dome of the sky, the sun, the moon, and the cycle of life. The two interconnected shapes are consistently seen interacting in Yank’s sculptures, representative of both the relationship between her and her late mentor, Agnes Martin, as well as the union between the earth and the sky. In Yank’s pieces, the use of a cross is common as well, but in Trust, the cross, representing intersection, union, and marking a specific place in space or time, is replaced by the conflicting shapes of the circle and the line. The circle, the line, and the cross are inspired by their frequent appearances through history; the three themes date back to the Stone Age and are as old as culture and civilization itself.
Yank is often inspired by the picturesque landscapes of New Mexico, and describes her work as representing not only the nature itself, but rather the emotional impact that one feels when immersed in nature.
Yank primarily works in mixed metals to create her mesmerizing sculptures, citing their strength and durability.
Many of Yank’s award-winning works are featured in museums and galleries throughout the United States. This, along with the large number of public works she has produced, primarily throughout the Southwest, undoubtedly makes her the most established sculptor in the state of New Mexico.
Yank’s work will be featured in an exhibition with her mentor Agnes Martin at New Mexico State University’s new museum in 2020.
Lillie Guo