Commemorating memories and unity
BY: GRETA MCGLAWN
Graphic Design Editor
On Dec. 11, at 4:30 p.m. there will be a reception for the exhibition “2 cups.” Bob Rocco will present his work with a ceremonial celebration of unity and memories accompanied by a sound bath performed by Patti Pellerito. The gallery space will also be open Monday through Thursday from noon until 4 p.m. until December 18th. Viewers are encouraged to spend some time using the space as a meditative, relaxing spot, but also to move around and examine the pieces from all angles.
The exhibition features a multitude of different materials working together harmoniously, combining elements of wood, steel, cast iron, twine, plastic twistties and, of course, ceramics. Each piece features the symbolic two cups that signify a celebration of a connection between two people. The whole piece– pedestal, table, cups, wrapping– comes together to create an altar where the celebration can happen.
“The cups, you’re supposed to use them. All these little shelves, even this one, this little guy. These are places for you, for someone living with the art. These are living art pieces,” Rocco said.
In a time where many objects are created by or with technology, Rocco draws viewers’ attention to the craftsmen of the past by collecting found items with unknown and odd uses then creating his pieces around them.
“They’re aesthetically what I want. But more than that, part of that show is about paying homage to whoever made this strange little piece. Where did this thing come from, and who made that? That’s part of it as well,” Rocco said.
Even though this show is a solo show for Rocco, he included a space for his influences. He explained how various people influenced him not as much with the physical aspect of his art, but with the meaning behind his pieces.
“So my influencers were all people that our conversation sitting around would be about theory as much as anything else,” Rocco said. “It was about theory and emotion and all the things that go along with it intellectually. Instead of ‘wow, that line works with this or this shape works with that shape.’”
Rocco started his art journey at Meramec exploring the arts and playing water polo. He shared a story about how even though he and his friends did not look like the typical art students, they were the ones who were always in the studio.
He then finished his bachelor’s degree at Southeast Missouri College, teaching for a few years at a school in Illinois before going to Indiana for graduate school. Since then, he has worked on the Regional Arts Commission and New York State Council. Rocco was the director of a museum for a few years and was heavily involved with Laumeier Sculpture Park and the City Museum.
He shared a story from when he was traveling around the country as an arts administrator, noting how that elite world would often be upset about his lifestyle.
“I was up [in New York] a lot and people would ask if I had been to the museums. No, I went to other artists’ studios. I wanted to know what was going on. I love museums, but I was more interested in what people were doing,” Rocco said.
When Rocco is not working on film sets, contracting high end restaurants or working for his concrete business, he works on public and community art projects. Currently, Rocco is restoring the Martin Luther King Jr. statue that lives in Fountain Park. During the devastating storms earlier this year, the statue was blown down and heavily damaged.
“Now, it’s a lot of work to do, but it is so important to that community. It’s very gratifying to finish a piece like that,” Rocco said of the statue.
Even though Rocco does all sorts of other mediums and projects, he shares how the culture around ceramics differs from other mediums and makes it more inviting.
“We were talking about it; if you’re a painter, you work alone. If you’re a sculptor, and it’s not a school setting, you work alone, but in the ceramics world, you share everything. It’s very community oriented,” Rocco said. “Once I got into clay, you couldn’t get me out of it.”
He shared one last idea of how he thinks about his work.
“One of my favorite quotes, and I don’t know if this is right or not: The craftsman makes things with his hands; the artist makes things with his hands and his heart,” Rocco said.
