Printer Friendly Version - New Sculptures Enliven Outside Spaces at Old Saybrook’s Acton Library

Art at Acton: Rotating art exhibits have been a key part of Acton Public Library since it was expanded more than a decade ago. Now the art on display is moving outside as well with several new sculptures that were recently installed. This sculpture of a praying mantis holding the book Lord of the Flies was made by local artist Roger Bowie.

Searching through discarded items of metal or other junk to find that special item to re-purpose is not for everyone, but it’s how local artist and sculptor Roger Bowie might find elements for his next sculpture.

Most visitors to Acton Public Library over the past month have likely noticed a new Bowie sculpture that was installed at the library’s driveway and is on long-term loan from the artist. The large metal sculpture, one of his early works, features a large praying mantis reading the book Lord of the Flies.

Metal was a natural media for Bowie to choose for his art since his career of eight years has led his to work with metal, first doing custom metal work in his own business and now, as an ironworker.

“I’ve been doing sculptures for about two years. The praying mantis at the library was one of the first ones I did. I added the book later,” said Bowie.

Over the past two years, Bowie has begun to pursue sculpture as a second career. His day job, working four days a week for 10 hours each day, is as an ironworker doing work that may require climbing on bridges and similar skills. The advantage of this job is that he has a three-day weekend each week in which to spend on his sculpture.

“Having the day job gives me the freedom to work on my sculpture,” said Bowie. “I do sculptures for my own enjoyment, but I have sold 10 or 12 pieces over the past two or three years. My goal now, at 46, is to give myself four years to see if I can make it as an artist.

“Right now, I’m working on a series of mannequins wrapped in metal,” said Bowie.

Bowie was inspired in his current project by his three daughters. With the media showing only women with perfect bodies, he wanted his art to highlight woman of more typical proportions.

“The average size of a woman today is size 14. So I decided to show a woman of a more typical size by wrapping the mannequins with metal,” said Bowie.

Bowie works in a studio behind his home at 2 Boston Post Road where Ferry Road begins. To contact Bowie for more information about his work, text him at 860-319-1131.