After designing the basic metal forms of his sculptures, he fuses them with objects from many sources, welding the components into three dimensional constructs that, like his paintings, convey musical ideas, forms, rhythms and compositions. The compositions however change as one percieves the objects from different point of view..

"I work mainly with the concepts of balance, motion, and interacting and intersecting planes in a three dimensional space. . ."

-- David Tobey

City Vortex - L 25 x 21 x 17

City Vortex - R 25 x 21 x 17

Two views of one of David's sculptures, "City Vortex", above.

Playground 12 x 13 x 8

Lyre 228 x 32 x 7

Pointy 16 x 19 x 19

Structure of Energy 28 x 20 x 9

Tobey uses an almost endless variety of material in these constructions. Working from the internationally known LMC (Les Metalliers Champenois) US headquarters in Patterson, New Jersey he has access to custom metal formed to his precise specifications, components of architectural elements that the company fabricates, a huge quantity of foundry scrap, and raw materials that can be formed and finished into anything an artist's imagination can conceive, using the company's state of the art equipment.

One-man Band - L 18 x 8 x 3

One-man Band - R 18 x 8 x 3

The two views of the welded piece above are examples of special finishes that are applied to the metal by the artist through the use of heat and chemicals to create special effects. Contrast between highly polished and rough surfaces in this sculpture is a particular characteristic of many of Tobey's works.

Conductor - L 40 x 32 x 27

Conductor - R 40 x 32 x 27

Another interesting aspect of Tobey's three dimensional work is that the forms constantly change as the viewer looks at them from different vantage points. In this way, an infinite number of perceived images can be experienced from a single static construction. The single piece above, photographed from two different camera positions could easily be mistaken for two completely different sculptures depending upon the observer's angle of view.

Tobey's welded sculptures range in complexity from simple basic weighted masses with few details -- compositions of almost primitive components -- to highly embellished and mathematical constructs with many ancillary components, such elements as might be found in Baroque and Modern musical compositions.

Delicate Balance 36 x 20 x 8

Podium 26 x 19 x 5

Weee! 12 x 10 x 4

"I work with these many varied shapes and start to feel and hear the inner sounds of rhythm, wind, and melody. I know a sculpture is done when this process of sound and motion makes a dimensional and fluid transition from one section to another in the sculpture."

-- David Tobey

See-Saw 14 x 17 x 5

El Toro 30 x 28 x 8

"In his welded steel sculptures . . . it is as though the often baroque shapes in his canvases have broken free and moved out to command three dimensional space"

-- Ed McCormack - Gallery & Studio Magazine

Liberty 60 x 24 x 10

Moon Archer 48 x 40 x 18

Quixote 38 x 28 x 9

Astrologist
37 x 22 x 13

David Tobey's sculptures will next be on public display in his one-man show scheduled for March at the White Plains Museum, or they are viewable by appointment. Sculptures can be fabricated by his foundry, LMC in architectural scale. For more information on this, and on other custom work, phone him at 914-632-8226 or send him an email..

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