Artist's Statement

Much of my work is a reflection of my long held fascination with Nature. The satisfaction I feel while spending time observing in wild places is the strongest inspiration for my artistic work. I am especially interested in the similarity I see in living bodies that are well adapted to moving fluently through the environments of air and water. I find them inherently beautiful, and many of my designs are reflections of these kinds of forms.

My sculptural medium is fabricated sheet metal. I begin with flat sheets of metal and work them into complex curves using a variety of hand and powered tools. Some of these tools I have built from salvaged or re-purposed materials. I generally work the metal in a cold state, although annealing with a torch is sometimes necessary to achieve very deep forms. Each of my sculptures is made up of individual hammer-formed pieces which are assembled by welding or riveting to make up the larger composition.

As a preliminary to the actual metal shaping, I make conceptual sketches of my subject then carve a model from wood. I pattern the surface of the model by covering it with multiple layers of masking tape. When the tape is removed in one piece as a single layer, it retains the contours of the carved surface and becomes the primary reference for forming the metal to the desired shapes.

The coloring on my steel work is caused by oxidation. It is the natural reaction of the metal to heat and air. Each hue corresponds to a specific temperature range of the heated metal. This can be controlled in ways to give layered effects which are then sealed with a protective coating. When working in bronze, I use traditional patinas and wax formulas to color the work.

My technical skills developed over several decades working in the fields of taxidermy, sign making, canoe restoration, and sheet metal fabrication. Although I have enjoyed many mutually instructive relationships with other artists and craftsmen, I consider myself to be self-taught.

Mark Goodenough lives in Rockingham, Vermont with his wife and son. His studio is across the Connecticut River in Walpole, New Hampshire.

Selected Achievements

Participated in the noted “Acworth Meetinghouse Restoration Project”, Acworth, NH as the principal coppersmith.
Selected by jury to participate in the three artist exhibit “1+1+1” at the Museum of Florida Arts and Culture, in Avon Park Florida with Ailyn Hoey and Elena Maza.
Awarded “Artist in Residence” in Big Cypress National Preserve, Ochopee, FL. Lived in South Florida Everglades for one year, observing wildlife and sculpting.
Worked with Jonathan Clowes, Sculptor as a fabricator/ foreman, making monumental-scale public sculptures in shaped metal. Was introduced to the craft of metalshaping.
Collaborated with Keene Signworx to make custom dimensional signs, and was honored with six state and national top awards for his work. His work appeared in the April 2008 issue of “SignCraft” magazine, and the June 2008 issue of “Signs of the Times” magazine.
Commissioned by Vermont Fish and Wildlife Service to mount non-game specimens for their permanent collection in Montpelier, VT.

Awards

First Prize, United States Sign Council, Dimensional Sign, 2006 collaboration
First Prize, NH Sign Association Mack Awards, Dimensional Sign, 2005 collaboration
First prize, NH Sign Association Mack Awards, “Before and After” category, 2004 collaboration
Best of Show, NH Sign Association Mack Awards, 2004 collaboration
First prize, NH Sign Association Mack Awards, Dimensional Sign, 2004 collaboration
Peoples Choice, NH Sign Association Mack Awards, 2004, collaboration
Best of Show, United States Sign Council, 1997, collaboration