Early Summer 2017 Cape Cod HOME | capecodlife.com

By design: Eben Armer

Cape Cod Home  /  Early Summer 2017 / , ,

Writer: Meagan Nolan / Photographer: Elizabeth Cecil 

By design: Eben Armer

Early Summer 2017 Cape Cod HOME | capecodlife.com

Cape Cod Home  /  Early Summer 2017 / , ,

Writer: Meagan Nolan / Photographer: Elizabeth Cecil 

Leaving No Stone Unturned, Early Summer 2017 Cape Cod HOME | capecodlife.com

Photo by Elizabeth Cecil

Today, Armer finds a balance between building functional stonework in his professional masonry career and sculpting aesthetic-centered stonework in his personal artistic life. He describes his professional masonry work and personal stone sculptures as being similar in technique but vastly different in approach—explaining that his personal artistic process consists of a “relationship” between himself and the stone, one in which communication and compromise on vision exist to bring his ideas to life. By diligently “listening” to the rock along the way, Armer says he sees the stone as having “its own life force,” by which it demands to be highlighted and portrayed in a certain way that may differ from his original vision. “At times,” he says, “the stone can be very cold or warm, very stubborn or forgiving. The grain can sometimes affect what my tools can achieve.” By taking cues from the stone itself, Armer does not shy from compromising on original intention to allow the stone to speak for itself as a “piece of living earth,” respecting the natural form of the rock while elevating the emotional inference.

A significant aspect of Armer’s creative process involves exploring the rural areas in and around Martha’s Vineyard for stone pieces to incorporate into his art. He admits that he loves searching for material. “It’s gratifying to find a unique, beautiful piece and see its potential for a project,” he says. The exploratory process allows him to forge a deeper connection with the surrounding wilderness and meet many “interesting people with unusual stories” that inform and shape his sculptural work. “I really enjoy these experiences,” Armer says. “Seeing the stone in its natural setting and seeing how the light shapes it or how the weather has changed it elevates my work in a fundamental way.” Once he finds the stone, he meticulously studies the unique qualities and shape of the rock, learning its character before adding shape to it himself. In some cases, Armer has attributed the stone itself to being “the catalyst for the sculpture,” allowing the natural material to inspire the artwork just as much as his personal vision.

Armer’s stone sculptures can be found at the Kara Taylor Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard, decorating the meadow surrounding the beautifully curated gallery. Kara Taylor, the owner of the gallery and a childhood friend of Armer’s, describes his work as uniquely industrial and feminine. “His work rests in the realm of minimalistic,” she says, “with enough to make the stones intriguing.” Taylor says she welcomed the opportunity to add Armer’s work to her otherwise exclusive collection, offering a stunning space to display the sculptures: in nature. “Placing his work in nature highlights not only the organic essence of the work but the emotionally transient as well,” she says.

After years of practice and persistence, Armer feels he has finally found his voice as a builder and an artist, giving him the courage to break certain rules of masonry. Bound by nothing but the “capabilities of the material,” Armer says he can truly explore how the stone can achieve its full potential. “I strive to show off the material and its organic, timeless quality, as opposed to working against it,” he says. Many artists boast about a connection with their craft and intimate knowledge of their respective medium, but few can claim the intimacy Armer shares with his artwork. “Working with stone has given me a great deal of perspective—a rhythmic space in which my thoughts become clear,” he says. “With each blow of the hammer, the subject reveals itself. Creating sculptures has opened my mind and helped to slow me down so that I can appreciate experiences and ideas and express them through this work.”

Meagan Nolan is a Cape Cod native currently living and working as a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon.