Killing Time Sculpture

Dale Mathis (b. 1972, Los Angeles, California) is a self-taught artist who mastered the techniques of his craft while working odd jobs until he was able to pursue artwork full time. Mathis' works are deeply personal, and many are based on particular memories from his childhood. A self-proclaimed "˜MacGyver,' Mathis' pieces combine the mechanical aspects of movement with three-dimensional sculpture and interesting lighting. Best known for creating medium-scale pieces which incorporate the working mechanics of machines such as gears and pistons, Mathis has expanded the boundaries of traditional everyday gadgets by incorporating these components into wall art and furniture such as desks. His inclusion of the parts which make up a time piece for instance, speaks not only to the fleetingness of time, but also of hopefulness, signifying that with each passing moment, hope is present. Mathis' works create a feeling of intimacy with the viewer as every viewer deals with the same constraints that time deals: death, birth and renewal.