Sculpture article, Madison WI
by Patti Thompson Eastside News
I have traveled the streets of our beloved east side getting from here to there and to accomplish this and that. There are landmarks that fill me with warm feelings of familiarity as I traverse our neighborhood. The polar bear sculpture in front of Sid Buyom’s home, the community gardens along St. Paul Ave., the purple dome of the Barrymore Theater. And for the last five years, a 2 ton sculpture-in-progress in the back yard of the corner house on Milwaukee St. and Waubesa. This is the home of Deb Vandenbroucke, computer consultant by fall and winter and sculptor by spring and summer. When I come to the stop sign on the corner of Waubesa, I strain my neck backwards to see how the sculpture has changed since the last time I drove by. It isn’t very often that we have the opportunity to see, on a daily basis, a work of art taking shape. If you happen by her home on a breezy, sunny day, you may have been lucky enough to see this artist working with her air hammers and chisels
This sculpture recently named “The Understanding” began as two one-ton limestone rocks that were delivered from Bedford, Indiana, a place known for some of the best limestone in the world. The two limestones are slightly different in color – one buff and one gray. Deb states, “When the stones arrived from Indiana, I was worried that the carts I built for them would falter when the fork lift placed the stones on top of them In fact, building the carts was much more work than the actual sculpture. As it turns out, the designers at Marling Lumber knew what they were doing when they drew the cart design for me!” Deb only works on the stones during the warm months in her back yard. “Limestones hold a lot of water so that when it’s cold, the water actually freezes inside the stone, making it impossible to sculpt during the winter. Not to mention that it makes it rather umcomfortable for my creative energy to flow while my hands are freezing off!” Each fall, Deb has a sculpture tradition of having her strong women friends over to roll the scuplture into her garage marking the winter months approaching and then out again as the buds on the trees start to burst open. This spring marks the last time ‘The Understanding’ will see the dark walls of her garage. After four years, it is heading off to be with its new family who have been patiently awaiting its arrival
The piece was custom designed to fit the space that separates the family’s “great room” and the entryway of their home. In the original model, the sculpture was to have a delicate glass ball resting on top of and in between the two stones.” This was to symbolize the delicateness of relationships and what could happen when one side pulls apart or pushes too hard. The name ‘The Understanding’ came after four summers of chiseling away the layers of stone to reveal a story of the artist, the stone and the family it will soon be living with. The two stones were sculpted to complement each other in both shape and design. They fit together such as two fists would rest knuckle to knuckle. Depending on who is looking at the rocks, one may see the two pieces gently supporting each other, complementing each other, smoothly and sensually flowing into and out of each other. Yet another may see the rocks pushing against each other in a powerful battle of strength; rock solid and hard. Unyeilding from their fight, these two rocks have locked heads and neither one will give in. The artist has taken deep parts of herself and has expressed them onto the stone while still telling the story of a family who has recently faced a break up. Deb received her undergraduate degree from Eureka College in both mathematics and art. While an undergrad, she needed a humanities credit that would fit into her schedule and took a chance on a sculpture class. The only assignment for the class was to sculpt something that “feels good.” She says, “I never got over it. Sculpting has been in my veins ever since.” Deb’s sculptures seem to express soft, flowing curves that resemble the sensualness of a woman’s body. Round, smooth, mountainous dips and subtle secret crevasses make her pieces irresistable to the touch. In fact, her first sculpture assignment—make something that feels good—seems to be a theme that has stayed with her throughout her work. Being a neighborhood artist has been a focal point for the neighbors, local travelers and even school children. Once while Deb was working, her back was to Waubesa St. She had on ear protection, a face shield and wrist braces. She was running the air hammer and dust was flying everywhere. She got a tingle on the back of her neck and turned around to a great surprise! 20 grade school students were watching her! These have been great opportunities for Deb to educate passerbys to her work and specifically this piece, Deb has a special message for little girls, “Don’t be afraid to use power tools and equipment to make your dreams come true.”
She is inviting the neighborhood to stop by and take a look at the completed piece, ask questions and view the progress picture books. Deb is thankful to her neighbors for putting up with the air hammer over the years and grateful to the local grafitti artists for respecting her expression of art. Deb does original custom-made pieces.