The stunning creation by Craig Copeland, “Embrace,” participated in the “Soul of the City” exhibition at Marmomac 2017 in Verona. Since the White Carrara marble and Verde Picasso quartzite were provided by Ca’ D’ORO S.p.A., the parent company of VENETIAN GOLD, we are proud to feature this project on our blog and help deepen the understanding of the various creations that can be achieved with natural stone.
Soul of the City: ‘Embrace’ by Craig Copeland
Copeland’s work stems from the desire to create an inviting gathering space enclosed by an embrace, where natural stone becomes a warm and welcoming element, aiming to express a contemporary way of shaping it, illuminating it, and defining a physical place.
The first components of the “Embrace” sculpture are two curved walls, concave and convex, made of natural stone – one in Bianco Carrara and the other in Verde Picasso – which together define both the passage and the seating area. Each wall consists of forty hyperbolic panels, supported by a steel frame with a corten finish. A series of stone seats echo the internal geometry of the shapes and walls. The entire structure rests on a glossy Fantastic Black granite floor.
The entire project, from hand-drawn sketches to 3D design, diamond wire cutting, hand finishing, assembly, and installation, involved both traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technologies.
“Embrace” evokes various metaphors: we can see the work as two walls surrounding a city square, the clasping of two hands, or the opening and closing of a tulip. It can symbolize an invitation, an embrace—ultimately, union and gathering.