Chet Haring
What is the best part of being creative in Carbondale?
Chet and daughter Emma, with submission for Carbondale Arts Valley Visual Art show, 2021.
I enjoy being creative in Carbondale because of the environment and the community. It allows me access to the things in life that I love, which include getting outside and spending time with my family, as well as access to the awesome community of artists and creative people that live here. Another wonderful thing about being an artist/Stone Carver in Carbondale is the proximity to the marble quarry. I have been traveling to the Marble area for over 15 years working with artists and stone carvers in the town of Marble. I moved to Carbondale in 2016 and quickly realized how important it was to live so close to the source of stone. I am grateful to be living here in Carbondale making art.
What motivates or inspires you and your work?
I am constantly finding new sources of inspiration. I am consistently inspired by bones and old metal machinery parts/pieces found on my adventures in the mountains surrounding Carbondale. I appreciate the beauty and simplicity of both. Specifically I am drawn to the strength of the bones, the different textures and how they make movement more efficient. Similarly with the metal pieces I am drawn to their clean lines, durability, and functionality. I have been exploring the more modern relationship between metal and bone and how we repair bones with metal during surgery.
Where can we see your work?
My work can be found outside the Launchpad and at the Marble Distilery here in Carbondale. I also participate in the Carbondale Art Around Town sculpture on loan program. After the second week in June I will have a new piece on the streets of Carbondale as part of this program. You can also find my work on my Instagram page @chetharingart or on my website.
What projects are coming up?
I am constantly working on projects at my studio. I am continuing to develop new projects for art on loan. I am very excited about a large scale gear and chain project. I have been playing with carving vertebrae and working on a spine project.
Every summer I am involved in the Marble/marble carving symposium and the 2022 season will keep me busy starting in June. Marble/marble is a unique carving symposium right here in our valley. People come from all over the world to carve. The energy and enthusiasm from these symposiums is impossible to describe and always brings new inspiration. I continue to remain busy and am mostly trying to decide which project to focus on first.