A sculptor's life: Juggling elements, jokes and bowling pins

SALISBURY — Sculptor Karl Saliter looked out at the audience at the Salisbury School and said, “Thanks for coming  — except for the guys who have to be here.â€�

And on that note he launched into a talk about art to a crowd of about 40 people, evenly split between students at the prep school and curious civilians.

“You are creators,� Saliter said. “Humans have the gift of being aware of three dimensions of existence. People who make art have a deep relationship with this gift.�

He illustrated his points with a slideshow of various (and large) examples of his pieces.

And when the tone got a little esoteric, he kidded around, one of his other talents.

“I went to Hotchkiss,� he said by way of explanation.

“We live as if we are separate from naturally occurring phenonena. Art takes the pressure off. I am filled with gratitude and wonder as I work.�

A photo of the sculptor appeared. Saliter is at the helm of a Bobcat (a small bulldozer), moving one of his big stone-and-rebar sculptures around.

The artist abruptly departed from the text.

“God, I love a Bobcat!� he exclaimed, a big grin practically splitting his face in two. “I had the keys for about five days. It was great!�

Before the talk, Salisbury School art teacher Erica Crofut took Saliter and few other early arrivals on a quick tour of the art rooms. The tour included a look at small clay figures of heads.

Saliter was especially taken by the head made by sophomore Oscar Cheng, from Taiwan.

The young artist was late to the talk, and when he arrived Saliter again abandoned his script.

“You’re Oscar?�

The young man affirmed it, glancing about nervously, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“That head, man — it’s off the charts!� Saliter said. “And now you have to sit next to Erica.�

Saliter, who thinks large in his scuplture, took questions from the audience.

Asked about the practical difficulties of creating a large cube of stones and rebar, he said, “Yes, I did manage to weld myself into the cube.�

“How do you know when you’re done?� he was asked.

“There are moments that are really beautiful on the way,� he began. Then he got down to earth: “And often I am working on a deadline.

“Other times it’s more apparent. Adding anything more is gilding the lily.�

He was asked if he ever edited his pieces.

“Yes, I have an eraser — it’s called an angle grinder.�

Someone else asked, “Do you adjust the rocks or just take them as they come?�

“With most of my work, I barely touch it,� said Saliter. “But sometimes I get a commission for, say, a bench or a bird bath.�

Talking about his days as a communications student at Boston University, he mentioned a school of art he founded.

“IYDLIFY,� he said, rolling his eyes. “If You Don’t Like It ...�

Some years later he modified the acronym, losing the post-adolescent gag and substituting “Find Yours.�

And on that note he slipped into his juggling mode. Saliter has a second career as a comic juggling act.

“This pays for the sculpture,� he said as he whacked himself in the head with a passing bowling pin.