Meet Jerry Barrish | Artist / Sculptor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jerry Barrish and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jerry, how do you think about risk?
I’ve lost and made a lot of money by taking risks.
Taking risk is about making a decision and being OK with it.
I think the act of taking risk and the emotions that come up, is really something that you have to look at and understand.
It’s part of the deal: you’re not going to win all the time.

When you make the call, and say “I’m going to take this risk”, you’re also saying “I’m prepared to deal with any fear or anxiety that comes up.” And not let it overcome you, or eat you alive, or whatever.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
When someone asks me what kind of art I do, I always say the same thing: I’m a narrative artist. I’m a storyteller, I was a storyteller with my films, and now I’m a storyteller with my sculptures. I want to tell a story and I want my art to have gesture and movement.

When I see sculpture by some of the masters, like Rodin, what I see in their sculptures is a pose. They work off a model standing absolutely still.
They did not have the opportunity to see freeze frame or stop action photography. Being a filmmaker and editor allowed me to study body language and develop the ability to capture gesture and movement.

I started working with plastics as I was trying to clean the beach in front of my house. I saw images in the plastic, and I started to put them together in smaller collages. I got the feeling that this material, these plastics, could really tell a story.

It was not easy. I never had a mentor. I overcame challenges figuring things out on my own. I grew up in an artistic void. I did not connect with my parents. In fact, I had to correct and challenge my parents’ decision making. I guess one of the jokes about my life is that I never had a childhood and now I do. Now I get to play.

Lots of challenges in people’s understanding of the materials – of artists that work with refuse and plastics. I never worried about the materials. I just worried about the story.

My younger self simply wanted the world to know “I’m not stupid”. Now, I want my art to enrich people’s environments and lives.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love all the art and architecture of Miami. I would take people to Art Basel and Design Miami for inspiration.
I enjoyed time on Key West, and the film festival there.
[The documentary on Jerry’s life “Plastic Man” screened multiple times on Key West]

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife, Nancy. I’m very lucky that I have a great wife and a great relationship, now 45 years, I think.

Website: https://jerrybarrish.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerryrossbarrish

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jerryrossbarrish

Image Credits
Photos by Mel Schockner and Wilfred J. Jones