“I’m hoping that having 3-D fish in the space with the viewers will make them feel like they’re in the water with the fish,” said Rosemary Bennett.
The Bennetts have long focused their artistic energies on sculpting piscine figurines—an interest that ultimately brought them together while studying art in college
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As students at Ohio State University, Alan put his attention on setting fish images in different glazes and Rosemary worked on intricate sculptures of octopuses. For decades now, they’ve combined their artistic talents.
To form the intricate scales, patterns and textures of fish, the artists use a combination of special effects and traditional techniques, including Japanese raku, ancient Chinese pottery firing practices and early American methods.
Each fish takes months to complete. The Bennetts start by closely studying the anatomy, movements and colors of a specific species. Then they move on to making sketches and sculpting basic body shapes.
“When visitors see this show and then go into the Aquarium and look, they might observe the Aquarium fish closer, too,” said Alan Bennett.
Although from Bath, N.Y., the Bennetts have shown their work in North Carolina for years at Cedar Creek Gallery in Creedmoor. The gallery also provided a kiln large enough to fire the exhibit’s crowning clay piece - a whopping 50-pound goliath grouper
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The show is free with Aquarium admission or membership, and will run through January.
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