Ernest Caballero

Artist Statement

Sculptor Ernest Caballero experiences nature as alive with wisdom and mystery accessible through the feelings and imagery of the soul. Looking at one of Caballero's sculptures is like looking through a window or gateway into another world; a world of dream, myth and archetype. This visionary perspective combined with technical ability allows him to give form to an inner reality where feelings and images exist prior to words.

A native Californian Ernest has been sculpting professionally since 1976. As a self-taught sculptor, he initially worked in wood, creating architectural works from murals and mantels to archways and doors as well as magical faces carved in pine knots and driftwood.
In 1983, Ernest began casting his work in bronze. He also works extensively with clear acrylic (Lucite) creating a series of limited edition mythological images for this new medium. A commissioned 16 foot tall cross with Christ figure, The Cross of New Life, created for Holy Family Parish in Inverness, Illinois is the largest figurative sculpture cast in clear acrylic to date.

Each sculpture begins with an image or idea developed by working on several small clay sketches. The full-size model is then sculpted. From this finished clay sculpture, a flexible silicone rubber mold is made. With this mold the sculpture can be cast in either clear Lucite acrylic (using an autoclave which applies both heat and pressure) or bronze (using the traditional lost wax method).

Ernest's bronze sculpture, The Alchemist (the Transmutation of Suffering into Peace) was an award winner at the National Sculpture Society Exhibition 2000. "One of the aspects of the soul's journey is the transmutation of suffering and limitation into wisdom and peace. The Alchemist embodies this often painful part of the journey. Acceptance of our limitation and pain is the key to healing. This is the process by which the Eternal can enter us and transform agony into ecstasy.”

In the new Guardian Series, a group of sculptures of fragmented figures resides or emerges from stone. These Guardians, both male and female, are rooted in the earth, and carry a soul nourishing sense of Spirit and Mystery.
Ernest Caballero is a Colleague in the National Sculpture Society.