Show Notes:

Welcome to Season 7, Episode 1. In this episode of Art Is, host Isotta Page sits down with fellow marble sculptor Alex Rane to talk about what it means to be working in marble today. Alex & Isotta talk about going up to the quarries in Carrara, selecting blocks, and what it actually feels like to carve stone.

They discuss Alex’s path as an artist and the role of community, with Alex based in Carrara and Isotta in New York, and how each place is shaping their practice right now. The conversation delves into the historical legacy of marble, including the role of the figure in sculpture, and what it means to be working in such an ancient material today. Along the way, they discuss what they each need to see and feel in a sculpture, the themes in Alex’s work, especially his idea of “monsters” as a reflection of the present moment, and marble’s relationship to geologic time as part of Isotta’s research practice. They also get into the tension between tradition and new technologies like robotics, and how that is shaping the marble world.

**This episode includes behind the scenes photos of Alex’s incredible studio in Carrara, the marble quarries, and works in progress so be sure to watch the video version.

Learn more:

Alex Rane: Website | Instagram

Isotta Page: Website | Instagram