Douglas Heine

“Spirit Dance II”, by Douglas Heine, graces the entrance to our plaza this summer. At the opening reception, one enthusiastic visitor described it for us: “with its big red dancing presence, it draws me into the square in a wonderfully fun and modern way”. Cloverdalians seem to agree as they continue to enjoy our Sixth Annual Sculpture exhibit, scheduled to remain in the plaza until October 1st.

When asked about his inspiration for Spirit Dance, Heine told us “we are encased in this bag of bones only that we as spirits, may recognize each other, perhaps just as we leave, for who knows where. We gather for one last dance, one last joyful act. This sculpture represents that dance of spirits”.  The work consists of fabricated sheet steel, welded and then powder coated.

In discussing his work in general, Heine continued “the two areas of interest in my work are the figure, and harmony within abstract forms. I work in many materials – marble, steel, aluminum, fabricated bronze, and bronze casting. In my paintings and tapestries it is again the figure and the visual play of harmonics, both in form and color. It is also true that process intrigues me greatly. If I use the metaphor of listening to music, one day it’s the classics, the next day jazz. I have never felt the need to restrict myself to one form or another, any more than listening to one type of music. And in that constant, there is variable. Each design challenge has its particular set of restrictions and opportunities, leading me toward a solution that is unique and specific to location, aesthetic, material and spirit. If I am true to the beauty of form, that harmony remains constant, whether the music is classical or improvisational jazz.