Rocco Lombardo
disciplines
Interdisciplinary Visual ArtsProfessional
Born in Italy and immigrated toCanada in the mid 50's, Rocco Lombardo is an artist and educator whose primary focus is in the interdisciplinary exploration of Culture, Art and Technology.
With a background in sculpture, engineering and mental modeling, he makes no distinction between tradition and technology. The personal challenge has been to contend with a public perception of being homeless in having cultivated the varied domains yet identifying with no one in particular.
In current work the physical realization of visual constructs from intellectual notions draw from a range of algorithmic, self-organizing or chaotic strategies. Recombinant engineering and the use of traditional and composite materials together with the use of archetypes translate into work which is unfashionable, rich with sensory and intellectual references, elegant, and seasoned with respectable craftsmanship. The objectives target issues of mind-set, functional fixedness and the aesthetic.
His works are in private collections.
In the early 70's attended Vancouver Community College and Vancouver School of Art, and with a few distractions in between, has been making art for 35 years.
In 1971 developed conceptual models for robotic installations and interactive kinetic environments.
From '72 to '74 taught art for the Montreal Catholic School Commission.
1975 became an Ironworker in Vancouver, built bridges and made sculptures in steel.
In 1977 Worked for the CBC as a scenic carpenter.
In 1979 worked for the Vancouver Parks board cutting stone and building the sea wall in Stanley Park. Made furniture, jewelry and works on paper.
Moved back to Montreal in 1980 and taught art at Dawson College.
Since 1981 (to current date) has worked at Concordia University as technical support staff for the Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering. (Graduate research and undergraduate teaching labs).
In '83 Undertook large earth-work project in Pine Hill
During 1984 set up the Joseph Street Studio in Verdun and began re-processing primary materials.
In'86 constructed a "sculpture machine" that generated columns of air.
During '87 experimented with kinetic and sound sculptures in glass tubes.
In 1988 commandeered a non-art space and presented a site-specific installation. For a period of six months, the lobby of the Henry F Hall Building at Concordia University became home to a visual display of ten giant yo-yos suspended between the columns and visible from street side.
In '89 Painted in the south of France.
In 1990 developed a pseudo musical instrument series of sculptures.
92-94 Began "framing" 2 and 3-D sculpture in wood.
95 Graduated with a BFA in Studio Arts and a minor in Education from Concordia University.
96 Painted works on paper in Bangkok and began integrating figurative work in stone, wood and metals.
97 Accepted into the Masters program in Educational Technology at Concordia University with interest in mind-set, mental modeling and user interface design.
98 Research in mechanical devices in non-utilitarian applications.
99 Research in recombinant and in composite materials.
2000 Began the Macpherson Estate project - an urban environmental earthwork.
2004 Began a new series of sculptures in relief.
2006 created new series of work in the round.
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