‘FREEZING’ EVERYDAY OBJECTS INTO STONE

IS REMARKABLE SPECIALTY OF AWARD-WINNING BROOKLYN ARTIST

Brooklyn-based sculptor and mom Robin Antar is a unique artist who reproduces everyday objects – from brand name shoes, clothing and candy – into meticulously carved stone sculptures. The result is a staggering and challenging trompe l'oeil for the viewer: is it a sculpture or is it the real thing?

Her works include a Skechers’ logger boot, a pair of Diesel jeans, a bag of Milano cookies, a bottle of Chateau Haut-Brion, a bottle of Heinz ketchup, a pair of boxing gloves, and a bag of M & M’s much more.

They are among the many icons of American culture that comprise the unique works of NYC artist Robin Antar, one of 17 artists honored by the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities last year. In addition to many distinguished honors and awards, Antar was also recently named in the Best of American Sculptors.

Antar sculpts visual duplications of the products of our culture in her studio, “freezing” the objects in time.

“I record markings and symbols that reflect an object’s life and use, including their wear and tear in the form of creases, folds, dents and crevices,” said Antar, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts. “Most of the carvings are done in life scale and are intended to defy the viewer to discern the sculpture from the original object.”

Indeed, her artwork is amazingly lifelike. An Italian shoe shows the ever-so-slight signs of wear, and a plate of cookies, stacked just so, forces an observer to look twice before considering whether to swipe one. At a recent exhibit, her artwork had to be roped off because many people felt the urge to touch them.

She can spend anywhere from three to six months on a piece. To create a boot, for example, Antar cut lines and made deep scratches in the stone to mimic the sole. She tinted it with a thin coat of black, letting the grains of the stone show through. She then applied a thicker coat on the sole, creating the look of rubber.

Sculpting since she was 14 and a student at Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, Antar typically works at all hours of the day and night. In contrast to the order of her home and the gallery-like quality of her living room where she rotates her favorite pieces, her studio houses 20,000 pounds of stone (which spills over into her garage), and the unusual tools of her trade (including heavy drills that seem far too bulky for the slight Antar to lift, much less sculpt with).

She sculpts both objects that catch her fancy and commissioned pieces that can range from one’s favorite pair of clothes to a family heirloom (e.g. a tallis, or Jewish prayer cloth). Her work can be found in many homes and private collections, including that of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer.

“The work is physically demanding and the fine detail requires an immense amount of focus and time,” said Antar, who has also developed a clientele for another aspect of her work, Judaic ceremonial artwork. “The money and the recognition are nice, but you do this for love.”

Antar’s works in progress include a cowboy hat life size and oversized bottle of French mustard, a bottle of scotch and a larger-than-life sized bag of chips, 6000 pound worth – brand to be determined.

Ms. Antar’s sculptures have graced the windows of Paul Stuart’s flagship fashion retail store on Madison Avenue in NYC, and have been exhibited at the Blue Hill Cultural Center in Pearl River, NY, and at the National Arts Club in NYC, among many other venues. She recently appeared on HGTV’s That’s Clever, where she transformed a block of stone into a life-like boot. She sells her original pieces range from $500- $126,000 (www.rantar.com)

Note to Media: Photos, DEMOS of Ms. Antar’s sculpting and additional information are available. For more information visit her website at: www.rantar.com, or contact Vicki Garfinkel, 973-519-8926.

Robin Antar, USA