Jonathan forrence grew up in the small farming town of Peru New York. He obtained his Bfa from Plattsburgh state and his Mfa from the university of Kentucky where his thesis show was based on departure from heritage. He used the craft material of basketry and interwove it into steel structures, often based around the farming implements used on his fathers orchard.

“Tied to the Land” is the flagship piece from Jonathan’s thesis show in which a pickers ladder reaches for the sky while also tie its self into a knots. The ladder traditionally symbolizes ascent or mobility but here that motion is stopped by the twist and turns of the knot. This action mimics the guilt Jonathan felt leaving his family’s farming business to pursue a career in the arts.In the 1990’s he began to experiment with kinetic sculpture. Looking for a way to examine the similarities and contrasts between the natural and mechanical world. He refers to these as his “Sculpture Systems” series with the aim of creating “nature machines” that mimic natural processes.

He moved to North Bennington 20 years ago. Life in Vermont has changed his work. Spending more time outside and being influenced constantly by the natural world prompted him to focus on creating large on outdoor sculpture. Most recently he is working on a series of welded steel pieces that relate to plant forms.

He has been curating The North Bennington Outdoor Sculpture Show for the last 11 years. The show hosts 40 large works throughout the Village from June till November.