Carbon Dating is an imposing modern sculpture constructed of ancient materials created by Monte Dolack in his workshop between 2013-2025. The sculpture is composed of Montana anthracite coal over a plaster and wire armature secured onto a walnut base. The sculpture and base measure 21" high x 21" wide x 7" deep and is definitely designed to be a conversation starter.
According to the artist "In 2013 I had a solo exhibition titled Altered State at the Holter Museum of Art in Helena Montana. A sculpture with two figures-a man and a woman-was originally in that exhibit but I felt the sculpture was not fully realized and within the last year I have reworked the sculpture and feel it is complete.
My grandfather Steven Dolack came to Montana to find work as a miner. During the 1920s and 1930s he and my father worked mining coal near Belt Montana. Some of this coal was sold to the Anaconda copper smelter where in later years my father and I both worked. Throughout the process of creating this sculpture, I felt that working with materials such as coal and copper would draw me into a deeper connection between my own family history and creative process.
Anthracite coal is a carbon rich, shiny black, hard and luminous fossil rock composed of layers of plant material that flourished millions of years ago. For centuries the burning of coal has been used for heating and power generation at the expense of releasing CO2 gas-which had been locked with the coal-and has contributed to global warming. The relation between human and coal has been termed a marriage of convenience."
Free shipping of this powerful sculpture is available to your location within the United States.
