Modeling Faith in Brownsburg
March 12th- March 26th
Jacob Dobson models his faith both literally and figuratively as a sculptor of human form. The Brownsburg artist articulates the human anatomy and expression of people moved by an experience of faith. Inspired by scripture and his Christian-Latter-day Saint values, the figurative sculptures and reliefs are created in clay and cast in plaster or bronze. 
His first experience sculpting was in art class at Brownsburg Junior High. Excited by working with clay, the encouraging voice of his teacher, Mrs. Dearringer, motivated him to study sculpture at Herron School of Art. When the human form became his focus, his wife’s grandfather, Arthur Weber, a former Dean of Herron, recommended that he transfer to Brigham Young University-Hawaii to get the anatomical instruction for figurative sculpture. Then pursing his Master’s Degree at the New York Academy of Art the artist worked among many renowned sculptors of our time.
Dobson’s mother inspired him with Michelangelo’s masterpieces. When he first encountered Michelangelo’s Pieta, he was spiritually moved. This life size marble sculpture depicts Mary holding Christ’s crucified body after he was taken down from the cross. Dobson refers to Michelangelo as “a rare individual who really felt what he sculpted and what he created had impact.” The desire to impact, is the motivation behind Dobson's work. Michelangelo prepared for each work by first reading scripture, a practice Dobson strives to maintain in his own process. “If we seek ye first the kingdom of God all of our needs will be met ” Dobson cites from Matthew 6:33. Although this is challenging to commit to, he attests to "feeling inspiration from above" when he disciplines himself to put his faith first. Tapping into faith, he models what it means to use one’s gift to do God’s will.
Dobson’s sculpture “And Christ did Heal Them” was the work the artist felt most spiritually connected to in its creation. The models for the sculpture were his wife and their first born son. Living in a basement apartment in New York City, his biggest fear was how he would be able to be an artist and provide for his family. “The significance of that sculpture” states Dobson is its representation of being." Referring to being what God intended, he continues, "We have a gift to create and with that gift comes the burden of being able to make it and pay for it." Dobson was at a point of being physically, financially, emotionally, and spiritually drained. He sculpts a mother, at the end of her capabilities, she has done all that she can possibly do, at the top of the stairs, the edge, holding her child in a way that appears she is handing the child to the Lord. The child, Dobson states "represents the individual’s gift, the individual’s responsibility" As an artist he is confronted with how to heal from this process and that is where he says "faith comes in and divinity takes over."
Currently, Dobson is working on an extensive project creating reliefs that depict articles of faith intended for a 13 ft high bronze sculpted doorway. Living in Brownsburg with his wife and three children, he works as a sculptor and a full-time instructor at the Art Institute of Indianapolis. You can view more of Jacob’s work by visiting www.jacobdobdson.com.
