“Fitting In,” An Artist Installation by Stone Mason and Sculptor, Hector Santos

TAft er almost two weeks of cutti ng, grinding, and chiseling, stone mason and sculptor, Hector Santos, is pleased to announce the completion his first California sculpture. “Fitti ng In” (III). It is in the courtyard of the Art Queen complex. “Fitting In” (III) is part of a series of sculptures with the negative space being the shape of a human. The first “Fitting In” is in Woodstock, Vermont and is constructed entirely of stone and copper. “Fitting In” (II) is made of poured concrete and reclaimed slate shingles. It was trucked across the country and resides in Ojai, California. “Fitting In” (III) is constructed of reclaimed concrete, wood timbers, and copper. Santos decided to use reclaimed concrete instead of stone for this sculpture because it can be shaped to mimic stone and it will be kept out of the landfill. The silhouette for the sculptures “Fitting In” (I) & (II) were the shape of a man. For this sculpture, he chose the shape of a woman.

Hector drove 2,800 miles from Vermont to install “Fitting In” (III) in The Art Queen complex. The inspiration hit him last winter while staying with his daughter in Landers. In February, he approached the property managers of Art Queen for permission, presented a design, and was approved. He chose the Art Queen complex because he thought his sculpture would be appreciated and people would interact with it. Santos explains the meaning behind the title “Fitting In:” “Most of us feel the need to fit in, whether it’s in a social group, at work, school, or life. “Fitting In” embodies that. The concrete pieces fit together, fit around the copper moon, and finally into the wooden frame. You fit into the silhouette.”

Hector is primarily a practical stonemason, his work typically consisting of walls, steps, and patios, but his passion for sculpture is what pushes his creativity. Hector grew up in Northampton, Massachusetts and moved to a commune in the Turners Falls/ Gill area when he was eleven. The commune was alive with art, design, music, and construction. Hector was heavily influenced by all the activity which gave him a lot of inspiration. Take a walk through the Art Queen art garden and see for yourself, how it feels to “Fit In.”