Shelby Head received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. She continued her studies in the M.F.A. program in sculpture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York City.

She spent years as a technician in all aspects of foundry work and went on to build models for animated commercials in New Your City.

Head's sculptures have been exhibited in both group and solo shows throughout Connecticut. She received grants for artist residency programs in Hawaii, Kentucky, and Nebraska.

Touching the sublime through form is the heart of what interests sculptor Shelby Head. Four years ago Head began an in-depth study into the science of sound and color, music theory, and the principles of design in order to create a visual model of music.

The mathematical and abstract nature of music makes Constructivism a natural vehicle for the work. The Constructivists used mathematics and mechanism to search for beauty in the abstract, pure form without reference to objects. Using geometric shapes and line, Head borrows from the Constructivist search for truth in the abstract.

	ABOVE: Study in Rhythm #1 BELOW: Color Chord Change #1 (click either image for larger view)

The foundation of each sculptural composition is built on maps Head creates from a written drum score. Using different size circles to represent each part of a basic drum set, beautiful rhythmic patterns of circles emerge giving the composition a definite and clear pattern of rhythm, movement, and continual change inherent to music.

Applying the fundamental elements of music to design and color equivalents, Head has developed a new language for form and color. She gives the viewer maps of color chord changes, patterns from a drum score, single beat studies, the interaction of four beats, and experiments in improvising.

This work is part of an ongoing exploration into mapping music through design. Following a specific song form, the work will continue to develop and evolve into large-scale compositions expressing the style of music through the rhythmic use of form and color choice