Ray Gun or Gun

In July of 1962, Westermann wrote to his sister Martha to describe a new treatment he had developed for painting on wooden sculpture. He writes of the new marbleization technique, derived from decorated papermaking techniques: “I enameled them with white and then I took red, yellow & blue enamels and poured a little on the surface of the water in the tub […] And I blow lightly then too to help make the patterns, then I take a form and roll them 360° over the paint.”  

Before he attempted this technique on a large-scale sculpture, Westermann indicates that he experimented on eight other pieces. Ray Gun is one of these smaller objects that Westermann made to test this process, which led to unpredictable abstract designs. 

Such disciplined research and careful experimentation defined Westermann’s artistic process. 

The form itself is not unique in Westermann’s oeuvre. This is the first of several gun-objects made by the artist, who was a practiced marksman and a Marine anti-aircraft gunner during World War II.