The pandemic of 2020 has temporarily anchored internationally-renowned sculptor and inventor Richard X Zawitz in his South San Francisco studio and gallery, but it has not slowed him down.
Richard, whose sculptures are found in public and private collections worldwide, and who has traveled the world in service of his art for more than 40 years, says that the virus-imposed restrictions on travel have allowed him space to “re-center and revitalize” with his art and his family as he moves ahead with his artistic endeavors on multiple fronts.
Richard, who says his mission is “Peace through Creativity,” has a special affinity for Asia, where he lived and worked for many years. He notes that his work has flowed from his study and experience of Asian art and metaphysics, most especially Taoism and Zen. He emphasizes that he embodies curves in all his art. His many accomplishments include the creation of what he calls “Curvism” and “The Tangle Particle” – his inspiration for a line of playthings called Tangle® that have sold more than 150 million units.
The first molds for Richards’ Tangle products were created in the early 1980’s. Richard knew the design was well worth protecting. He applied for patents, trademarks and copyrights at that time. He notes that “I am relentless in the defense of my intellectual property and competitors have gotten the message.” Richard speaks kindly of the lawyers he has worked with over the years and relates how important it has been for him to aggressively protect his ideas and intellectual property rights. For the past few years Richard has worked with OW&E’s Linda Joy Kattwinkel to strengthen his copyright and trademark protections and police infringements.
Tangle products have had an amazing shelf life – they are still going strong after almost 40 years – fueled over time by licensing deals with the likes of Mattel, Hasbro, the Beijing Olympics, and the makers of Slinky. Richard calls himself a “nasty fighter” in the protection of his art, harkening back to his roots in Pittsburgh, PA.
“It’s an honor to have Richard as a client,” says Linda Joy, who as an artist herself particularly enjoys helping fellow artists protect their intellectual property. “I have a deep respect and admiration for Richard’s work and its spiritual roots.”
At the core of all of Richard’s work has been what he calls “The Tangle Particle.” In an Artist’s Statement he notes, “My studies and experiences led me to hypothesize the existence of one essential particle of matter which in turn led to my discovery of the ‘Tangle Particle’ which manifests itself in two distinct and parallel ways and is explained through science and humanism. The essential manifestation of the ‘Tangle Particle’ is as a spiral, wave, curve, circle or arc. In nature and science it is found in galaxies, proteins, light waves, sound waves, hurricanes, cyclones, the growth patterns of all manner of fauna and flora, and in every culture’s art and design (think Van Gogh Sun Flowers and Starry Nights, and every type of painting (including body art) or textile design which uses knots, curves, spirals, waves or circles).”
One of Richard’s current projects has him returning to his roots in wood carving. In his South San Francisco studio he unearthed large chunks of rosewood that he collected over 40 years ago and has been at work with woodworking tools purchased at the same time as the rosewood from a wood-carving master in Hong Kong. “It’s a beautiful process,” says Zawitz, highlighting his “urge to remove material” and the satisfaction that comes from working with such a rich wood. Richard has always worked with a wide range of materials, including stone, metals, plastics, wood and other “fauna and flora.”
Richard is pleased to have had the opportunity to spend so much time with his family during the pandemic lockdown, including his wife Kanya, his son Nick and daughter-in-law Jan Marie and Tangle kids Sammy and Lana, and daughter Aimee and grandson Charlie, but his creative energy is burning brighter than ever. When asked about current projects in addition to the wood carving, he discusses learning to make half-sour pickles and smoking local salmon for his weekend lox and bagels. He also has an Infinity chair, along with other art-inspired furniture, in the works, three or four proposals for major art installations under review, and is talking to folks at Apple about possible projects.
“Everything I do is talismanic – some form of symbolic spiritual energy,” says Richard. “My mission is to project that positive energy throughout the universe.”