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David Ashworth Burslem

Arden

Established
Visual Arts: Sculpture

“The actual creation of a work of art is a battle of emotions ending with a feeling of awe and wonder for the finished product.”

When David Ashworth Burslem’s artistic parents moved their family to the arts enclave of Arden, Delaware, he was immediately immersed into the creative culture of the town. Artists, actors, and writers were a vibrant part of the community that Burslem grew up in and a constant exposure to creative minds and their projects. However, David chose to focus on sports and didn’t develop his artistic skills until his studies at the University of Delaware lead him to a degree in Graphic Design. The combination of his design, photography, and sculpture studies there became the foundation for his work today.

Over the last 58 Years Burslem has exhibited in juried shows at the Delaware Art Museum and Biggs Museum and in exhibits in New Hope, Philadelphia, and D.C. More recently he has curated yearly exhibits in his Studio Gallery at his home in Arden where he also has built a 20’ x 20’ Bamboo Gallery and a Sculpture Garden.

Although he has worked with many media, his most intriguing creations combine “photography, painting and graphic design within a sculptural format”. His skills learned while working in construction proved to be vital lessons for creating his sculptural abstract landscapes. The tools and materials that he used became an integral part of his creations, especially the use of aluminum as a surface for some of his designs.

While the COVID pandemic slowed the careers of many artists, David found that it gave him “more impetus and focus and he became more appreciative of the power of creating beautiful art to move and uplift spirits”. He was inspired to create his “Rise Up” collection, a Sculptural Garden to chronicle COVID’s impact on the world and to offer visual support and hope. These are the sculptures that garnered him the Division’s Established Artist Award.

Burslem is rewarded when a finished piece exceeds his expectations. He is constantly surprised when he looks at his art through the eyes of a viewer. “Revisiting a design with someone else looking at it for the first time and telling me what they see reveals a new perception and appreciation for the impact that art can make.”

Both humbled and inspired by the award, David feels the responsibility that comes with the grant. He has already been inspired to produce new works which will be part of two Arden Artisans Collective shows in Wilmington this year at the Baby Grand and the Delaware Center for Horticulture. He is also producing a June Studio Tour with the AAC to give all of Arden’s residents an opportunity to show their creations.

Burslem’s most recent exhibit entitled “When Pigs Fly” opened last June 2023 when he returned to his elementary school in Arden, now a community center “The Buzz”.  This show was a testament to his resilience and determination after just completing his second round of cancer treatments in seven years. “When Pigs Fly” became his mantra “when the odds said it couldn’t be done!”

His grant “couldn’t have come at a more meaningful time in my career and life in general”. He is grateful for the opportunity and the additional support that the DDOA has given him, allowing him to “continue creating more beautiful and inspiring works to share.”

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