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Artist Statement
My artistic vision is to create sculptures with emotional messages
that transcend the subject matter of the piece. Through my figures,
I depict the invisible physical forces of wind and waves, the mythical
process of metamorphosis, and elusive emotions exposed in a moment.
As I breathe life into my sculptures, I strive to capture their
spirit in the permanent solidity of bronze.
The technical execution of my ideas is the result of 25+ years
of experience in the field of bronze sculpture. At the age of 15,
I began working in a fine art foundry and it was there that I first
sculpted and sold several original works. However, it wasn't until
returning to foundry work after receiving an engineering degree
that my interest in sculpting was rekindled. Since 1985, I have
worked almost exclusively creating and casting my own sculptures.
By controlling this entire process, I am able to transfer all the
properties and potentials I created in clay into the finished bronze.
I believe it is this marriage of artistic intuition, design elements,
theme and craftsmanship that make my sculptures unique.
Education
- 1982 - Bachelor of
Science, Civil Engineering Northern Arizona University Flagstaff,
AZ
- 1985-1987 - Apprenticed
with renowned figurative sculptor, Clyde Ross Morgan, Sedona,
AZ
Professional Experience
- 2003 - Business of
the Year Award, Oregon Chamber of Commerce, Oregon, IL
- 2000 - Opened inBronze,
a full service art casting facility, Mt. Morris, IL 1993 - Moved
sculpting studio and gallery to Illinois from Sedona, AZ.
- 1988-1991 - Founded
and operated Bronze, Ltd., a finishing service specializing in
metal finishing and patination
- 1982-1984 - Sculptor
Service, Sedona, AZ. Worked primarily in metal finishing and developed
patina skills and techniques that were in demand throughout the
Southwest
- 1976-1979 - Employment
at Paragon Art Foundry, Oregon, IL. Worked in and mastered all
the technical and skilled craftsmanship involved in casting bronze
sculpture.
Public Art Commissions
Commissions/Large Works
- 2003 "Symbiotic Sojourn"
Life plus one-third Bronze Sculpture Commissioned by: Century
Walk Corporation (public organization) & BBM Incorporated Main
Street Promenade complex, Naperville, IL
- 2003 "Eclipse" Life
plus one-third (7' h) female figure with light source.
- 2002 "Paths of Conviction,
Footsteps of Fate" Life and one-half (13 1/2' h) monumental bronze
sculpture of Abraham Lincoln & Sauk Warrior Black Hawk. Public
Art Commission by: Black Hawk/Lincoln Sculpture Committee, Oregon,
IL
- 1997 "Dynamic Intensity"
Life-size Jaguar (7' h) Commissioned by: Air Gun Designs, Northbrook,
IL
- 1997 "Harbor Maiden"
40" h - Private Commission
- 1995 "Strength of the
Steed, Power in the Muses" 30" h - Private Commission
- 1994 A Glimpse Beneath
the Surface, to the "Spirit of Atlantis" One-half life-size -
Private Commission
- 1991 "Into A Laurel
Gone" Life-size plus ten percent (7' h)
- 1989 "Esprit du Vent"
(Spirit of the Wind) Two-thirds life-size (5' h)
- 1988 "The Dream" Life-size
plus ten percent (8'h)
Awards
Primary professional emphasis has focused on large commissioned
works, rather than participating in juried fine art events. However,
in the early years work was exhibited and won numerous awards including:
- Best of Show - Dayton
Art Expo, OH
- First Place - Sculpture,
Castle Farms Art Festival, MI
- First Place / Best of Show
- Art in the Park, NV
- People's Choice Award
- Dimensions '91, KS
- First Place & 2 Honorable
Mentions - in sculpture, Fountain Hills Festival of Arts,
AZ
- Merit Award - Oakbrook
Invitational Fine Art Exhibition, IL
- Honorable Mention -
Sculpture, Boston Mills Artfest, MA
Notable Juried Fine Art Exhibits
- Loveland Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, CO
- Loveland Invitational Sculpture Show & Sale, Loveland, CO
- Hillside Sculpture Invitational, Sedona, AZ
- Port Clinton Art Festival, Highland Park, IL
- State Street Art Fair, Ann Arbor, MI
- Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
- Oakbrook Invitational Fine Art Exhibition, Oak Brook, IL
- Affaire in the Gardens, Beverly Hills, CA
- American Academy of Equine Art Invitational, Madison, GA
- UConn Invitational Sculpture Show & Sale, Farmington, CT
- Danada Invitational Sculpture Show & Sale, Wheaton, IL
- Art 2000, North Shore, IL
- Ormond Beach Sculpture Show & Sale, Ormond Beach, FL
- Elmhurst Art Museum Invitational, Elmhurst, IL
- Kimberley Gallery Sculpture Invitational, Shelton, WA
Books & Publications
- The Lincoln Enigma: The Changing
Faces of an American Icon, Edited by Gabor Boritt (Oxford,
2001), Photos of "Paths of Conviction, Footsteps of Fate." Also
includes mention in a chapter "Lincoln in Modern Art," co-authored
by Boritt with Harold Holzer, Vice President of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art.
- My Summer with Lincoln,
by James Percoco, Photo of "Paths of Conviction, Footsteps of
Fate"
- Practical Welding Today,
Nov/Dec 2003. Feature article on the artist and his foundry, inBronze
- Innumerable newspaper articles
Gallery Representation (Past &
Present)
Artist work featured in Jeff Adams' inBronze gallery and numerous
outside galleries including:
- Courtyard Gallery, New Buffalo, MI
- Agnisiuh Gallery, Sedona, AZ
- El Mundo Magico Gallery, Sedona, AZ
- Dan May Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ
- Lindsey Gallery, Carmel, CA
- Casa Delores Gallery, Carmel, CA
- Studio of Long Grove Gallery, Long Grove, IL
- Kimberely Gallery, Shelton, WA
- Bensen Gallery, Arlington Heights, IL
- Winters Gallery, Cambria, CA
- Lido Gallery, Park City, UT
- Prestige Gallery, Skokie, IL
- Prein Gallery, Denver, CO
- Fleet Art Salon, Sedona, AZ
- Masterguild Galleries, Punta Gorda, FL
Lectures
Numerous presentations to civic service groups such as Lions, Kiwanis,
and Rotary. Numerous lectures to art students and teacher including:
- High school art teachers, Dixon, IL., H.S. Art Club
- Sauk Valley Community College Art Class
- "Young at Art" Skilled Artists Studio Tour (an auxiliary of
Rockford Art Museum
- "Palette & Chisel" (art organization founded by professional
sculptors in Chicago, IL)
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