Fall 2011

mnsculptors.com

IN MEMORIAMRemembering Loved Ones in Buenos Aires

In the upscale Recoleta neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, there is a magnificent walled cemetery that is a veritable sculpture garden and is a magnetic draw for tourists. It’s the resting place of Eva Duartes de Peron who died in July 1952—the same “Evita” im-mortalized by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical of the same name. Evita was beloved by the people, and to this day fresh flowers are placed at the door of her tomb every single day.

Recoleta cemetery was built in 1822 on the grounds of the disbanded Order of the Recoletos’ garden and convent. It became the first public cemetery in Buenos Aires. Following the yellow fever epidemic of the 1870s, which ravaged the city, many wealthy people moved to the “safe” neighborhood of Recoleta. By becoming a high-class suburb, the cemetery became the final resting place of the families having greatest prestige and power. It’s like a history book of Argentina.

A Visual History of Architecture and ArtThe cemetery was remodeled in 1881 by the Italian architect Juan An-tonio Buschiazzo. The property contains room for about 4800 vaults, all above ground. The entrance to the cemetery is through neoclas-sical gates with tall Greek columns. The cemetery contains many elaborate marble mausoleums in a variety of architectural styles. The entire cemetery is laid out in sections like city blocks, with wide tree-lined main walkways branching into sidewalks filled with mausole-ums. Each mausoleum bears the family name etched into the facade; brass or bronze plaques are added to the front for particular family members. Recoleta is one of those cemeteries where the tradition of engraving a death date (but no birth date) has been maintained.

Recoleta Cemetery, is also home to about 75 well-fed and well-treated cats. They roam among the tombs, and at 10 am and 4 pm, local neighborhood women feed and take care of them, bringing life to the dead. Recoleta is also home of some interesting ghost stories. Check these out on the internet.

As a sculptor, I found the walk through Recoleta utterly fascinating. Sculptures abound. Incredible representational marble carvings and bronze castings are part of almost every tomb. The detail is exquisite, as you can see on the following pages. You can wander the lanes for hours. You never get bored—only inspired.

Dick Poey

Expressions of Life...Love...Loss

Nancy Gristsculptor profile

For the last few years I have focused mainly on producing work rather than pursuing opportunities for exhibition or gallery representation, though I have been in a few local exhibitions and have sold some pieces. I consider myself an “emerging” sculptor and hope to become a full-time artist one day. I plan to make major progress in that direc-tion this year, finding new opportunities to exhibit and sell my work and finding new form!

Nancy Grist4901 Colfax Ave SouthMinneapolis, MN 55419

612.963.8853gristarts@gmail.com

I have been making things my whole life. As an architect and sculptor I especially enjoy translating ideas into 3-dimensional realities. I began my college studies in Fine Arts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and finished my undergraduate degree in Chinese Language at UW-Madison after a semester abroad in China. While in college I supported myself by working in a jewelry shop, learn-ing the art of metalworking in silver and copper. I went on to start and run a business manufacturing small parts and jewelry.

I tend to create sculptures that are reflective of the pursuit of a unified body and mind—dynam-ic, yet quiet, strong and delicate, hopeful. I am interested in the capacity of the physical body—or body of work—to influence the mind. I explore ideas of balance, strength of center, and connection through the use of poised form in prayerful play or determined pursuit. I am curious about a calm mind in service of our physical beings— freeing

After selling that business and starting a family, I decided to return to school in pursuit of a Masters Degree in Architecture, which was a subject in which I’d always had interest. Fifteen years, 2 kids, and 48 buildings later I found myself frustrated sitting at a computer screen and itching to work with my hands again! My natural tendency toward spatial thinking and previous experience in metalworking led me to take a few classes in the Foundry Arts Program at the U of M, learning about the bronze casting process. I soon became hooked on the initial processes of modeling clay, wood, and wax, and found, surprisingly, that I was drawn to the human figure.

my hands in the process, and the body in this work. More and more lately, I start without an idea, and just let it happen. I find that letting my hands lead the way offers exciting results.

Finding Form

Gesture is important to me, both in subject and in treatment. I prefer to leave the marks of my hands in the clay rather than smooth things out, as I find the finished piece is more expressive when there is evidence of its making. And I am always working on knowing when to stop! I love to carve, shave, and sand wood, removing material and refining shape and form as I go. I discovered wood as a sculptural medium while producing bases for my bronze pieces, which usu-ally become more a part of the piece than just a base. I am currently working on a few figurative wood sculptures and several clay models that will be cast in bronze, as well as attempting to shift up a bit in scale to larger work.

Sundog

Lupine

Kiteboy

Lady Jane Girls Winter

Japanese Art Goes Commercial (and Vice-Versa)

The first time I walked into the Target Wing of the Minneapolis Institute of Art this enormous white puppy greeted me. Frankly, I wondered what this 3-D version of Japanese anime was doing there. It seemed out of place. (Note, the Walker has several pieces like this.) Several years later I encountered this colorful panda, and curiosity got the better of me. So I did some research. Yoshimoto Nara calls the puppy Your Dog, and the bear by Takashi Murakami is simply called Panda.

Several things about these artists are similar. Both are highly suc-cessful, their works often selling for several hundred thousands of dollars. Their styles are similar, called Superflat. And both have aligned their art with commercial products, blurring the distinction between fine art and pop culture, much like Andy Warhol did.

Yoshimoto Nara was brought up in post-World War II Japan, a time when that country was being inundated with Western pop culture, comic books, Walt Disney animation, and Western rock music.

Nara is well known for his depictions of children and animals. Nara’s cute, though often menacing, children and animals are readily associ-ated with popular culture, particularly manga comics and animation. His popular appeal masks the serious social and personal dimensions of his work—feelings of helplessness and rage, and isolation in our overly networked society.

Takashi Murakami, a contemporary of Nara, works in both fine arts and commercial art. He takes themes from popular culture and turns them into giant sculptures. In art school he pursued a doctorate in traditional Japanese brush painting but switched his vision because anime styles seemed more relevant in today’s world.

His Panda is a result of collaboration with handbag designer Louis Vuitton. It’s become a branding symbol for Vuitton and is printed on product, merchandising materials and animated on TV commercials. (I recently saw a wallet with the logo on e-Bay for $20,000!)

Both artists have a diverse body of work (painting, sculpture, video and commercial products) that forces us to consider the interrelation-ship between fine art and commercial merchandise.

Dick Poey

Your Dog, 2001Yoshimoto NaraFiberglass, edition of 674 x 48 97 inches

Panda, 2002Takashi MurakamiFiberglass with an antique Louis Vuitton trunk100 x 65 x 43 inches

Member News

Public Art Is Alive and WellEDINA

Edina’s Promenade (across from the Galleria) and Grandview Square (in the plaza near the Senior Center) features four sculptures by Society members. • Sunniva by Jim Gabbert • Reflecting on Friendship by Nick Legeros • Blue Heron with Pumpkinseed by Judd Nelson • The Plunge by Deb ZellerThese pieces are outdoors and will be on display until May 2012.

HOPKINSIn May the City of Hopkins inaugurated ArtStreet—their first annual outdoor sculpture program. • Shoo Shoe Train by Kyle Fokken • Variations #1 & #2 on a Circular Theme by Norman Holen (#1) • Like a Tree, Rooted in the Earth by Dick Poey • The Man and the Muse by Deb ZellerThe show received extensive coverage in Lakeshore Weekly News and the Sun Newspapers. The City provided handsome pedestals for the work and also provided installation services. In July Kyle, Norman and Dick also addressed the Hopkins Business and Civic Association to talk about their respective sculptures and the benefits of including sculpture as an important part of their city’s cultural environment.

SIOUX FALLS, MANKATO, EAU CLAIRE, CASTLEGARThe Sioux Falls SculptureWalk Program is branching out. They now manage outdoor exhibitions in three other cities—Mankato, MN; Eau Claire, WI; and Castlegar, Canada, BC. A number of our members have taken advantage of these unique public venues.SculptureWalk, Sioux Falls • Queued Up by Kate Christopher (#3) • All in the Same Boat by Kyle Fokken • Leaping Hare by Nick Legeros (#2) • Man and the Muse plus Goddess of the Grapes by Deb ZellerCityArt Walking Sculpture Tour, Mankato • Look and You Will Find by Kate Christopher • Wonderment by Nick Legeros • Red Tail Hawk by Judd NelsonSculpture Tour, EauClaire • Klompenboot by Kyle FokkenSculptureWalk, Castlegar • High and Dry by Kyle Fokken (#4) • The Plunge by Deb Zeller 1

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Last fall Paula Jensen received a commission to create a bronze Great Grey Owl sculpture (right) that would be mounted to a white oak tree in her client’s garden. The welded metal-and-carved piece was installed this past spring. Paula will be part of the Park Rapids Art Crawl in September and the Bemidji Studio Cruise in October. She is also preparing for a solo show at the North Coun-try Museum of Arts in Park Rapids Minnesota, July of 2012. This past winter, Paula and her husband Larry bought into a partnership at The Artists Mall of Walker with Marcy Hanson. Paula will work from home developing marketing programs.

James Gabbert’s Female on a Pedestal #1 (left) and The Cosmic Dance of Terra and Luna were exhibited in June at the Open Juried Show at The Art Center Manatee in Bradenton Florida

SMS Members at the State Fair

Perci Chester, this year’s sculpture judge at the State Fair, selected these four Society Members’ pieces for exhibition. She awarded (1) Kyle Fokken Third Place for Airway to Heaven (Church Series III). Others selected were (2) Susan Feigenbaum, Crested Noogle Boggin; (3) Leroy Johannsen, Twisted Straight; and (4) Frank Picos, Persian Infinity.

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revel in discovering and revealing images that are at first unknown but then appear seemingly out of nowhere as their work takes shape. Dick will be part of the Eden Prairie Art Crawl in late September. He also will have a solo exhibition at the Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, in October.

The Secret Within was the name of Dick Poey’s month-long sculp-ture exhibition at the Hopkins Center for the Arts. Dick’s twenty-four sculptures were com-plimented by Dale Woodbeck’s abstract paintings. The title reflects the fact that both artists, who work in different media,

Mary Ingebrand-Pohlad is currently showing six figurative bronze sculptures at the Groveland Gallery in Minneapolis, as well as five pieces at George Stern Fine Arts in Los Angeles.

the Minneapolis Childrens Hospital (26th and Chicago) . The subjects portrayed are all crea-tures living in northern Minnesota and were

This spring Lee and Dan Ross completed and installed five playful sculptures in the new sculp-ture garden at

carved from Minnesota granite. The project culminated an intense competition started in 2009.

Wild Side PlayListen

Comfort

Night WatchIn addition to his public arts projects, Kyle Fokken is leasing a new piece to HealthEast/Bethesda Hospital Sculpture Park Outdoor Sculp-ture Lease Program, St. Paul. He also enjoyed a successful weekend at Chicago’s Old Town Art Fair. He and fellow SMS sculptor Foster Willey, Jr. and sculptor Roger Junk will be featured in a show titled Sculptural Pursuits at the Burnsville Center for Performing Arts. The show opens Friday, September 8th and runs until October 15th. Images of Kyle’s work will be featured in a touring show in Shanghai, China titled Eco-Arts China that has a focus on artists who make work out of recycled materials. Recently, Kyle was invited to do a solo show at the Garner Narrative Contemporary Fine Art in Louisville, KY and a fund-raising show with other artists at St. Cloud State University.

Veteran SMS member Peter Lupori exhibited in two shows this summer. He was among faculty of Northern Clay Center showing work in the biennial 2011 Artists Of NCC, during July and August. And Lupori was invited to be part of the special gallery exhibit Marking Time: Looking Back at Minnesota Artists and the Juried Exhibi-tion at the State Fair. His piece is titled St. Fran-cis and the Birds (right) .

Arlene Zimmerman was commissioned to create a bronze portrait of a small boy at the beach. He is sitting , deep in concentration, his focus is distant, off somewhere over the ocean. Her challenge was to work from photos she didn’t take, especially when sculpting someone else’s child. The piece should be finished in September.

Nick Legeros recently installed a larger-than-life portrait of the late Jane Doran Krause in a memo-rial garden at 12th Avenue and 5th Street SE in Dinkytown. Shown at the right is the sculpture as it was being pieced together. Her brother, the developer of the 412 Lofts (where the sculpture was installed) commissioned the piece.

displayed at the SMS Arboretum Show, The Art on the Lake Festival in Excelsior and The Loring Park Art Show in Minneapolis. They are currently preparing for the Centennial Lakes Fall Art Show this September.

According to James Paulsen, the sculpture-show circuit has been much better than he anticipated, given the summer’s economic news. Sculpture in the Hills in Hill City, SD, sent out its post show report, and sales nearly doubled from last year. The Sculpture Invitational in Loveland, CO, was Jim’s best in the last five years. Jim has one more show to do this year, Sculpture at the River Market in Little Rock, AR in October. This is the show’s 5th year, but Jim’s first time show-ing. Also in evidence at shows have been third parties interested in sculpture. Groups and individuals representing sculpture walks, parks, buyers, galleries,etc. were out in abundance. In short, the art market, while not thriving, seems to be showing some signs of life. Let’s hope it keeps getting better!

Jim and Ryan Pedersen spent this summer exploring new ideas and designs which were developed from a variety of private commissions and

This summer Fawzia Khan had the opportunity to visit Vigeland Park, an outdoor park in Oslo, Norway devoted to the work of Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943), probably the most famous Norwegian sculptor of the last century. When Vigeland’s studio was scheduled for demo-lition, he made a deal with the city of Oslo. If they would provide him with a studio for life, he would, at the time of his death, donate all his works to the city. He planned this park, which contains over 400 of his works. Most are bronze, but there is an area at the highest point of the park devoted to stone. Vigeland’s work examined the hu-man life cycle and human relationships, both good and bad. Walking through the park is like viewing the sum total of the human experi-ence in an afternoon. Shown below are two of his granite carvings.

Claes Oldenburg’s and Coosje van Bruggen’s Typewriter Eraser, Scale X. 1998-1999. Stainless steel, fiberglass, and acrylic polyurethane paint. 19 ft. 4 in x 11 ft. 11.5 in. Edition of 3 with 1 artist’s proof.

Dick Poey

Memories of the MundaneWe best know Claes Oldenburg for the Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture that he and his late wife Coosie van Bruggen created and is the visual icon for the Minne-apolis Sculpture Garden. Oldenburg is the preserver of the mundane, those humble everyday (and sometimes forgotten) objects we seldom ever think about.

Wrote Oldenburg, “I am preoccupied with the possibility of creating art which func-tions in a public situation without compromising its private character of being anti-heroic, anti-monumental, anti-abstract, and anti-general. The paradox is intensified by the use on a grand scale of small-scale subjects known from intimate situations—an approach which tends in turn to reduce the scale of the real landscape to imagi-nary dimensions.”

Take this obsolete typewriter eraser. Who remembers them? I found this 19-foot remembrance in a quiet hotel plaza above the hustle and bustle of Vegas’ main thoroughfare, Las Vegas Boulevard.

Oldenburg, born in Sweden, got his art training at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He sold his first five works for a grand total of $25! Today, Oldenburg is best know for his colossal sculptures, like Lipstick Ascending on Caterpillar Tracks (New Haven), Free Stamp (Cleveland), Clothespin (Philadelphia), Apple Core (Jerusalem), Shuttlecock (Kansas City), several soft sculptures for the Whitney Museum (New York), Paintbrush (Philadelphia), Trowel (Netherlands and Denver), Batcolumn (Chicago), Pool Balls (Muenster, Germany), Crusoe Umbrella (Des Moines), and Flashlight (Las Vegas). He’s also immortalized ice cream cones, binoculars, pen knifes, ice cream sundaes, electrical plugs, hand saws, bowling pins, screws, garden hoses, and bows and arrows. Check out this website for photos of his work and be sure to double-click on the photos:

http://oldenburgvanbruggen.com/largescaleprojects/lsp.htm

Thomas Zahn. President and Membership ChairSociety of Minnesota Sculptors807 Holly AvenueSt. Paul, MN 55104

PLAN AHEAD

OUR 2012 EXHIBITION IS AT THE PHIPPS CENTER FOR THE ARTS

MARCH 9- APRIL 8