ROCK TALK
MONTOYA SCULPTURE & SUPPLY since 1973

Interesting sculpture related news, technical tips, special offers and other important information
By Jeff Halverson
Sculptor and Owner of Montoya Sculpture & Supply
www.MontoyaSculpture.com

May/June 8, 2004
Issue 11
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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Editor's Note
2. GREAT SCULPTORS- Daniel Chester French
3. Hall of Man- Malvina Hoffman
4. Question answered on Polyester Adhesives- Application and Methods
5. Current Sale
6. Upcoming Events
7. Please send sculpture quotes (maybe win $25 gift certificate)

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SCULPTURE QUOTE

"The greatest and most ambitious of all the arts, sculpture, is bent on
capturing, in three dimensions, the fugitive face of man, and on
restoring the unity of great style to the general disorder of gestures."
Camus, "Rebellion and Art."


Submitted by
Arthur Shapiro
www.sculpturebyshapiro.com
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1. EDITOR'S NOTE

Thanks to Arthur Shapiro who sent in the selected quote, we are sending him the $25 gift certificate.

Things are pretty slow around here so we have a great sale going on to move out some of our stone. 50% off your second stone. First stone has to be 30 lb. Great sale on in-stock bases also. This sale has been out for about a week, but the readers of this eNewsletter get a special offer. With your order of $75 or more I will throw in FREE one of our T-shirts (read about it under Current Sales).

There are a few carving workshops going on out west now and in New England. I hope some of you are able to attend. They are great opportunities to see what others are doing, and to see how their sculpture takes shape. These workshops are always recharging opportunities and very memorable. If any of you attend one of these workshops I hope you will write me and tell me of your experience. And if you wish I will post your experience in the next eNewsletter Issue 12 or 13. I can't tell you how enjoyable they are. The intensity and excitement of multi-day, hands-on carving workshops are truly an opportunity you do not want to miss. You meet some great people there. So while the climate is nice get out there and carve. Our new Workshop line-up will be posted in August. As in the past we are going to have a free drawing for one of the workshops. It will be at least an $800 value. We will have the drawing in plenty of time for savings in reservations in airfare.

Hope you enjoy the eNewsletter. Get out and carve. Remember to be safe.
Jeff
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2. GREAT SCULPTORS- Daniel Chester French

You may know him as the sculptor who did “The Concord Minuteman” on the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts, or the 28' high Georgia Marble statue of Abraham Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. He is:

Daniel Chester French
Born on April 20, 1850 in Exeter, New Hampshire where he lived to the age of 10, he became one of America's great sculptors. Having grown up around Concord and Cambridge he knew many of the members of the Transcendentalist community including Ralph Waldo Emerson (who actually unveiled the Minuteman statue) and Louisa May Alcott. He was encouraged at an early age to pursue art by members of the community including artist May Alcott, who gave him his first tools. As a youth he had shown no particular interest art. He disliked school and showed no interest in attending college. However at age 19 his family was surprised when he decided to become a sculptor. At the age of 23 he was commissioned to create the Minuteman statue to commemorate the centennial of the Battle of Concord on April 19, 1875. He had studied in Boston and New York, and after the Minuteman commission, he went to Italy and studied with Thomas Ball, but he was mostly self-taught in sculpture.

Framing a list of over 250 sculptures are the Concord Minuteman (1875) and Abraham Lincoln in Washington DC (1922). Many cite his best work as Death Staying the Hand of the Sculptor. This high relief sculpture is a memorial on the tomb of sculptor Martin Milmore in the Forest Hill Cemetery in Boston. This work received a medal of honor in 1900 in Paris, France. This is an impressive work in stone and I encourage you to look it up online or in the library.

His works capture power and grace. He was a true classical sculptor. I see so much feeling in the faces of his sculpture. His monumental figures show strength of conviction and righteousness that I feel prevailed in this country during his time. The Nation had celebrated its 100th birthday, the War with Spain was won, the Panama Canal was completed and the Great War (WWI) was over and the nation was a world power. His works memorialized many of the nations workers, educators, soldiers, and events. Most of his works are in New England, but includes placements in Iowa, Minnesota, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Kansas, Washington DC, Wisconsin and France

French died in October 7, 1931. It is interesting to note that in 1940 the US Post Office Department issues a series of 35 stamps commemorating “Famous Americans”. Mr. French was honored in a 5-cent stamp along with four other artists in this commemorative series. During World War II images of his Concord Minuteman appeared on defense bonds, stamps and posters.
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3. Hall of Man - Malvina Hoffman

Remember those interesting articles written by one of our visiting sculpture instructors, Vince Ricci (see past issues)? Well, as you know from the articles she was the only female student of the great master Auguste Rodin, and she wrote three books; “Sculpture Inside & Out” (1939), “Heads & Tales” (1936), and “Yesterday is Tomorrow”.
Well Ms. June Finfer of Lost & Found Productions wrote me that they have made a documentary video of Malvina and her sculptures for Hall of Man of the Field Museum of Chicago. In case you do not know, Malvina was commissioned by the Museum in 1931 to travel the world to gather information for the Hall of Man exhibit. The exhibit contained over 100 sculptures reflecting the physical and facial features of different peoples of the world. An incredible work judging from the book.

June Finfer, the Producer writes:
THE HALL OF MAN
A Chicago exhibit at the Field Museum that lasted for 35 years was created in time for the 1933 Fair, the Century of Progress by Malvina Hoffman, who traveled the world to find models for an early anthropology exhibit, “The Hall of the Races of Mankind.” The documentary uses archival photographs and film footage from her travels, a newly discovered audio interview with her, and a discussion by artist historians, anthropologists, and educators interpreting the exhibit at the museum. The program is 44 minutes in length, and it pictures all the main pieces in the exhibit. Consultants to the project include Alaka Wali, Director, Center for Cultural Understanding and Change, the Field Museum, Pamela Hibbs Decateau, Chair, Department of Art History, University of Illinois at Edwardsville, and Ronne Hartfield, Consultant, Museum Education, The Art Institute of Chicago.

Here is the blurb from the cover:
American artist Malvina Hoffman created 104 life-sized figures, busts and heads in five years, working under the direction of scientists, and traveling the world to find models to create sculptural portraits of "The Living Races of Mankind." The resulting anthropology exhibit at the Field Museum of Natural History was a favorite of visitors from 1933 to 1968, and after it was dismantled, a third of the sculptures were placed in the hallways of the Chicago museum. The sculpture continues to stimulate the discussion of the relationship between art and science.

The documentary was produced with the cooperation of the Field Museum and the archives of the Getty Research Center. It asserts that the sculpture was the result of Hoffman's amazing ability to capture a likeness of an individual, not a "race."
The program is available from Lost and Found Productions, 2068 W.
Farwell Avenue, Chicago, IL 60645. The cost is $195 for schools and museums, which may use it in-house, or $50 for personal use, plus $5 for shipping and handling for both.
Currently, the program, copyrighted 2001, is available only on VHS. . www.lostandfoundproductions.org

I maintain an antique sculpture book section in my store. Most of the books are listed on the website but one that is not on the website right now is “Heads and Tales” by Malvina Hoffman. This one that I now have is a 1943 printing and is in great shape. It has the original dust cover but it is torn. The rest of the book is perfect. If you think you would like it I am selling it for $47, (usually $57 when I can find it). The main chapters are The Hall of Man, The Making of Sculpture (interesting history of Malvina), The Study of Races, Round the World, and The End of it All. Call us 561-832-4401 or email us.
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4. Polyester Adhesives- Application and Methods by Jeff Halverson

In Issue 9 I discussed Polyester Adhesives and how to use them and in Issue 10, I answered a few questions that were called in and emailed. We have one more thing to tell you about the colors.

RE: Another question was about coloring the adhesive.

An alternate method: when using two part clear epoxy, buy one that gives you enough working time and combine with regular acrylic paints (pre-mixed to the desired color). The result highly resembles a glossy ceramic glaze. If you wish to dull the finish, simply touch the epoxy when nearly dry (this takes a little practice).

Sent in by Paul A. Jordison of Kensington-Lott Fine Arts
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5. CURRENT SALE
These offers end June 19th.

STONE SALE
Buy 1 get 2nd at 50% off
Until June 19th when you buy a regularly priced stone of 30 lb or more you get the second stone of equal or lesser value at 50% off.
Here are some of the stones we have in stock:
Mexican Green Alabaster
Black & White Israeli Alab
Boulder White Alab
Italian Crystal Alab
Storm Cloud Alab
Aztec Rust Alab
Purple & Peach Wonderstone- These stones are beautiful, I mean it. The Purple can be deep with areas of lighter purple and tan. Very unusual. And the Peach is a light dusty peach/pink with uniform swirls of a darker color. Both very consistent, tight and great to cut and polish. Both rather new to us. I have no seen it before last January 2004.
Yellow Wave Wonderstone
Pink, Green & Black Wonderstone
Pink, Rose & Seashell Marble
Brown & Black Chlorite
Yellow Limestone
Henna Limestone - This Henna is more like a marble. It is a deep dark brown but has tan swirls running through it. The swirls (about 1/8” thick) are close together (about 1/8” to ¼” apart). It's a very pretty and unusual stone.
****** Special to my newsletter subscribers, FREE T-Shirt to the first 20 orders of $75 or more (stone or tools). XXXI Stone Carving Workshop (on the front left chest). “It's a hard life…when you play with stone” (on the back). Yellow with maroon letters. This is a quality T-shirt with 100% cotton. Only while they last. BE SURE TO MENTION THIS WHEN YOU CALL OR EMAI L US YOUR ORDER OF $75 or more. This June marks the start of our 32nd year so the Roman numeral XXXI will be changed to XXXII and I am working on a new T-Shirt design.

SCULPTURE BASES – MARBLE
25% OFF ALL IN STOCK BASES
(not to be combined with any other discounts). Many of you know we carry some very nice and practical Italian made 3-part turning pins for mounting of sculpture. I wanted to tell you that now we also have metric extension rods so if you want to use the turning pins and also want the sculpture set higher above the base these rods will work great with the metric Italian turning pins

BUSH HAMMER Sale
SKU 08009 regularly $29.95 sale $23.97 (save 20%)
This hammer has both ends with 16 points on a ½ inch square face. Use it for crating textures. If you would like more information on Texturing ask for the three-page Technical Bulletin #4 on exploring texture.

GIFT CERTIFICATES – We have gift certificates available in $25 increments. Tell your family and friends that's what you really want, so you can pick what you really want. Easy to buy, mail, and use.
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6. UPCOMING EVENTS

In August I will be releasing the new lineup of sculpture workshops. I am planning a few new items to attract some more of you into the workshop experience. Some of our customers have asked about accommodations in the area. The website has a list of area accommodations by proximity order, but I am glad to tell you that there is a new B&B opening up just two blocks from us. It will be a short walk in our neighborhood. It is called Grandview Gardens. I stopped in to meet the owner Rick Rose and was very impressed with what he is doing. I will be working with him to provide a special deal for our customers who book with him. Since it will be the closest to our workshop/studio it will get first listing on our accommodations webpage. More later as they open in July.
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7. PLEASE SEND SCULPTURE QUOTES (maybe win $25 gift certificate)

I have included a sculpture related quote at the top of this issue. I hope it is inspiring and interesting. If you have an interesting sculpture related quote please send it to me. Please include the name of the person who said it. All of the quotes that are sent are being compiled into a list of quotes related to sculpture. The first batch of quotes from the first six issues has been posted to the Montoya Sculpture website. I would appreciate your help in building this list of quotes directly related to sculpture. Quotes can be from recognized sculptors of the past or from a teacher or friend. Send me your sculpture related quote, and if it is selected I will send you a Montoya Sculpture & Supply $25 gift certificate and put the quote in the next issue. Email me at Jeff@MontoyaSculpture.com Thanks
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(c)Copyright 2004 Jeff Halverson