Sept 2005 Newsletter - Montoya Sculpture & Supply

Issue 18
Sept 2005 - Newsletter

ROCK TALK
The free eNewsletter from MONTOYA SCULPTURE & SUPPLY since 1973

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

Issue 18, Sept 20, 2005

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IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Editor's Note
2. Stone Sculptors you Need to Know About – Isamu Noguchi
3. The sculpture stone – What are the chances?
4. NEW ITEMS – New for September
5. Current Sale
6. Upcoming Events
7. Please send sculpture quotes (maybe win $25 gift certificate)

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SCULPTURE QUOTE
"A work is only profoundly artistic when, after drawing its inspiration from nature, it can free itself and transfer it. Art is perfect illusion”

Marino Marini

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1. EDITOR'S NOTE

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who lost so much in Hurricane Katrina.

We have a few pieces of Colorado Gold Vein Marble left. It's a beautiful stone and people who know about it really love it. This gives you an idea of the size of the pieces I have left; 197 lb (7x14.5x22) slab, and 170 lb (14x14base at 4”on one side and climbing to13” on the other side) . And a 281lb (14x14 base rising from 10.5 on one corner to 18 on the other). Anyone who has or does purchase this stone is invited to send me a picture (digital or film) of their finished sculpture and I will put it on the website as an example of the stone.

PAYPAL- For added convenience you can now make purchases on our website with PayPal.

My son, Daniel wrote the Isamu Noguchi article below. Hope you enjoy it.
I have a new small book by Donn Smith (one of our regular customers and workshop participants) that I hope you will enjoy. Please read about it below.

I am working on the coming season's workshops for stone carving, clay and mosaics. It should be ready in the next few weeks.

It's not to late to visit The Palm Beach International Sculpture Biennale's www.sculpturebiennale.com and consider responding to the Call To Artists. The Call is open until October 18. Looks like it will be a great opportunity. Check it out!

Please forward this issue to a friend that might be interested.
Thanks for reading. Remember to dream and create.
Jeff

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2. Isamu Noguchi by Daniel Halverson

Few artists can claim as diverse a portfolio or as rich a legacy as Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi. In a career spanning six decades he worked in an astonishing variety of mediums, including every variety of stone and alloy of mettle, clay, ink, wood and gardens. He created abstract sculpture, portraiture, and monumental public works, as well as sets for avant-garde theatre and playgrounds for children. When corporations, governments, and multi-national organizations wanted to adorn their buildings with sculpture that was both aesthetically pleasing and meaningful, they turned to him, and he did not let them down. Throughout his career, Isamu Noguchi realized his vision, that "everything was sculpture. Any material, any idea, without hindrance born into space, I considered sculpture."

Isamu Noguchi's work in a wide variety of mediums is paralleled by the diversity of his travels and life experience. The only child of a single mother, Isamu grew up in Japan, but was sent to the United States to live on his own when he was only thirteen years old. Happily, he was adopted by a generous and scholarly professor who encouraged his artistic ability. By the time he reached his early twenties his artistic ability was clear and he won a Guggenheim fellowship to study abroad. Like any aspiring young artist in those days, he wanted to go to Paris, and on his arrival he had the good luck to be apprenticed to the pioneer of abstractionism, Constantine Brancusi. After learning what he could of Brancusi's art he returned to the States and began his own multi-faceted artistic career. Isamu never really lived anywhere, choosing instead a dual residence in Japan and America, interrupted as frequently as he could manage by travel to distant countries. Besides America and Japan, he visited Germany, France, Russia, Mexico, China, Hawaii, and many other places besides. He had the misfortune to be in the United States at the outbreak of the Second World War. Strange to say, he volunteered for the internment that was forced on many other Japanese-Americans, and he spent the duration of the war in a camp in Poston, Arizona. Upon release he resumed his career. His devotion to art was such that there is little to relate of his life afterwards except a brief marriage to a Japanese film star and a long list of artistic triumphs, a brief sampling of which appears below.

Portrait head of Buckminster Fuller, Isamu's friend and Mentor in New York. 1924. The medium is chrome-plated bronze. The glossy texture of the portrait perhaps reflects a studio that Buckminster convinced Isamu to set up in New York, whose walls, ceiling and floor was made out of a glaringly bright, mirror-like substance. Portraiture was not Isamu's first choice, but when he turned to it, usually for financial reasons, he infused meaning and originality into his work..

Portrait of Martha Graham, 1929. This work is also in bronze. Martha Graham was another life-long friend of Isamu Noguchi's. He designed costumes and set designs for her plays. Their partnership is one of the few successful collaborations between geniuses in the history of art.

Portal, 1976. This massive sculpture sits outside of the Cuyahoga Justice center in Cleveland, Ohio. Isamu's insistence on the public nature of sculpture inevitably brought him into conflict with public that could only guess at what he was trying to convey in his highly abstract work..

Isamu also had an abiding interest in biomorphic sculpture, to which he was first exposed while studying in Paris. This piece was made of Mahogany in 1944, and is called Remembrance.

Isamu was born on November 17, 1904 in Los Angeles. Died December 30, 1988 in New York. Please read more about his life accomplishments and times at http://www.noguchi.org/lifework.html.

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3. That sculpture stone - What are the chances?

The other day I was standing in the rock room (and what a wonderful room it is) and I began to wonder about those stones and all the stones that have rested on those shelves. Of all the stone available in the world these, relatively few, stones are here waiting to be purchased to become a sculpture. For me they have nearly reached their destiny. Their destiny was to be formed, buried for millions of years and then dug up and shipped here. From here each one will find its final destiny in the hands of a creator and artist. Someone will see it and see a shape in it, or it may be purchased to await the discovery of a shape within. But what are the chances, literally of being found, dug up and being shipped to Montoya to await purchase.

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4. NEW ITEMS – New for September

“Stones and Muse” by Donn Smith. A small 83 page 8.5” x5.5”paperback book originally printed in 2000. Donn (with two n's) has been a long time customer and frequent participant in our stone sculpture workshops. This book is full of many of his stone sculptures and his writings. “Every stone is unique and has its on character, personality, and entity. It is the challenge and responsibility of the sculptor to release its reality and distinctness. This endeavor is my passion, and has afforded me more joy and satisfaction than any other I've known, while teaching me patience and a deeper appreciation of beauty” D.S. It is a charming and interesting collection of pictures and writings of a man at different stages of life and artistic and personal discovery. I found it interesting and a discovery. It is not a stone carving text book. I hope you will like it. SKU 1010 at $12.00

Carbide Chisel - Testing a new size chisel for pneumatic hammers. Fits all standard 5/8” shank but the business end narrows to a carbide flat that is only ¼” wide. Tough tool for hard marbles and softer stones. Actually got 12 in August - 4 left. SKU 1010 at $31.40

Goddard's Cabinet Makers Wax. I hope you have had the chance to use my very favorite stone wax “Goddard's Marble Polish (SKU 49033, $11.50). Well I like their products so much I decided to try another one of theirs called Cabinet Makers Wax, because we have a lot of calls for a wax that has beeswax in it. “It is made from a formula discovered long ago by English cabinet makers. It includes beeswax and other ingredients prepared to give special care to the beautiful finish of your Woods, Leather and Furniture.” So besides using it on wood sculpture and bases you can use it on furniture and leather. Use sparingly, smells great. By appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. $10.95

PAYPAL- You can now make purchases on our website using PayPal.

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5. CURRENT SALE

Colorado Gold Vein Marble. It's a beautiful stone and people who know about it really love it. This gives you an idea of the size, 197 lb (7x14.5x22) slab, and 170 lb (14x14base at 4”on one side and climbing to13” on the other side). And a 281lb (14x14 base rising from 10.5 on one corner to 18 on the other). It's mostly white but has some goldish color running though it in places. If you need custom sizes let me know so I can get it on our next shipment. Still introductory priced at $1.20/lb.

“Sculpture in Wood” by Jack C. Rich. Paperback, 160 pages. “The finest and most complete book on wood sculpture I have ever seen… It should be in the library of every young sculptor” – Jose de Creft. Includes chapters on The Nature of Wood, Tools and Equipment, The Carving of Wood, The Preservation of Wood, The Base, Varieties of Wood, Working Qualities of Wood, Toxicity of Wood. SKU 27109-9 regularly $11.95, save 30% at $8.36. through September 29th.

Carbide Chisel- For pneumatic hammer. Four point carbide bushing chisel. Shank length only 2” for close in work. SKU 17019, Regularly $53.20. On sale for $35.95 through September 29th.

GIFT CERTIFICATES – Easy to buy, mail, and use.

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6. UPCOMING EVENTS

In a few weeks I will have the new workshop schedule ready - Instructors will include Enzo Torcoletti (13-year favorite), Sal Zagami in clay, a new 5-day Limestone class, and possibly Philippe Faraut, as well as our new weekly teacher.
Sharon Gainsburg will be joining us in January 18-21, 2006 for her second workshop with us. Her first workshop was very successful and we are looking forward to seeing her again. Give us a call if you want to be contacted prior to general release of the workshop dates so you can reserve a place (only ten available). See what her first workshop participants said about their experience with her by going to my blog at www.MontoyaSculpture.blogspot.com

Now preparing next seasons workshop line-up

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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 received 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 MontoyaSculpture.com. 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 2005 Jeff Halverson

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