Winter in New England

With the stain glass windows in the studio I usually cannot tell what the weather is outside. In the winter time that can lead to a nice surprise when I am heading home.

More Sculpture Studio shots

I have been encourage to take more photos in the studio......this was taken this morning.
Regards,
LJN

Bas Relief completed

Here is a shot of the finished plaster sculpture before framing.

Bas relief sculpture...in progress

"In-Progress" sculpture

I noticed that someone voted for "in-progress" photos well here you are. This is an early shot of a sketch I am putting together for a full-size sculpture of Augustus Saint -Gaudens. Like an Author who would not post an unfinished manuscript for public consumption for fear of early and unfair criticism, it is sometimes difficult to find "in-progress" photos that are satisfying to the sculptor.

I am not an adventurer by choice but by fate.
::: Vincent van Gogh :::

Warm regards, LJN

John Hammond - Master Ferrier

Happy Thanksgiving

It has been an incredible year here at LJN sculpture with many things to be grateful for including the fun I have posting on the blog and reading the comments. I can see there are visitors from around the globe which is pretty amazing. Keep the comments and questions coming.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving and you can bet this Turkey will be back to work soon.
Warm regards,
LJN

Catching up

Since returning home from Ireland I have been catching up on projects including finishing up the CIA reliefs. Here is a shot I took after removing a bas relief portrait(plaster cast) from a plaster waste mold. Look closely one is a positive image, one negative.
Regards,
LJN

More from Dublin

Mary Cunningham - Carrick, Ireland

A nice article about the dedication in Carrick and several nice photographs are on the "Carrick On-Line" website:

click here!

Check it out, LJN

More from Dublin

This is Enda Cunningham owner of Cathach Rare Books who along with Patrick "Paddy" Duffy spearheaded the Saint-Gaudens tribute.


Mr. Paddy Duffy- Managing Director of The Right Word Company Limited, along with Enda treated our party like royalty.


Here is a shot of myself, The Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr. Paddy Bourke and the American Ambassador to Ireland, Thomas Foley.


Dr. Henry Duffy - World reknown expert on Saint-Gaudens and major influence on this project, joins us in this photo.

The real star of the show!

Photo Credits: Evan Brook Welch

Dublin dedication

The Dublin dedication was fantastic. About 50 people attended and it was hosted by The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Paddy Bourke and the American Ambassador to Ireland, Thomas Foley. The reception that followed at the Hugh Lane Gallery was a very nice event. Speaking in a room full of Monets and other masterpieces is quite something. More pics to follow, LJN

Press release in Europe

The dedications were fantastic. Photos to follow. LJN

Augustus Saint-Gaudens to be honoured on O'Connell Street
Archiseek / Ireland / News / 2007 / October 25

The Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Paddy Bourke will unveil a commemorative plaque to Augustus Saint-Gaudens on Thursday 25th October 2007 at 11.00 a.m. in the presence of His Excellency Thomas C. Foley, United States Ambassador to Ireland. The plaque, by renowned US sculptor Lawrence Nowlan, is placed on the footpath on the central median of O�Connell Street opposite the Parnell Monument. Saint-Gaudens was a master sculptor who created some of America�s most famous monuments. He was the sculptor for the Parnell Monument in Dublin.

Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in Dublin on the 1st March 1848 to Bernard Saint-Gaudens, a French shoemaker and Mary McGuinness, his Irish wife. Six months later, the family immigrated to New York City where Augustus grew up. In 1876 he received his first major commission; a monument to Civil War Admiral David Glasgow Farragut. Unveiled in New York's Madison Square in 1881, the monument was a tremendous success and was seen as a departure from previous American sculpture. Saint-Gaudens� fame grew and the popularity of his work established him as the leading American sculptor of the latter half of the nineteenth century.

He produced enduring and distinctive public sculpture such as the Adams Memorial, the Peter Cooper Monument, and the John A. Logan Monument. Perhaps his greatest achievement was the Shaw Memorial unveiled on Boston Common in 1897. Described as Saint-Gaudens� �symphony in bronze� this masterpiece took fourteen years to complete.

Saint-Gaudens died in Cornish, New Hampshire on August 3, 1907. His wife survived him for nineteen years, and with their son, Homer, established the Saint-Gaudens Memorial, an organization dedicated to preserve the his former residence as an historic site.

New website

Still have a couple tweeks but be sure to visit.
Cut and paste address into your browser:
http://web.mac.com/ljnowlan/LJN_Sculpture/HOME.html

Autumn in New England

There are many great benefits of living in New England but this time of year there is the obvious. Here are some shots I took today around the neighborhood. It does not matter if you are a sculptor, an accountant, a painter or a baker the scenery is incredibly inspirational.
Enjoy, LJN

Cool post, check it out

http://www.cstv.com/roadtripcentral/goingbig/2007/10/11/

Clean'in House...studio

After finishing up the Kinnick relief the creative side of the mind has taken a few days off and ive been cleaning the studio which has been in a state of disarray since 3 years ago when I started in on the project for the University of Iowa. I have created a few new "sketches" in the last few days. Funny, they are about the size of two fingers on the Kinnick relief...guess you have to start some where. More info on the dedications in Dublin and Carrick( Ireland) coming soon.
Here is another shot of the Kinnick relief.
Regards,
LJN

Few more Kinnick Shots

A Big Hit!

The relief is a big hit and the standing Kinnick remains a big hit! What a weekend! I-Club kick-off breakfast at 6am, received a warm welcome from Coach Ferentz followed by a lecture at the art school on the process involved in creating the Kinnick relief. After the lecture we attended the "Garden Club" kick-off luncheon which was hysterical. The dedication followed by the Homecoming Parade! Taigaiting befeore and after the game.....the game.....a great time was had by all.
The Sculptor, Coach and Super; a "big" fan; the piece.

Off to Iowa

We are off to Iowa for the dedication weekend and I will be giving a talk on Friday morning at the large auditorium ABW240 at 10 am all are welcome. I will be talking about the process of creating the Kinnick relief from sketch to finished bronze.
See you there,
LJN

Iowa Gazette "Memories in bronze" 9-24-07

http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070924/NEWS/70923024/1002/NEWS

Memories in bronze
By Diane Heldt
The Gazette
diane.heldt@gazettecommunications.com



IOWA CITY - Sculptor Larry Nowlan's latest creation honoring University of Iowa football legend Nile Kinnick had to be hauled into Iowa City on a flatbed truck.

``This piece is giant,'' Nowlan, a Vermont artist, said. ``This is incredibly complex compared to the first Kinnick sculpture. Absolutely it's the most complicated work I've done, both technically and creatively.''

The bronze sculpture he was speaking about, measuring 20 feet long, 10 feet high and 4 feet deep, shows Kinnick scoring a famous winning touchdown against Notre Dame in 1939.

It was installed several weeks ago inside the south grandstand concourse at Kinnick Stadium but has been kept under wraps. Tentative plans have called for it to be unveiled this weekend during UI Homecoming festivities.


UI folks who have seen the finished piece described it as stunning and breathtaking, said Rick Klatt, associate athletics director for external affairs.

``It's very, very well done,'' Klatt said.

Nowlan, 42, also made a 12-foot statue of Heisman Trophy winner Kinnick with a book in his right arm and jersey slung over his left shoulder. That work was installed at the stadium's south plaza last fall.

But this second piece was a whole different beast, Nowlan said.

It depicts 11 figures -- 10 players and a referee -- from the 1939 game against top-ranked Notre Dame, which Iowa won, 7-6.

``I've been looking at that picture since November 2004 almost on a daily basis,'' Nowlan said.

The sheer size and complexity of the sculpture meant that after Nowlan created the piece in clay, it had to be cast in bronze in about 60 different pieces that were then assembled. A steel structure was needed to support the back of the massive piece, he said.

Nowlan, a Philadelphia native and big sports fan, said he enjoyed bringing Kinnick's legend to life with the sculpture, and that the two UI projects were a natural fit for him. He added he would love to work with the UI again some day.

His other commissions include one from TV Land in 2000 to do a sculpture of Jackie Gleason, installed in Manhattan at a Port Authority bus terminal.

To prepare for the Kinnick pieces, Nowlan read about Kinnick and watched DVDs and an ESPN SportsCentury segment about the man.

Nowlan said he will be on hand for the unveiling.

``It's got to be one of the most beautiful entrances of any college stadium,'' he said. ``There's not a larger, more comprehensive work of art in any stadium in the
country. This is a historic event.''

Philadelphia Premier of the ASG Film!

I have a bit of a cameo in the film.....Below is a note from director Paul Sanderson......

The screening at the Philadelphia Museum (see attached) is one week after the event at the Metropolitan Museum. If you know anyone in the Philadelphia area, please pass this email on. FYI – The Philadelphia Museum has just opened the Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building which looks to be spectacular. The museum is also the home of Saint-Gaudens’ Diana which once graced the top of Stanford White’s original Madison Square Garden. So check them both out while you are there. Hope to see you at one of the screenings.

All the best, Paul

Paul Sanderson
Our Town Films, Inc.
432 West 45th Street
New York, New York 10036

New site in the works.....

Dont forget to visit the new site click here!

Ireland dedication dates

The Dates have been set for the Ireland dedications:
Dublin, O'Connell Street in front of the Parnell Monument 10:45am Friday 25th October - The Saint Gaudens piece will be dedicated.
Carrick on the Donegal Saturday October 27th The Mary Cunningham piece will be dedicated. (The time has not been finalized at this time)
Of course all are welcome to attend!
Regards,
LJN

Gaelic text for Cunningham relief

5 Euros to anyone who can tell me what that says....just kidding. On my relief portraits I do all my lettering by hand. Here is the Gaelic text which is on one of the reliefs which will be dedicated in Ireland in late October.

A sneek peek

I cant resist showing a bit of the piece to you guys. Laran Bronze of Philadelphia did a spectacular job on this piece in several ways. Not only casting it using two different methods (sand and lost wax) but also the finishing work, patination and structural. Im looking forward to the unveiling which has been pushed back to Friday, September 28th at 4pm. All are welcome.
Regards,
LJN

Correction

I was informed I had put the wrong date in for the unveiling and homecoming game. It will be the weekend of September 28. My visit to Iowa city has been fantastic. I am staying at the Mission House B&B and I would highly recommend staying with Ray and Shirley. The rooms are large and colorful. Ironically I am staying in the "Kinnick" room. Seems Ol' Nile himself slept in this room when his fraternity filled the house. The food and conversation are tremendous, each morning the table gets to looking like Thanksgiving, I only wish I found the Mission House on my first trip out in 04'.
Met up with several sculpture professors this morning and we are going to try'n set up an hour long presentation on the creation of the pieces on Friday morning, September 28. Slides and a Q & A.
Below is a shot of Jane Meyer watching the installation.
Regards,
LJN

The "Nile" has landed!!!

It has been a long ride but the Kinnick relief is at home now in Kinnick stadium. He and his boys arrived on a truck at 9am and was picked off the truck, transported and installed by the men of Knutson Construction Services. Meanwhile Jane Meyer (Senior Associate Director of Athletics), Kim McDonald (Archtect From Neuman Monson Architecture) and myself stood around and tried to look like we were doing something!!@#@! Its a great day for everyone involved in the Kinnick Stadium Project. I wish I could show more detailed pictures of the piece but I have to wait for the official unveiling ceremonies which have been moved to Homecoming weekend(September 28)
Regards, LJN

Kinnick and the boys are ready to go!

This is the only photo I could show without giving away to much! The piece looks fantastic and I hope to make all of Iowa proud. When I arrived at the studio the piece was on its back getting some last minute chasing work done before the piece was put upright and the final figure (Nile Kinnick) was put into place. After that the entire piece was sandblasted the patina was applied. This process took over a week.
I do not have the details for the unveiling but as soon as I get them I will post 'em.
Regards,
LJN

Off to the foundry....for the last time before....

Tomorrow I am heading to the foundry again to monitor the quality and progress of the Kinnick piece. The final chasing is finished and we'll be starting in on the patination work which on a piece of this magnitude will take at least a week with several people working on it.
Dr. Henry Duffy - Art Historian, Author and Curator of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic site will join me on the trip. He has been closely following the progress of the entire Kinnick project. As an art historian of great reknown his enthusiastic response to the sculptures has been a nice shot in the arm.

In other LJN news: The two pieces which will be dedicated in Dublin, Ire and Carrick, Ire are now at the foundry getting cast. Those dedications will take place during the last week of October.

Keep the visits coming, LJN

A few more shots....

A few more shots: The framework steel and the patina station at he foundry....

Kinnick Relief update

Wow, There have been alot of visitors to the site which is a great motivator to keep posting regularly. Yesterday I traveled down to the foundry and the piece is looking awesome. They have a week of metal work left and than a week for a patina. The owner of the foundry has said that visitors have been awed at the mere size and scope of the piece before it was even fully assembled.
Here are a couple of shots I took. A foundryman "chasing the metal", the supprt structure behind the sculpture which hopefully will not be seen again once it is installed, and a detail shot of some chasing work which has been completed.
Remember if you have any questions or comments please click on "comments" below and let me know what your thinking.
GO Hawkeyes!

Off to the Foundry....

Off to the foundry but wanted to post an article which was in the Iowa Press-Citizen this weekend. (note that the plaster and rubber figures refer to the mold of the piece, not the piece itself)
Regards, LJN

UI to unveil new Kinnick sculpture Sept. 8

Will immortalize winning touchdown versus Notre Dame


By Brian Morelli
Iowa City Press-Citizen

Nostalgic Iowa Hawkeye fans will have another reason to visit Kinnick Stadium this year.

For the second year in a row, the University of Iowa plans to unveil a sculpture that delves deep into Hawkeye lore. This year's masterpiece captures Nile Kinnick scoring the winning touchdown in the legendary 7-6 victory over Notre Dame in 1939.

"There is not a larger, more comprehensive sculpture in any football stadium in the country," sculptor Larry Nowlan, of LJN Sculptures based in Windsor, Vt., said of his 20-foot-long by 10-foot-tall by four-foot-deep sculpture relief that includes 11 players.

The piece, to be set into the wall inside the main Kinnick Stadium entrance, is due to be unveiled before the Sept. 8 opener against Syracuse.

Nowlan also created the bronze replica of Nile Kinnick in layman's clothes that stands just outside the main gate to the stadium. That was unveiled last year.

UI commissioned the pieces in October 2004. This satisfied a state law that requires 0.5 percent of building costs in a state building be devoted to art. Last year, UI completed a nearly $90 million renovation to Kinnick Stadium, meaning $435,000 had to be set aside for art work.

"We were looking for someone who could do a statue of Nile Kinnick and ultimately it got expanded to include this relief as well," said Howard Collinson, the UI Museum of Art director and chairman of the arts of campus committee. "Kinnick (renovations were) very expensive, enough to afford the relief. We said, 'Could you please do a standing statue,' and he said, 'that is enough money to do that and a relief.'"

Collinson said he has been pleased with the response to the 12-foot-tall Nile Kinnick statue and is pleased in what he has seen of the relief.

"I think the whole stadium is intended to invoke the feel of tradition. I think it invokes (Kinnick) very well. It is the aspiration of college athletics. He was a student athlete, who was a model person," Collinson said. "I think it gives nobility to football that's appropriate to the place."

Nowlan started the sculptures early in 2005 and alternated between the works. However, the second sculpture is a larger undertaking. It has taken more than 1,010 man hours, 2,500 pounds of plaster and 60 gallons of rubber.

Work on the relief is in its final stages. It is being cast and bronzed by a company in Philadelphia and then shipped to Iowa City. Nowlan will be traveling back and forth to Iowa to get everything ready for the unveiling next month.

"At this point, you are managing the scheduling of the foundry. You have to plan the installation of the piece. When it's in place, then I'll start to be a little relaxed. Until that time, there is still a little work to be done," Nowlan said.

Not an Iowan, Nowlan said the projects have made him a Hawkeye. He said he wants the people of Iowa to take ownership of his work.

"Nile is such a great example and hero, not just to the people of Iowa, but to anyone that knows his story," Nowlan said. "In this case, you are hired to pay tribute to the person. It will be a great feeling seeing the people of Iowa take ownership of it and be proud."

Closing in on Kinnick

We are getting down to crunch time with Nile and the boys. Here are some shots from my last visit to the foundry. One is of Jack "chasing" the bronze. "Chasing" is the term used for grinding down the metal welds on a sculpture so that when it is complete you cannot see where the chasing took place. The other shot is of the patination process. You use a torch to heat the metal and stipple different mixtures of acid on the bronze to get different colors. With a piece the magnitude of the Kinnick you would use a spray bottle or maybe a hose!!
Best,
LJN
Dont forget to visit the new site click here!

Boise WWII Aviator Sculpture

As a finalist for the Boise WWII Aviator Memorial I flew out early this week to review the site and materials. The site is in front of the Boise International Airport across from The pulaski figure of mine who pays tribute to the Wildland Firefighters. This cast was created and dedicated at the airport in 2003. It was a nice feeling to visit a site where one of your pieces already stands.
Along with the site visit Boise Public Arts exec. Karen Bubb took me over to the Warhawk Aviator Museum.
http://www.warhawkairmuseum.org/
Where I was able to study the uniforms of the aviators and also spend a few hours with Chet Bowers who shared some of his experiences as a co-pilot in the war.
Pics:1) A shot of the site with the Pulaski figure
2) Group of Aviators
3) Does that pilot look familiar??
4) C.A. Bowers tag and jumpsuit
5) Mr. Chet Bowers in the flesh! (holding up a survivor vest)