The studio, 7am 6-24-05 

Good Morning Nile

Well at least half of Nile! This is the scene I opened my studio doors to this morning. Beautiful morning with the sun coming thru the stained glass windows and draping itself all over the artwork. Last night with the help of a few friends (Bob Haight, Glenn Campbell, Kates husband Joe, and Brian Knipe) and the support of others (Heather, Henry, Kate the filmer and some farm guy I never have seen before) we managed to get the piece in here pretty smoothly. Ill be molding the relief model (seen wrapped in background) before I dive into the big guy. The company is nice. Have a nice weekend.
Regards LJN

Whether you believe you can do a thing or not, you are right. -- Henry Ford (1863-1947) American Industrialist

Special announcement

Masque of the Golden Bowl - Performed at Saint-Gaudens National Historic SiteFriday, 6/24 & Saturday, 6/25 - 6:00 P.M. - Sunday, 6/26 - 2:00 P.M.Admission to the performances will be FREE and there will be lawn seating – bring blankets and/or lawn chairs.The event celebrates the 100th anniversary of a pageant (or play) held to honor sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The original pageant performed in 1905, “A Masque of ‘Ours’ or the Gods and the Golden Bowl” was written by Louis Evan Shipman with the prologue by Percy Mackaye, both of the Cornish Colony. The performance will be on the original pageant location by the “Temple” in the meadow below “Aspet”, Saint-Gaudens’ home.

Keep your eyes out for the beautiful " Muse of Love poetry"!

Best regards, LJN

The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality. -- John Quincy Adams

"Kinnick Enlargement" - This is a shot I took last week at the foundry of Glenn working on the enlargement of the 12' standing Nile Kinnick Sculpture I am doing for the University of Iowa.

"Kinnick enlarged!"

The 4' free standing model of Nile Kinnick was approved in March and is in the process of being enlarged. I stopped by (Campbell plaster and Iron) last week to check on the progress. The photo taken above will tell you everything you need to know about how that is going. The process involves taking my model and setting it up on a panagraph. Glenn (owner of the foundry) would than weld a steel frame which might resemble a skeleton of the figure he is enlarging, than use wood lathing to bulk up the frame and finally match points from the model with the enlargement and add clay. (note "x's" on enlargement). I will be taking delivery of the enlargement (lower half)in the coming days soon to be followed by the upper section. The complete sculpture will stand 12'. Regards LJN

"Integrity, honesty, responsibility, compassion, love, and competence - all flow easily from people whose self-esteem is high. We feel that we matter, that the world is a better place because we are here. We have faith in our own competence. We are able to ask others for help, yet we believe we can make our own decisions and are, in the end, our own best resources. Appreciating our own worth, we are ready to see and respect the worth of others. We radiate trust and hope. We don't have rules against anything we feel. We can choose. Our intelligence directs our actions. We accept all of ourselves as human." - Virginia Satire

"The Garden Angel" is now at her new home in the garden of "The Oaks". This is the former home of Maxfield Parrish in Cornish, NH.  

"Wedding Reliefs"

This is a nice shot (taken by my other Brother-in-law) of a relief I completed for the wedding of Seth and Taryn Welch. These seem to be going over very well so keep them in mind when you have a wedding to attend. http://ljnsculpture.com/reliefs/wedding/index.html I will need a few months and a digital photo (profile) to complete a nice wedding relief. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards, LJN

"When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another."-- Helen Keller (1880-1968) American Writer

"The Windsor Veterans Memorial" This photo was taken by my Brother -in -Law at the dedication on Monday of Phase two of the project. Engraved on the boulders are the names of soldiers who were residence of Windsor when they were called to duty. 

"The Firefighter Crew" 

Busy times

A busy week concluded. We delivered several pieces over to the Cornish Colony Museum at its new location here on Main Street in Windsor in time for its grand opening on Saturday. A large crowd gathered to hear several luminaries including..... I was pleased to give a studio tour to Cliff Block (along with his wife Ann, a long time supporter) and The Muellers, Bob is the President of the BOD for the Museum).
On Monday the Windsor Veterans Memorial (phase II) was dedicated at the park. A large crowd was on hand to hear several speakers including Rep. Bernie Sanders who was responsible for securing $65,000.00 for the project. Rep. Sanders has been a great help not only by securing monies but also has been a strong vocal supporter of the Veterans Memorial. Our Chairman Bernie Shaban gave a moving speech thanking the committee and all of those who have supported the project over the last five years.
Im back in the studio working on the model for the Kinnick relief which will be wrapped up later this month.
Regards, LJN

"It is good to dream, but it is better to dream and work. Faith is mighty, but action with faith is mightier."-- Thomas Robert Gaines

"New Bronzes"

Last week I received a shipment of bronzes back from the foundry. These bronzes are 'Artist proofs' which means I have to approve the foundry work before I start an addition. There will have to be some adjustments on several of the works but these pieces are for sale. Please contact me about the works available. Below is a sample of one of the new bronzes entitled "The Agony in the Garden"
Regards, LJN

The nobler sort of man emphasizes the good qualities in others, and does not accentuate the bad. The inferior does the reverse. -- Confucius (551-479 BC) Chinese Philosopher

"The Agony in the Garden" 

An early detail shot from the Kinnick relief model. When the relief is complete it will measure 9'4"x18'8"x4'...should be fun!  

Things are busy

Things are busy, Kinnick is going well, and I should have the relief model complete at the end of June. At that time I will turn it over to Glenn Campbell of Campbell Plaster and Iron (foundry) for enlarging and he will drop off the 12’ standing Kinnick for finishing. We are completing work on phase II of the Windsor Veterans Memorial, which will be dedicated on Memorial Day weekend, and as always there are numerous other projects going on.
A reminder for those of you who get CT public television: They are airing a profile on LJN Sculpture and Score at 9pm on the show “In our Prime” May 26th at 9pm and repeat on Sat. May 28th at 6:30.
Regards, LJN

“At first dreams seem impossible, then improbable, then inevitable.”-- Christopher Reeve (1952-) American Actor

This is the Bas-Relief Portrait of mine which has been included in the show: "Maxfield Parrish; Master of Make-believe" show which is currently touring the country. 

The exhibition named "Maxfield Parrish, Master of Make Believe" will have over 50 items of Maxfield Parrish's work, including both the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney mural panels as well as the fully restored DuPont 1933 mural.
The venues for this tour are as follows:
Preview site: Society for the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL
January 21 through February 20, 2005
Venue 1 The Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV
April 29 through June 26, 2005
Venue 2 The San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA
July 16 through September 11, 2005
Venue 3 The Telfair Museum of Art, Savanna, GA
September 29 through November 27, 2005
Venue 4 The Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
December 15, 2005 through February 12, 2006
Venue 5 The Memphis Brooks Museum, Memphis, TN
March 13, 2006 through May 7, 206
 

Miller construction guys placing one of the inscribed 'boulders' on site at the Windsor Veterans Memorial. The opening ceremony will be Memorial day weekend. Come on by and see the great work done by the Veterans Committe and volunteers here in Windsor! 

President of the Wildland Firefighters Foundation Vicki Minor (bottom right) and the NWSA board at the Unveiling ceremony 5-2-05 

Boise unveiling a great success

Word out of Boise is that the unveiling at the Boise International Airport was a great success. Here is a link to the story in the Idaho Statesman: http://www.idahostatesman.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050502/NEWS01/505020312&SearchID=73206931073074

I a related matter I am working on a prototype for a bas relief sculpture of Dan Holmes who was lost fighting fires For the Arrowhead hotshots,NPS on October of 2004. The relief will be a portrait of Dan inspired by a photo his mother Dee provided. It seems like 20 or more firefighters are lost each year protecting out land and holmes. My goal is to start a series of these tributes that could be incorporated at the existing monument (National Inter-agency Fire Center, Boise Idaho) in the form of a flowing wall. I would like to alter the state of "monumental thinking" that was started with the vietnam wall. These portraits would make the tribute far more personal to all who had the honor of seeing them at the site. An additional cast would be presented to the family of the fallen firefighter. A tribute like this would require contributions for the creation of the wall, the creation, casting and installation of the bas-relief portraits. If you would like to support the cause send an e-mail over to the Wildland Firefighters Foundation and let them know how you feel. http://wffoundation.org/default.asp?page_id=28&parent_id=27
The foundation is hosting the first annual " Family weekend" on the 27,28 and 29th of May. For more information go to: http://wffoundation.org/
Think that is all for now, LJN

"Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself."-- Harvey Fierstein

The Cornish Colony Museum moves to Windsor

The Cornish Colony Museum is relocating from its home in Cornish, NH to Windsor, VT. Alma and Peter Smith have been great supporters of my work and I highly recommend a trip to their new location here on Main Street. Several of my works will be displayed at the new site. For the full story http://www.vnews.com/02252005/2274127.htm Regards, LJN

"The potential of the average person is like a huge ocean unsailed, anew continent unexplored, a world of possibilites waiting to be released and channeled toward some great good."-- Brian Tracy