Keith and I busy at work applying rubber to the piece.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Nice Kinnick Relief article
Monday, January 1, 2007
Work on Kinnick relief moving along
Sculpture set to be unveiled in September
By Mike McWilliamsIowa City Press-Citizen
Longtime University of Iowa professor and Hawkeye football fan H.D. Hoover said that if you think the Nile Kinnick statue outside Kinnick Stadium is impressive, you're in for a treat.
Hoover and his wife, Myrene, caught a sneak peek of the Nile Kinnick relief sculpture in late October at sculptor Larry Nowlan's studio in Vermont.
"It's mind boggling," said Hoover, a retired professor in the UI College of Education who lives in Iowa City. "It's actually much more impressive than the Kinnick statue, and I think that's incredible. I think people will be stunned by it really. I've never seen anything like it."
Nowlan started to sculpt a statue and relief of the famed Iowa football legend in January 2005. The 12-foot bronze statue, depicting Kinnick as a student and athlete, was unveiled in September on the Krause Family Plaza outside the Kinnick Stadium south entrance.
Nowlan said work on the relief is moving along with its unveiling at Kinnick Stadium still set for September. When completed, the relief will measure about 20 feet wide and 10 feet tall. Because of its size, the relief is divided into four sections, which will be welded together later, Nowlan said.
"We're making the mold as we speak and once the mold is done, it goes to the foundry for casting," Nowlan said.
The relief is based on photographs taken during an Iowa vs. Notre Dame game in 1939 showing Kinnick just before he crossed the goal line for a touchdown. Iowa beat the undefeated Fighting Irish that day 7-6.
Nowlan said there is not sculpture like it at any stadium in the United States.
"For a sculptor, it's been a dream situation," he said. "For a big sports fan, I couldn't ask for anything more, frankly."
UI alumnus Christopher Whittington also had a chance to see the Kinnick relief earlier this year. Whittington, who is the chief registrar at the non-profit Trust for Museum Exhibitions in Washington, D.C., called the relief "very impressive."
"The scale of this piece will stack up against big important sculptures," Whittington said. "I'm sure that some artists might argue with that fact because it's about football, but the scale and how he's doing it is pretty amazing.
"Even the hardest core football fan, who doesn't care about art, is going to stop and look at this and think it's pretty cool," Whittington said. "That's a real achievement for Larry Nowlan to bring an art object to an audience that wouldn't normally see art."
Kevin Spratt, a UI alumnus and former faculty and staff member, has seen the relief a few times, including once with the Hoovers. Spratt moved in 2004 to Lebanon, N.H., and works as a statistician at Dartmouth College's medical school.
Spratt said he was especially impressed with the detail Nowlan put into the relief.
"If you look close, you can see the stitching on the jersey. It's just phenomenal detail," Spratt said. "The amount of work he went through to make this work is amazing."
Work on Kinnick relief moving along
Sculpture set to be unveiled in September
By Mike McWilliamsIowa City Press-Citizen
Longtime University of Iowa professor and Hawkeye football fan H.D. Hoover said that if you think the Nile Kinnick statue outside Kinnick Stadium is impressive, you're in for a treat.
Hoover and his wife, Myrene, caught a sneak peek of the Nile Kinnick relief sculpture in late October at sculptor Larry Nowlan's studio in Vermont.
"It's mind boggling," said Hoover, a retired professor in the UI College of Education who lives in Iowa City. "It's actually much more impressive than the Kinnick statue, and I think that's incredible. I think people will be stunned by it really. I've never seen anything like it."
Nowlan started to sculpt a statue and relief of the famed Iowa football legend in January 2005. The 12-foot bronze statue, depicting Kinnick as a student and athlete, was unveiled in September on the Krause Family Plaza outside the Kinnick Stadium south entrance.
Nowlan said work on the relief is moving along with its unveiling at Kinnick Stadium still set for September. When completed, the relief will measure about 20 feet wide and 10 feet tall. Because of its size, the relief is divided into four sections, which will be welded together later, Nowlan said.
"We're making the mold as we speak and once the mold is done, it goes to the foundry for casting," Nowlan said.
The relief is based on photographs taken during an Iowa vs. Notre Dame game in 1939 showing Kinnick just before he crossed the goal line for a touchdown. Iowa beat the undefeated Fighting Irish that day 7-6.
Nowlan said there is not sculpture like it at any stadium in the United States.
"For a sculptor, it's been a dream situation," he said. "For a big sports fan, I couldn't ask for anything more, frankly."
UI alumnus Christopher Whittington also had a chance to see the Kinnick relief earlier this year. Whittington, who is the chief registrar at the non-profit Trust for Museum Exhibitions in Washington, D.C., called the relief "very impressive."
"The scale of this piece will stack up against big important sculptures," Whittington said. "I'm sure that some artists might argue with that fact because it's about football, but the scale and how he's doing it is pretty amazing.
"Even the hardest core football fan, who doesn't care about art, is going to stop and look at this and think it's pretty cool," Whittington said. "That's a real achievement for Larry Nowlan to bring an art object to an audience that wouldn't normally see art."
Kevin Spratt, a UI alumnus and former faculty and staff member, has seen the relief a few times, including once with the Hoovers. Spratt moved in 2004 to Lebanon, N.H., and works as a statistician at Dartmouth College's medical school.
Spratt said he was especially impressed with the detail Nowlan put into the relief.
"If you look close, you can see the stitching on the jersey. It's just phenomenal detail," Spratt said. "The amount of work he went through to make this work is amazing."
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Kinnick Mold: Rubber application
Section by section, 5 coats of rubber which will be backed by plaster "mother" molds.
Mold rubber
This is how the rubber arrives for molding. Keith measures it out 3:2 and mixes and then we apply it small bucket by small bucket.....
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Mold in progress
Keith "Master of plaster" MacIntyre and I started in on the mold for the Kinnick Relief. This is a very important step in the process and could take up to several months. You will be sure to see more photos from this part of the process.Regards, LJN
"Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter."
~Oscar Wilde
Friday, October 20, 2006
The Iowans visit part II
Jane Meyer, Rod and Blanka Lehnertz from the University of Iowa were in town to see the progress on the relief. I am happy to post that they were thrilled about what they saw. Last weekend I also was visited by another couple from Iowa, HD and Myrene Hoover
who also pretty happy to see what what we are putting together for Kinnick stadium.
Regards, LJN
When I have a terrible need of.. shall I say the word.. religion.Then I go out and paint the stars.::: Vincent van Gogh :::
who also pretty happy to see what what we are putting together for Kinnick stadium.Regards, LJN
When I have a terrible need of.. shall I say the word.. religion.Then I go out and paint the stars.::: Vincent van Gogh :::
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Friday, October 06, 2006
Kinnck Relief sculpture enlargement
The final piece to the enlargement puzzle is just about complete. Here is a shot from the foundry.LJN
Derive happiness in oneself from a good day's work, from illuminating the fog that surrounds us.::: Henri Matisse :::
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Monday, September 11, 2006
Kinnick Statue Unveiling
1) The Nowlan gals in the Pressbox during the post unveiling reception.2) The Gang after the game in front of Nile. From left to right: Pete, Loise, Evan, Heather, Me, Henry, Kevin, Jill with Monet napping in the stroller.
3) Nile after the game.
The world is good-natured to people who are good natured.-- William Makepeace Thackeray
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Kinnick Unveiling
Well its been a long journy since this picture was taken sometime in January of 05'. That is a brand new armature behind me which eventually would lead to the 16' piece which will be unveiled on Sept. 1st.Ill see you on the other side!
LJN
The person who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.-- Chinese proverb
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
The final touches on the 'ol Boy!
The final touches are being made on Nile to prepare him for shipping to Iowa next week. Along with the installation and unveiling on Friday Sept.1, there is also a play opening called "Kinnick".
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060816/NEWS01/608160316/1079
I want to take a second to thank all the folks who took the time to send a comment/email about the piece and project. IT may look from the outside that its just the sculptor on this end but I can assure you there are many many people who have helped keep this sculptor upright through the ups and downs of this project.
Thanks,
LJN
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.-- Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) American Publisher
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060816/NEWS01/608160316/1079
I want to take a second to thank all the folks who took the time to send a comment/email about the piece and project. IT may look from the outside that its just the sculptor on this end but I can assure you there are many many people who have helped keep this sculptor upright through the ups and downs of this project.
Thanks,
LJN
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.-- Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) American Publisher
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Review.....
Towers of Stone
Nicolas Cage struggles to survive the good intentions of Oliver Stone's 'World Trade Center'
By Richard von Busack
IN THE MIDST of World War II, the noted film critic James Agee described his conflicted feelings about watching a badly made documentary about Stalingrad: "It's like being moved by words like love, death, blood, sweat, tears, regardless of how well or ill they're used." That's the same problem with watching a film named after the World Trade Center. At the time, we wondered if there would ever be a film version of such a calamity, and whether such a movie could be anything other than a manipulative disgrace.
In World Trade Center, director Oliver Stone tries to return us to the moment before so much blood went down the gutter. That he does well. His morning cityscapes reveal the unseasonable heat and clarity of the day. A squad of Port Authority cops prepare for a day of seeking teenage runaways and shooing transients from the base of the statue of Ralph Kramden outside the bus station. ......
Nicolas Cage struggles to survive the good intentions of Oliver Stone's 'World Trade Center'
By Richard von Busack
IN THE MIDST of World War II, the noted film critic James Agee described his conflicted feelings about watching a badly made documentary about Stalingrad: "It's like being moved by words like love, death, blood, sweat, tears, regardless of how well or ill they're used." That's the same problem with watching a film named after the World Trade Center. At the time, we wondered if there would ever be a film version of such a calamity, and whether such a movie could be anything other than a manipulative disgrace.
In World Trade Center, director Oliver Stone tries to return us to the moment before so much blood went down the gutter. That he does well. His morning cityscapes reveal the unseasonable heat and clarity of the day. A squad of Port Authority cops prepare for a day of seeking teenage runaways and shooing transients from the base of the statue of Ralph Kramden outside the bus station. ......
Jackie in the movie "World Trade Center"
Rumor has it my Jackie Gleason stars in a scene of the movie "World Trade Center". No word yet if it a speaking part or not....Check it out at your local theatre!Regards, LJN
Practice what you know, and it will help to make clear what now you do not know.::: Rembrandt :::........"Aint that the truth!!" ljn
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Wallawa Lake outside of Joseph
We stayed over there at the base of that Mt. The previous pic was taken from atop that mountain. We took a tram up to the top for some spectacular views.No great artist ever sees things as they really are.If he did he would cease to be an artist.::: Oscar Wilde :::
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Business meeting in Joseph....
I just got back from a business meeting in Joseph with Museum curator Pamela Trimpe , Assistant Athletic director Jane Meyer and Movie producer (amoung other things) Terry Trimpe......."What...we cant get a high speed internet connection from up here????"
Thursday, July 20, 2006
The Kinnick Relief
If the Hawkeye fans like the "BIG NILE" just wait till they get a load of this!Patience is passion tamed. -- Lyman Abbott
Friday, July 14, 2006
Iowa Gazette Commemorative Kinnick Section
The Iowa Gazette is publishing a special commemorative section "Kinnick Stadium Renovation" on Sunday Aug. 27. Keep your eye - out for the LJN ad.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Kinnick Stadium Relief sculpture
....its coming along nicely.....do any of you remember what it felt like to miss a tackle?Regards,
LJN
Let everyone sweep in front of his own door and the whole world willbe clean.
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