Sculpture - Another Dimension of Art

"End of the Day #2" (1996), Chihuly

It's a shame that visual art education is largely void of the subject of 3D sculpture; the world seems obsessed with two-dimensional art. Fortunately, Europe has plenty of statues and outdoor art to admire and to beautify/accompany its grand architecture. I wonder if such abundance inspires 3D art education across the pond. In this post, I'd like to share the works of some of my favorite sculptors -- Chihuly, Degas, and Tsutakawa.

Locally, here in Washington State, Chihuly and Tsutakawa have become popular fixtures. You may spot the avant-garde fountains by George Tsutakawa in neighboring cities. Such metallic sculptures are designed for the water to flow through and out of his iconic shapes.

Besides Washington's Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum in Seattle and the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, there are many more of his glass installations throughout the U.S. and the world. I enjoy watching his documentaries on PBS. Pictured is a photo I took (left) of a small Tsutakawa fountain on the patio of the Maple Valley  Golf Club and (right) of a Chihuly piece at Palm Springs Art Museum in 2018.

Degas Ballet Figurines

While on a cruise of the Baltics in June 2019, I visited the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark and discovered sculptures by Edgar Degas, Auguste Rodin, and Pablo Picasso.

Ballet Dancer (1880-81), Degas

The museum had plenty of sculptures, including these two selections by Edgar Degas, and is best captured by the following blog post by Mary Solio, Copenhagen with Kids: Exploring Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek. It shows the statue, "Water Mother" by Danish sculptor, Kai Nielsen. The reclining figure has 14 babies crawling around her, one of which is a young Venus perched on her raised arm.

Here's a small work by Auguste Rodin and one (below) by Pablo Picasso.

George Tsutakawa's son, Gerry created “The Mitt” that can be seen outside Safeco Field, now T-Mobile Park, home to the Seattle Mariners. Here is my Ichiro bobblehead collectible with him standing next to the Mitt outside the ballpark.






The statue of Ken Griffey Jr. was created by sculptor Lou Cella, unveiled 13 April 2017, vandalized 17 October 2017, and had his missing bat replaced 3 February 2018. I was also fortunate to see lots of statues this past Summer on my trip to the Baseball HOF in Cooperstown, NY (see my post).

It's sad to see art vandalized like Griffey's missing bat and Copenhagen's little mermaid's head. Even with art heists, wars, fires, and other tragic events throughout history, so many wonderful works of art have miraculously survived or been recovered for the world to enjoy timelessly.

While on a scenic road trip through Oregon and California, watch for occasional roadside artwork along I-5. We spotted Priscilla the metal dragon by artist Ralph Starritt and his Moo-Donna and her calf, Moona-Lisa near Yreka, California.

"Bronco Buster" (1895), Remington

Ken H. Stalter Jr. (1928-2016)

While my older brother was doing his large animal vet experience on a farm in the Catskills of Franklin, NY, he stayed with Ken and Lois Stalter. Ken was also an artist influenced by the sculpture work of Frederic Remington. 

In addition to "Wild West" bronze sculptures, Mr. Stalter did paintings and pen and ink drawings in his spare time. 

"Warrior" (2012), Ken H. Stalter Jr.

During the Summer of 1976, he and my brother set up easels after milking the cows and having breakfast, then painted all afternoon. Toward the end of the Summer, the pair rented sidewalk space in downtown Oneonta and displayed some of their works as part of an art festival.

Stalter made this wonderful wood carving (by request) for my sister-in-law one Christmas.