"Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye".
Miyamoto Musachi, Japanese swordsman, 1584 - 1645
WELCOME TO MY WEB SITE
YEARNING TO BREATH FREE
I was conceived somewhere in Trinidad, CO in 1937. We moved to Alamosa, CO where my dad purchased a potato chip factory. We stayed there until 1944 when my father got his draft notice to report for induction into the U.S. Army. He moved his family to Lincoln, NE to be closer to relatives. Much to his surprise and good fortune he was rejected for duty and was released to return to civilian life. We moved to Omaha where we remained until 1960 when my father decided to move to New Mexico. Most of my education took place in Omaha culminating in me receiving a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. My degree was in speech and drama.
After graduating I joined my parents in New Mexico and tried to find a job. It was not an easy task since I faced being drafted. I got a do-nothing job and was so frustrated that I went to the post office one day to join the Air Force but the Air Force recruiter wasn’t there that day. I saw a poster of a tall, slim sailor in the window of the Navy office (I knew nothing about the Navy) and was drawn into the office. Before I knew it I had signed on the dotted line for Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. I had only seen the ocean once so, needless to say, this was truly going to be a new and exciting adventure. After four very long months in OCS, I was commissioned an Ensign and embarked on a 25 year career as a designated Public Affairs Officer that took me and my family to bases on the east and west coasts, Hawaii and me to Vietnam in 1970. I participated in a number of historical events including serving as the Recovery Force Commanders public affairs officer for the recovery of the Apollo 10 and 11 astronauts from the first circumnavigation of the moon and the first moon landing and the International Naval Review commemorating the 200th birthday of the United States that took place in New York City.
I retired in 1985 and took a job with the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, DC. As the project officer for the construction of the Navy Memorial and the project officer for the design and construction of the Visitors Center, I worked with a number of sculptors and artists which renewed my longtime interest in sculpture. After 12 years at the Foundation and achieving the position of Vice President for Operations I resigned from the Foundation and took a job at The Art League in Alexandria, VA as the Facilities Manager. I spent 8 years with the League and became a professional sculptor having received numerous commissions and sales. I designed an 8” sculpture of a female sailor that is being mass-produced and sold at the Navy Memorial and in the Navy Exchanges around the country.
Having tired of the traffic and rat race of living in Northern Virginia, we moved to Lake Monticello just outside Charlottesville, VA. I discovered that as a resident of Virginia and a senior citizen, I could take classes at the University of Virginia at no cost providing I got the approval of the professor and there was room in the class. This began a seventeen year relationship with the sculpture community at the University and the Charlottesville area. Thanks to my long time professor, Bill Bennet, I was able to create a number of monumental sculptures that you can see on this site. I am forever indebted to Professor Bennet and the entire art community at the University for the support and encouragement given to me during my long run at the University.
After 18 years at Lake Monticello, we decided that we needed to near family, so we pulled up stakes and moved in September, 2024 to Greenspring Village in Springfield, VA. We are now firmly ensconced in an apartment that we love and are slowly turning the pages of the final chapter of what has been an exciting and fulfilling life.
I have been married to my wife, Marcia, for 60 years and have two children and five grandsons.
Dreams, visions, and desires
As an octogenarian, believe it or not, I still have dreams, visions, and desires. The most important thing in my life now is to remain active and healthy so that I am able to sculpt paint and enjoy my family, and still know who I am, My primary goal is to reach the age of 100 and not have to wear Depends.
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After graduating I joined my parents in New Mexico and tried to find a job. It was not an easy task since I faced being drafted. I got a do-nothing job and was so frustrated that I went to the post office one day to join the Air Force but the Air Force recruiter wasn’t there that day. I saw a poster of a tall, slim sailor in the window of the Navy office (I knew nothing about the Navy) and was drawn into the office. Before I knew it I had signed on the dotted line for Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. I had only seen the ocean once so, needless to say, this was truly going to be a new and exciting adventure. After four very long months in OCS, I was commissioned an Ensign and embarked on a 25 year career as a designated Public Affairs Officer that took me and my family to bases on the east and west coasts, Hawaii and me to Vietnam in 1970. I participated in a number of historical events including serving as the Recovery Force Commanders public affairs officer for the recovery of the Apollo 10 and 11 astronauts from the first circumnavigation of the moon and the first moon landing and the International Naval Review commemorating the 200th birthday of the United States that took place in New York City.
I retired in 1985 and took a job with the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, DC. As the project officer for the construction of the Navy Memorial and the project officer for the design and construction of the Visitors Center, I worked with a number of sculptors and artists which renewed my longtime interest in sculpture. After 12 years at the Foundation and achieving the position of Vice President for Operations I resigned from the Foundation and took a job at The Art League in Alexandria, VA as the Facilities Manager. I spent 8 years with the League and became a professional sculptor having received numerous commissions and sales. I designed an 8” sculpture of a female sailor that is being mass-produced and sold at the Navy Memorial and in the Navy Exchanges around the country.
Having tired of the traffic and rat race of living in Northern Virginia, we moved to Lake Monticello just outside Charlottesville, VA. I discovered that as a resident of Virginia and a senior citizen, I could take classes at the University of Virginia at no cost providing I got the approval of the professor and there was room in the class. This began a seventeen year relationship with the sculpture community at the University and the Charlottesville area. Thanks to my long time professor, Bill Bennet, I was able to create a number of monumental sculptures that you can see on this site. I am forever indebted to Professor Bennet and the entire art community at the University for the support and encouragement given to me during my long run at the University.
After 18 years at Lake Monticello, we decided that we needed to near family, so we pulled up stakes and moved in September, 2024 to Greenspring Village in Springfield, VA. We are now firmly ensconced in an apartment that we love and are slowly turning the pages of the final chapter of what has been an exciting and fulfilling life.
I have been married to my wife, Marcia, for 60 years and have two children and five grandsons.
Dreams, visions, and desires
As an octogenarian, believe it or not, I still have dreams, visions, and desires. The most important thing in my life now is to remain active and healthy so that I am able to sculpt paint and enjoy my family, and still know who I am, My primary goal is to reach the age of 100 and not have to wear Depends.
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Recent Sculptures
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REMAINS
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CONSENT
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As the final project in the 2013 Fall term sculpture class at the University of Virginia, our final assignment was to do a self-directed sculpture. Some five years ago when I first started taking classes at the University the first assignment that the class was given was to write a proposal for a request for proposals issued by Albemarle County for a sculpture to be erected in the Echoes of Nature Park adjacent to the Baker Butler Elementary School. The winner/winners of the contract would receive a monetary award to cover the cost of materials and a stipend for the pocket. I was one of two students selected to execute our designs.
My design involved taking hand impressions of children and adults from the school to use for impressions in an obelisk made of concrete. I managed to save the rubber hand impressions for use in another sculpture.
While trolling through the internet looking for ideas that I could use the hand impressions for, I ran across the logo for an organization named Sandy Hook PROMISE and decided that since the first anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy was near I would use the hands to replicate the logo in 3D. The result is pictured to the left.
My design involved taking hand impressions of children and adults from the school to use for impressions in an obelisk made of concrete. I managed to save the rubber hand impressions for use in another sculpture.
While trolling through the internet looking for ideas that I could use the hand impressions for, I ran across the logo for an organization named Sandy Hook PROMISE and decided that since the first anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy was near I would use the hands to replicate the logo in 3D. The result is pictured to the left.
In October, I was fortunate to have been involved with the construction of a major sculpture installation on grounds at the University of Virginia. World famous sculptor Patrick Dougherty was an artist in residence for a four week period. Dougherty is famous for his Stickwork installations all over the world. In fact he has created over 250 of these installation, each one unique and each one designed to blend with a specific site. The installation at the University is located on the Casteen Arts Grounds in front of the new Caplin Theatre. It was built using volunteers from the university and the community. It was a privilege to be a part of this incredible project.
NEW SLIDE SHOW OF THE DALE CHIHULY SHOW
On January 30, 2013, I made a trip to Richmond, VA to see the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the Virginia Museum of Fine Art. What a show! I have always been fascinated with glass and it's vast color ranges and it's ability to be transformed into beautiful shapes. Chihuly is the premier masters of glass blowing and design. Click on the "Reflections of Chihuly" button and see for yourself what I am talking about. Enjoy the slide show of my photographs.
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THE ART OF THE LIVING CREATURE
In my never ending attempt to stay active and to maintain a connection with UVA, I enrolled in a class dubbed "The Art of the Moving Creature". It was an interdisciplinary class with the Studio Art, Architecture and Drama departments participating. The University teamed up with the Stan Winston School of Character Art, an on-line course that is run by Matthew Winston, the son of renowned monster creator Stanley Winston. Matt and his associates from the monster creator world in Los Angeles have conducted two workshops with the class. The first workshop was centered on creating creatures made out of trash bags, chicken wire and PVC pipe. A total of six creature were constructed over a three day period and were paraded outside the architecture building on the grounds of UVA. During the second three day workshop the entire class was tasked with constructing a single creature (pictured). "Winston" as it is known, was paraded on the Lawn and around the Rotunda at the University. If only Thomas Jefferson were alive to see what his University is doing today, he would, I'm sure, be proud.
In my first attempt at video recording and making a short movie about the performance, I have posted the completed movie on YouTube. You can check it out at www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YIPrk4Fj-I&feature=plcp. The culmination of the 2 semester class was a festival on April 20, 2013 on the grounds of the University. This was a festival of creatures, including "Winston" that we created during during the Fall term and four more creatures we will create in the Spring term.
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AN ICON TRANSFORMED
"An Icon Transformed" was installed in front of Ruffin Hall at the University of Virginia for over two years. It's installation in June of 2012 culminates a two year process from concept to design and finally fabrication . "Transformed" would not have been possible if it were not for the skill and generosity of my neon fabricator, Ken Droege. More about Ken later.
My interpretation of the classical Corinthian capital was inspired by my interest in classical architecture and specifically the Corinthian order of capitals. As a student at UVA and a resident of Jefferson country in Central Virginia, I have been exposed to the various ways that Thomas Jefferson incorporated the capitals in his architectural designs. From the Rotunda at UVA to Monticello, Jefferson was prolific in the use of capitals and columns.
My love of color and light were instrumental in my fascination with neon. I wanted to be able to use this material in a sculpture and what better way than to reinvent or transform the classic Corinthian capital. Jefferson, I'm sure, would be delighted.
A few words about Ken Droege. I met Ken as a result of a phone call to his home wanting to talk to his wife Farae. Ken informed me that Ferae had passed away recently but asked if there was something he could help me with. Ferae had been a neon artist, thus the reason for my call. I explained to Ken what my project was about and he suggested that we talk. I met with him and he said that he knew how to bend glass and would do the neon fabrication with one stipulation. He asked if I would dedicate the sculpture in memory of his wife. I readily agreed and a friendship was born that continues to this day. I will be forever grateful to Ken for the many hours and materials that he so generously contributed to this project.
My interpretation of the classical Corinthian capital was inspired by my interest in classical architecture and specifically the Corinthian order of capitals. As a student at UVA and a resident of Jefferson country in Central Virginia, I have been exposed to the various ways that Thomas Jefferson incorporated the capitals in his architectural designs. From the Rotunda at UVA to Monticello, Jefferson was prolific in the use of capitals and columns.
My love of color and light were instrumental in my fascination with neon. I wanted to be able to use this material in a sculpture and what better way than to reinvent or transform the classic Corinthian capital. Jefferson, I'm sure, would be delighted.
A few words about Ken Droege. I met Ken as a result of a phone call to his home wanting to talk to his wife Farae. Ken informed me that Ferae had passed away recently but asked if there was something he could help me with. Ferae had been a neon artist, thus the reason for my call. I explained to Ken what my project was about and he suggested that we talk. I met with him and he said that he knew how to bend glass and would do the neon fabrication with one stipulation. He asked if I would dedicate the sculpture in memory of his wife. I readily agreed and a friendship was born that continues to this day. I will be forever grateful to Ken for the many hours and materials that he so generously contributed to this project.
These are some night shots that I took on Friday, June 1, 2012. There was an awesome storm which provided a dramatic backdrop for "An Icon Transformed".
Fun photos that I took with the capital reflected in a window of the Marching Band Rehearsal Bldg. across the street from Ruffin Hall where my column was installed.
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BREAKING OUT
BREAKING OUT
This is a sculpture entitled "Breaking Out". I installed it on April 14, 2012 in a friends house in Alexandria, VA. He commissioned me to take a basket of colored glass balls that he had for years and make a sculpture out of them. This is the result. The frame and sunburst are made out of paper mache.