Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Sculpture Challenge PAWS

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

This Saturday is the annual Sculpture Challenge, hosted by Philip and Michelle Hoggatt at their beautiful location for Carved Stone. Located in Dripping Springs, Texas, it is a quick drive southwest into the beautiful Texas Hill Country. The event features stone carvings in a variety of styles and stone.

I have three stone carvings in this event, two of which you have probably not seen completed before, except perhaps in images online. I have written to you about the marble “Gymnast” and you may preview her online at:

www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2011/gymnast-marble.htm


My newest carving is in a new stone for me: a pink limestone from Texas. This work was mostly carved during The Vineyard at Florence’s sculpture competition in the spring and fall on 2011. I finished her in November and delivered her with the others to Philip and Michelle’s sculpture garden before I left Texas.

“Ascension Invitation” is a combination of a variety of ideas that I have been working on in my studio, but is the only one that has been fully realized. I had been designing a series of figures set inside of a vertically oriented rectangle topped with a circle. The other shapes, such as the angel’s wings, fell into place as I thought of turning a wall design into a three-dimensional garden sculpture.

I like the word ‘ascension’ for its upward connotation, the meaning in astronomy as “the rising of a star above the horizon,” and well as one dictionary definition of “to go toward the source or beginning; go back in time.” And invitation seemed like a fitting word because of the stairs in the composition, with the angel pointing the way.

I hope you enjoy. I left the stone unsealed because limestone is perfect out of doors. And when it rains on this stone, she turns a deep color of pink. I hate to lose this variety of color by sealing a stone that so wants to breathe!

Sculpture Challenge at Carved Stone, Inc.
WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2012, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
WHERE: 5300 Bell Springs Road, Dripping Springs, TX 78620.
http://sculpturechallenge.com/ (for map and more information)

Sculpture Challenge is a benefit for PAWS Animal and Humane Shelter. Admission requires a $10 per person donation to PAWS. All ticket proceeds benefit PAWS. Also, if you purchase one of the sculptures entered into the Sculpture Challenge, 20% will go to PAWS.


Monday, February 27, 2012

Why Beauty Matters

Cari Amici (Dear Friends),

Sometimes it is what we take for granted – or even deem as not necessary – that turns out to be the thing that is the essential difference between existence and a life well-lived. I hope you enjoy the video link below. On the following youtube.com page, you will see links to more discussions along these lines.
Why Beauty Matters by Roger Scruton