Dear Art Lover,
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| David Sackmary with me Nov 2011, Quattro Gallery |
Art models are often people who really
appreciate the arts. Their job is not
easy, in part because the human body is not designed to remain still. I have worked with so many wonderful and
interesting art models and feel grateful for their services and participation
as inspiration for the art that my colleagues and I make.
Today, I show you a bronze sculpture inspired
by a request for a company that found the annual board of directors’ gifts for
Southwest Airlines many years ago. I was
asked to come up with a sculpture based on the idea of the slogan for this
airline, Warrior Spirit. I was surprised
to receive this opportunity since I assumed they wanted something to do with
American Indians, a subject that not only do I know very little about, but that
there are plenty of sculptors who DO excel in this genre.
While researching the concept of
"Warrior Spirit" I found references to Chinese martial arts, American
Indian philosophies, and even yoga practices. While the term 'warrior' seems to
conjure up images relating to aggression, this is not what I found in most of
my research. Instead, I read phrases such as "moving through fear,"
"embracing limitations," living a "joyful, courageous
life," "disciplines the mind, body, and spirit," and "leads
to compassion."
A warrior develops spiritual, martial, and
ethical skills. He works to obtain an impeccable character in order to serve
his community and expand his consciousness. He changes his perceptions about
confrontation and creates his own destiny. His strength and compassion make
others feel at ease with him, which reduces conflict. In effect, the ideal goal is that he becomes one with
the world around him.
I have always had an interest in birds,
flight, and bonding with nature. I also loved watching the falconers with
raptors at the Renaissance fairs. Their connection always struck me as romantic
and absolutely beautiful.
And so, the idea emerged. I did not win the bid for Southwest Airlines,
but I still liked my idea enough to move beyond my rough maquette I had put
together. With the help of the Austin Visual
Arts Association [Austin, Texas], I ran an Open Studio session for
sculptors. This meant that artists
wanting to paint and draw were welcome to join the group if they did not have a
problem with sculptors moving our stands and art around the room as we needed
to change our view, and that the model would be in the center of the room,
allowing 3-d artists to have access to all views.
The male model, David, was a real sport because
I asked him to slip his arms into some straps that I suspended from the ceiling
of the studio. You might imagine how
difficult it would be to hold your arms out extended for approximately 20
minutes. How much more difficult to take
a short break and resume this position you see in my sculpture “Warrior Spirit”
for THREE HOURS! And he did this a total
of FOUR times in four weeks! TWELVE
HOURS of posing this way… what an athlete!
[On a side note: When I work with models for sculpture, we set
up the pose and I usually try to explain what I am shooting for, emotion wise,
from the pose. Then I tell the models to
take breaks whenever they need to because I tend to work during the entire
three hours. I trust the models to not
take too many breaks, but also to know their bodies’ needs better than I ever
could. And, if I know that I want to
focus on one part of the anatomy, I will tell the model to “rest your arms and
now we will work on the lower part of the body.”]
Today is the birthday of David Sackmary, the model for “Warrior
Spirit.”
Happy
birthday, David! You did some brilliant
work! Thank you!
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| Design by Amber Babcock at WhiskerWorks.com |
Here is what one appreciator
wrote after I shared the work in my art newsletter:
http://www.borsheimarts.com/newsletter.htm
For more images of "Warrior Spirit," please visit: http://www.borsheimarts.com/sculpture/2006/warriorspirit.htm
Hi, my dear Kelly. Ohhhh, you have REALLY done it this time. I think "Warrior Spirit" is the most beautiful sculpture in the world. Your pic in clay with the green leaves as a background was also the perfect setting to bring the young warrior to life. His gracefulness really wowed me . . . I am amazed you could capture and express this pose so perfectly . . . And the portrayal of the delicate balance absolutely put goose pimples all over me . . . That man has an appreciation and a curiosity towards wildlife is evident by the expression on the warrior's face. What a fabulous accent this would make in state parks, bird sanctuaries, etc.! A view of the warrior and his hawk certainly create a proper atmosphere.After I had read your newsletter and studied the pictures, I called to Bob to come and see the pictures of your latest. He, too, was ever so impressed with the beauty. We then went to Winter Haven with Gene and Louise Sauls for fun and early dinner. As soon as we got home, I started calling to Bob and Gene to come quick . . . We had a large but young hawk flying around our pool, trying to find his way out. Neither of the men struck a pose even close to the young warrior's! The enclosed area of the pool made the bird seem even larger and his rapid flying made everyone quickly duck. They were successful in herding the bird to freedom and tomorrow I must drag in the hose and do some cleaning! My story isn't nearly as pretty as your sculpture!
Much love
Connie(9 September 2006; Connie Talbott, Avon Park, Florida, USA, printed with permission)
Peace,
Kelly Borsheim, artist
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| detail shown in clay before casting into bronze |
