March 2012 Sprin has Sprung Voss Vinn!!!

We have been so busy with getting our 15^th anniversary History Project ready I have not been keeping up on my blog posting this month I want to do a fun spring pieces that embodies what spring is all about. We have a piece called The Dragonfly Dome, created by renowned artist Voss Vinn. 

Voss Vinn went to school locally receiving a BFA from Art Academy of Cincinnati in 1992. He has been a part of many exhibits as a solo artist and in groups. His works have been placed in many cities around the country.  Voss has won quite a few awards as well from Bard College  and the City of Cincinnati.

I would now like to speak about the piece he has at our park. The Butterfly Dome. It is created from light weight metal , the sunlight seems to shine off of it as well as from inside of it. The dome is a mass of dragonflies each wired to the other to somehow create a perfect dome. It looks so light as if it could take flight at any moment the dragonflies desire. We recently moved it to sit atop what I call sunrise hill. I am here often in the early morning and the sun always seems to place its rays on this hill. It joined Euclids Cross who also gets the joy of being on this beautiful hilltop.

You can enter the sculpture so you are encompassed by the dragonflies. You get the sensation they are buzzing all around you. Each dragonfly is cut and welded individually. I believe they are all one of a kind but I do not know that for a fact. My imagination hopes so. Voss Finn has created this dome that creates internal and external beauty. I enjoy this piece, I see the joy and blossoming of spring as I look out on this piece each morning. As the trees and flowers bloom around the park the Dragonfly comes into its own as spring has sprung.

Artist Statement  www.vossfinn.com

  My work deals with natural forms. I use these forms as modular units.

The units create patterns and can be configured into a variety of Archimedean

shapes. Repeating patterns echo nature’s economy of design while playing with

concepts of space, shape, symmetry and perceptual phenomenon.

         Each work has a gravitational center and from that center’s core it pulls

the viewer into its orbit. Certain of these structures open into airy, spherical

atmospheres which invite exploration. By entering, the viewer becomes the centripetal

point -- experiencing the art’s eye view of the world.

Michael Dunbar/ Euclids Cross

Michael Dunbar was born in Santa Paula California in 1947 and moved to Illinois at the age of 4. Growing up in Illinois He attended University of Illinois, Springfield receiving his BA and MA. As well as an MS degree form Illinois State University. Over the years he has studied Community Arts Management, commercial art and cartooning. However, it is as a sculptor that Dunbar has become known;

Michael Dunbar — in describing the joy he receives from the perfection of the elements of his sculpture — says "I take great pleasure in achieving joints of such precision that you can’t get dental floss through them." This comment exemplifies his approach to his work, which manifests a combination of mathematical relationships and mechanical exactness. His large-scale work does not display fluidity of form or impulsive emotion; it is the result of well-thought-out three-dimensional that reflect the artist’s machine-age sensibility. In no way do these processes eliminate imagination, animation, or aesthetics; they are merely subjugated to his industrial bent. Positive and negative elements of material and space do flow, but that flow is carefully controlled rather than vaguely free form or anthropomorphic. Dunbar is meticulous in design and precise in execution and his sculptures exhibit a mechanical resonance that has an effect beyond the viewer’s immediate response.   

He has received many major commissions as well as being the subject of a monograph and a feature length documentary film. In addition, he was a recent recipient of an award from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation. Selflessly, Dunbar has given back to the Illinois art community by co-founding the Pier Walk at Navy Pier in Chicago, where he afforded other artists the opportunity to exhibit their work in a major public space

One of the most important influences on his artwork has been the machine tool industry of the American Midwest, where Dunbar has lived and worked for most of his life. More than simply a source of visual references, Dunbar has incorporated the industry's resources and culture into the fabrication of his sculptures. Working with craftsmen at foundries and fabrication studios, the artist discovered the means to articulate his conceptual and aesthetic concerns. From every direction his sculptures display intriguing patterns of positive and negative space, light and shadow, rhythm and pause, achieved by a profoundly subtle configuration of geometric shapes and connecting joints. The many references to clocks, spheres, astrolabes, sextants, compasses, and other mechanisms, threading through Dunbar’s sculptures evoke concepts of time, distance and space. He has long been fascinated by the beauty of historic instruments of measurement, which emanates from the necessity of their function. In his work, he strives for an equal purity of design. Fabricated in bronze or steel, his sculptures conjure the imagery of mechanical objects used to move and measure the earth, explore sky and space, and transport across vast distances. Arcs, planes and beams are balanced in ways that imply rotation or other forms of mechanical movement and now seem frozen in time.
Information from Www.Artslant.com
Michael Dunbar has a published book Author Susanne Deats published in 2003. It is a collection of photographs of his amazing sculptures. I have the joy of working in a park that contains one of his great works. Euclids cross is made of Fabricated Bronze and is the largest of his pieces coming in at 12 tons and stands 21’x18’x30. It is an amazing piece of sculpture and helps you realize that you are small when you stand next to this massive sculpture. I have seen many wedding ceremonies done near Euclids Cross. It makes a beautiful backdrop to any photo or event. Please come visit this amazing and awe inspiring piece of art at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd. Hamilton, Ohio 45013.
I have the great joy of coming to work and seeing all these great pieces in all season and all light. I am speechless on some foggy mornings to look out and see one of the pieces just creeping out beyond the fog. Absolutely stunning. Here are a few photos of this piece!

Information from Www.groundsforsculpture.org

Smile!!!! Joseph Mannino

A Smile from Bayon: A tribute to Cambodian Artist.
The Smile Benches.
This month I would like to discuss a pair of sculptures this month. They are multipurpose, they are benches that are so amazing, as well as sculptural masterpieces. So many people comment on how stunning they are. I always believed they were called the Smile Benches, but after doing a bit of research and speaking with the artist I found out they are so much more than just benches. Their title is actually "A Smile from Bayon: A tribute to Cambodian Artists" They were made in honor of the cambodian artist that began making art again after the horrific wars their country went through. The artist is Joseph Mannino. Mr. Mannino was born is Chicago Illinois in 1950. He has many degrees including a B.A. from Knox College and an M.F.A from Southern Illinois U. Joseph has been in many solo shows and Art Galleries in the states Virginia, New York, California and Pittsburgh. As well as many groups shows everywhere from Texas to Washington D.C. mr. Mannino also has works in permanent collections all over the country. He does many lectures around the U.S. such as California College of Art and crafts, Ohio State, Sweet Briar Virginia. He is presently the Associate Head, and Associate Professor of Art at Carnegie Mellon. Mannino has also been granted Art Residence at many school and galleries here in the states as well as Germany and Italy.  
Joseph Mannino states he is an object maker expressing his views on many things from politics and person experiences and reflects it in his works. He hopes each person that sees his works have an emotional as well as intellectual response to the pieces. The proportions of his pieces make people realize how small the are in scale of the piece as well as the world around them. Mannino believes his art is poignant reminder of the unnamed victims of our times. He encourages visitors to interact with his art, touch them sit on them enjoy them and connect with them physically.
Clay is one of his favorite mediums to use. He enjoys it, it is elemental and been used since the beginning of civilization. Joseph also enjoys using ceramic for the warmth and strength but still has the feeling of fragility.
I enjoy these benches personal they are a great addition to our park we have 2. We have one near our lake at the entrance of the park as well as one by our fountain lake accompanied by sets of roman columns. It is a very stunning landscape. The benches always bring a smile to my face regardless what type of mood I am in they just seem to have a soothing effect on me. I hope if you are in the area, you get a chance to visit the park and enjoy them for your self. As well as all the great pieces in our park.

November on the hill means HOLIDAY LIGHTS ON THE HILL!!!!

Holiday Lights on the Hill is the longest running event that we hold here at the park. It is a Drive through lighting display set up and ran by park employees and volunteers. Holiday Lights is now open for its 13 year. This year we added 100,000 lights this year to put our total well over 3 million. We have many scenes and characters that appear year after year. Our toy soldiers at the entrance and exit making sure you are safe. As well as our 9-ft tall teddy bear. We have an ice skating figures in the Pavilion. As well as a manger built from straw with the angel watching over the new family.
People from all over the area and beyond come to visit our 6-week long lighting festival. We are open everyday even Thanksgiving and Christmas. We have been working on the lights since the beginning of October they even bring in a 40-foot lift to get up in the treetops around the park. The park keeps 4 men on staff all winter long to keep the lights in working order. As well as 2 people here to make sure no one gets lost and flow stays going. We have a set path that the cars take. It is a great ride over a half hour long longer if you stop at all the cool scenes like most people do.

Our lights can be seen for miles across the Great Miami River, it is our biggest advertisement. To actually drive through the park with only the holiday lights on is like being transported back to childhood, sparkling swans swimming in our lakes. With our new LED lights the experience is getting a bit more high tech. They are so bright it is amazing with blues and greens so intricately wound into the trees. I remember the first time we brought my children up, it was definitely a great experience for them and for me as well. To see there faces light up as we drove through the 10-foot tall candy cane lane, it was a holiday memory I will always keep with me. The kids talk about it for weeks after, about the things they seen made out of lights. We have many large groups that bring buses as well as large vans through day care centers, schools as well as senior citizen groups. So many different people enjoy coming through the lights. If you are a child seeing the display for the first time or being taken back to your childhood every one comes away with a sense of warm holiday cheer. If you are in the area or plan on being in the Greater Cincinnati Area, please make plans to stop by and drive through our breathtaking Holiday Lights display. Visit our website for discount coupons and hours of operation.

Sam Mckinney and his mastery of Art!!!!

Sam McKinney was born in Lexington Kentucky in 1951 and spent his childhood in southeastern Kentucky. His father was a paratrooper and then became an electrician. The family came back to southeastern Ky. Where is father worked as an electrician. Sam attended Moorhead State where he received his AB and MA in Arts. Sam stayed in Kentucky to raise his family as well, he lives in a log cabin he built with his wife and his daughter. He studio is also connected to their home.
Sam McKinney is an amazing artist that works in many different media. From granite and bronze to free lance painting with oil and watercolors seems he can work with any material he gets in his hands. He has created many bronze busts for political figures from congress, to the speaker of the house and many other important figures.
Sam has also sculpted items for the war memorial. Sam also does many commissioned portraits for people.
Sam has been working with art in many forms for over 35 yrs and is in tuned with all that is art. Everything from bluegrass music, painting mixed media, bronze granite.
Sam recently added a new sculpture to our park. "Where for art thou" and it is amazing. I am a huge Shakespeare fan and fell in love with the massive piece. The granite separating Romeo and Juliet must be at least 14 feet high and the exquisite detail of the characters is simple awe-inspiring. I have spent many afternoons watching the sun cross over it and watch the shadows change.
Adams First breathe was McKinneys first piece in the park. He is a 9 foot tall bronze and Granite sculpture of Adam being created from the dirt and accepting his first breathe from God. Both pieces are so amazing and I have spent a lot of time at both. I love the realistic features, seems like you can feel the power and emotion from each piece. Please if you get the opportunity to visit the park please spend some time looking at these works the are stunning and inspiring. I have added photos of both in this blog. I will also put all of his information at the bottom of this blog if you are interested in digging deeper into his talents as I have enjoyed doing.
Sam has many forms of art displayed in many places from massive sculptures here at Pyramid Hill and Rhythm at Kings Daughters medical Center, he has also been to the UK to art shows there as well as Botkins sculpture show, and Kentucky Appalachian Artisan center.
Info about Sam McKinney
Serendipity Studios Elliottville, Ky.

www.sammckinneyart.com

John M. Hock The Gates

This month we are exploring the amazing work of John M Hock. We have one of his mammoth sculptures in our park. It is titled The Gates. John studied architecture and you can definitely see it in his sculptures. He utilizes 3 aspects of abstract construction in his works, Weight, Height, and Volume.
The Gates is a massive piece which stands over 12 ft, high. As you approach this piece you can feel the massive nature of the piece, though its intricacies makes it astounding, from each angle you get a different feel of the piece. When you first approach, it seems like there is so much going on from top to bottom. Openings and indents, amazing. Then as you look deeper into it you can see how the sculpture invites you in with its curves and vastness. I find it fun to see new shapes in it every time I drive by it. The Gates are located at the top of our entrance hill and can be seen from a many vantage points as you approach it.
John M. Hock has found a way to take painted steel and create this sculpture that takes your breathe away.

The Gates are made of painted steel which was stained and then waxed. The patina on this piece gives it more depth as each year passes.  If you would like to enjoy some of our many sculptures please visit our park located in Hamilton, Ohio.

Tony Rosenthal

I noticed Tony Rosenthal’s sculptures the very first time I came to Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park. The cube is very distinct large but not cumbersome it seems to float on its base like nothing ia holding it up absolutely amazing. I also fell in love with Bach Fugue 1. I love classical music and feel the music flow from the piece. I enjoy his complexity as well as the simplicity of the materials he uses. Tony has done many sculptures and many different genres of art. I have enjoyed reading about him I will add his web site here if you are interested in reading more about him.
Information:
Tony Rosenthal was born in Illinois in 1914. His early works were an exploration into metals that eventually became characteristically abstract. He is particularly well known for his amazing spinning "cube" works of sculpture that are seen in New York City, the University of Michigan campus (his alma mater), and now at Pyramid Hill. The Cube at Pyramid Hill was fashioned from painted aluminum in 1994. Tony was also a winner in the Pyramid Hill Bench Competition in 1997. His piece, The Bench, painted steel, can be enjoyed as a resting place on the edge of Lake Carol. A third piece, titled J.S. Bach's Fugue, sways gently in the breeze next to Island Lake on Gallery Loop Road. Rosenthal also has works in the permanent collections of the Guggenheim Museum, the Museum of Modern Art and Whitney Museum of American Art. He currently works in New York City.Tony Rosenthal

Tony Rosenthal created Sculpture in a range of mediums and sizes, working everyday in his Studio.

Solo and group ventures.

Throughout his career, Mr. Rosenthal exhibited all over the world in solo and group shows. In addition to the legendary Kootz Gallery, New York, Tony Rosenthal received numerous one man Exhibitions at M. Knoedler & Company, New York; André Emmerich Gallery, New York; Maxwell Davidson Gallery, New York; Catherine Viviano Gallery, New York and Denise Rene, Paris.

Tony Rosenthal Art in Prestigious International Museum and Public Collections
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York
The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Virginia
Department of Parks and Recreation, New York
Fashion Institute of Technology, New York
Guild Hall Museum, East Hampton, New York
Israel Museum, Jerusalem
The Museum of Modern Art, New York
National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
The National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC. (Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection)
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut

bach Fuge #1



the Cube

The Bench





never stopped creating Sculpture; he did so for seven decades, the first two devoted to Figurative Sculpture; in the last five, Tony Rosenthal created Abstract Sculpture. Best known for Monumental Public Art Sculpture,