Alexander Liberman and his amazing art

Alexander Liberman was born in Russia in 1912. He studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in the early 1930's. At 18 he became art editor of the French magazine Vu, working there from 1932 to 1936. With the Louvre, he made one of the first color films on painting, "La Femme Française." And in 1937 he won a Gold Medal at the Paris International Exhibition—prophetically, for his presentation on magazine design. . He joined the staff of Conde Nast in 1941 and before long became the Art Director. Liberman began his career in art as a painter and a photographer, turning to sculpture in the 1950's. Now a world-renowned artist, his sculpture can be seen in all the great venues of the world. Pyramid Hill includes three of Liberman's works: Laocoon constructed from welded steel in 1982, Torre II and the massive Abracadabra, each made of painted steel and created in 1989 and 1992, respectively Four years later Liberman came to New York and joined Vogue.
I have been inspired by these large pieces even with the distinct edges they seem to flow so effortlessly with the surroundings. Alexander Liberman inspired more people than we can count from his magazines to his art and paintings, he has made me look at art in a different way and I hope you can come to enjoy all of the art at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park!!!
I hope that my blogs inspire you to take the trip to our park. You will not be disappointed. I believe that Pyramid Hill is the best Art Park in the world.
A few quotes I found about the park:
we went expecting to see a few statues and stay in the car most of the time... but we were wrong! I loved our trip to
"Pyramid Hill. All the art is really creative and they even have a selection of Really old statues(ancient Egypt and Greece). Over all this really exceeded my expectations." (Review from tripadvisor)
Located in Hamilton, this park of winding paths and wooded trails leads you into a world where art lives in harmony with nature. Internationally renowned artists featured at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park include Michael A. Dunbar and Jon Isherwood. Sculptures range from classical works of human form, to blocks of stone and bronze. Come over a hill to discover an abstract block of color, or wander into a meadow to come upon a muscled, classical figure.

Abracadabra is one of the largest sculptures in the park. Many brides love it and use it for weddings.
It’s also Harry Wilks Favorite.
(He is the founder of the park)
Shadows from the sculpture alter and change throughout the day making it look different every time you look at it

John Isherwood

This month I would like to focus on an artist, instead of a single sculpture. John Isherwood has quite a few  unique sculptures in our park. So I wanted to spotlight him as well as all of his works. I enjoy his use of modern materials mixed with nature.

John Isherwood was born in England in 1960. He has attended and received degrees from Leeds Art School in England, Canterbury College of Art in England as well as receiving his M.F.A. from Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY.

John Isherwood has contributed to many different collections. He has solo collections all over the world from Hamilton, Oh. to Beijing China. He also has group collections all over the world.

colonade

He has received awards from Pollack Krasner Foundation as well as the Jerome Foundation.





His sculptures bring me back to nature, he uses alot of natural materials and also incorporates steel in his works. The sculptures that are at Pyramid hill are as follows:

Collonade 1990-92

age of stone

Heritage 1993

Strength of Silence 1992

White Face 1993-98 

Remembering 1996-98

Untitled Bench 

Untitled  

Age of Stone 

 Jonas Passage 1997

Jonas passage



I am positive that he has more in here and I am sure to come across them. Pyramid Hill is vast and I discover new things every time I take an Art Cart out. I hope you enjoy his art as much as I do and if you would like to take a day and enjoy nature as well as art Please visit

PYRAMID HILL SCULPTURE PARK 1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd. Hamilton, Oh. 45013



heritage



A statement from his web site: The tension between shape and skin that characterizes Isherwood's work is further reflected in the tensions surrounding his technique and material. His sculptures are the result of a unique process in which the ancient and the modern confront one another: marble, the oldest and most sensual sculptural material, is carved with the help of high-tech methods. This allows Isherwood to attain an uncompromised precision in his treatment of the incised surfaces, which play with and against the swelling, fleshy, soft and yet substantial character of his organic forms.



white face

The Capulets and the Montagues come to Pyramid Hill

  While researching this blog I realized massive sculptures take a really, really long time to build (Do you build sculptures?). Wherefore Art Thou was commissioned in 2004, but wasn't actually unveiled until May of 2010—that's six years!!! The 17-foot, bronze-and-black granite sculpture depicting Romeo and Juliet's final moments, weighs in well over six tons. I suppose that would take some time to complete; certainly, if you factor in the sketching and editing processes. 

  Wherefore Art Thou  is Sam McKinney's second sculpture at Pyramid Hill due to his first sculpture, Adam's First Breath, being such a favorite. McKinney approached the late Duncan White, who helped with fundraising, with the idea for Wherefore Art Thou. After a little family-friendly editing, the sculpture was approved; Romeo and Juliet came to Pyramid Hill.

  But it wasn't so easy!! The black granite monolith arrived at the park a year before the figures of Romeo and Juliet were complete. When the doomed lovers arrived the sculpture was covered, and stood waiting for the ceremony to finally be unveiled. Set near the Ancient Sculpture Museum, Wherefore Art Thou has been a favorite ever since. If you can, bring a copy of Romeo and Juliet; pay close attention to who is holding the dagger and who is holding the poison.

The Story Behind Cincinnati Story

  Cincinnati Story  is a really big sculpture.  I mean really.  Even in the heavily wooded terrain of Pyramid Hill, it's hard to miss.  Imagine this massive structure in the concrete landscape of downtown Cincinnati.  Pretty impressive right?  George Sugarman's multicolored piece, inspired by the flowing waters of the Ohio, sat in front of the Chiquita Center for over 15 years.  If you think about downtown in the Nineties, you would surely think about this image.  At least a little.

  But in 1999, the Chiquita Center was bought out by Lowe Enterprises.  Cincinnati Story needed a new home.  Obviously, that home was Pyramid Hill.  However, you can't exactly fit Cincinnati Story in the back of the truck and be on your way.  So Harry and all the other P-Hill folks (yep, that's what I'm calling it now) pulled together their fund-raising skills and gathered the necessary $35,000.00.  No that is not a typo, did you think moving and refinishing a gargantuan sculpture would be cheap?  Don't be ridiculous! 

  So that's the story of how Cincinnati Story made it's way to the Gallery Loop, therefore remaining in the tristate area.  I really hope you weren't completely bored or completely aghast at my grammatical errors during this blog.  Stick around, next week I'll do the very same with a different sculpture!

  Oh!  If you're looking for more background on George Sugarman, you'll have to wait for the blog on that artist!

And we're off!

  Hello fellow bloggers/blog readers!  Welcome to the Pyramid Hill Blog!  I hope you've taken time to read our description, it will save me a lot of annoying repetition here.  If not, please read it!  I promise it's very short.  If so, let me give you some additional information.  The park was founded by Harry T. Wilks in 1996, with the Ancient Sculpture Museum is the spring of 2009.  The outdoor section of the park features 59 outdoor sculptures and the indoor museum contains 70 ancient pieces.  Park hours are 8am-5pm 365 days a year (weather permitting), with the Ancient Sculpture Museum being open 12-5. 

  Pyramid Hill has attracted national attention, and recieved visitors from across the globe.  We are looking forward to new visitors and members in 2011!  Please stay tuned for our weekly blogs, which will feature a different sculpture or event each week!