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Artist Bruce Beasley donates foundation for sculpture center

Posted by mussi2014 on October 14, 2014
Posted in: Uncategorized. Leave a comment
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Artist Bruce Beasley donates foundation for sculpture center

By Jesse Hamlin
Published 6:53 pm, Wednesday, October 8, 2014
  • The garden and reflecting pool at Bruce Beasley’s West Oakland studio complex will be partof the Oakland Museum of California’s future Bruce Beasley Sculpture Center. Photo: Oakland Museum Of California / ONLINE_YES
Photo: Oakland Museum Of California
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The garden and reflecting pool at Bruce Beasley’s West Oakland studio complex will be part<240>of the Oakland Museum of California’s future Bruce Beasley Sculpture Center.

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The garden and reflecting pool at Bruce Beasley’s West Oakland studio complex will be part<240>of the Oakland Museum of California’s future Bruce Beasley Sculpture Center.

In 1964, Bruce Beasley, an energetic young sculptor who’d gone to UC Berkeley and already shown at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, bought an abandoned 1912 grist-mill building, for $12,000, on a desolate block in West Oakland by the wrecking yards and railroad tracks. The trains still ran where the freeway now stretches, and his neighbors were old-school hobos.

Over the decades, as he created a profusion of big abstract sculpture in acrylic, steel, aluminum and bronze that landed in museums, civic plazas and airports around the world — he also invented the process for casting large acrylic forms used to make the first transparent deep-sea submersibles — Beasley bought up the surrounding parcels. He planted gardens, sycamores and red oak, built a house for his wife and two daughters, and studios to accommodate his increasingly monumental work. He also got involved with his neighborhood, organizing efforts to get Caltrans and the city of Oakland to put in a park (South Prescott), streetlamps and sidewalks.

“There were no doors, no windows, the plumbing was broken, the wiring pulled out,” says Beasley, 75, gazing at the facade of the old masonry building he repaired. It became the nucleus of the sprawling complex of studios and sun-dappled open spaces that he’s bequeathing to the Oakland Museum of California as a center for sculpture. He’s also bequeathing his works and archives and a multimillion-dollar endowment to maintain and program the place. (The family home is not included, because Beasley figures he’s going to depart this earthly plane before his French wife and fellow civic activist, Laurence).

The bequest, expected to be announced Thursday, is valued at about $20 million — the largest private gift in the history of the Oakland Museum, an institution with which Beasley has had a long and fruitful relationship. The future Bruce Beasley Sculpture Center will be used for exhibitions, residences, public programs and research.

“I’m grateful that I’ve been able to spend my life making the art I believed in, and that the world has allowed me to do that,” says Beasley, who’s still actively making big commissioned pieces and developing a new technology, which utilizes 3-D printing to form plastic sculptural models and significantly cut the cost and energy expenditure of bronze casting. “I wanted to leave something to help the sculptors that haven’t been as fortunate, a place where sculptors can have shows, and a place to speak for the legitimacy of sculpture as an art form.”

Beasley, who just finished a stainless steel ring piece from his “Rondo” series for the city of Fremont and has started a 60-foot tubular steel piece for the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, never figured he’d make a living as a sculptor.

“There are 100 painting shows for every sculpture show,” says Beasley, who proudly introduces his longtime head studio assistant, sculptor Albert Dicruttalo, who’s finishing a stainless steel piece of his own, his first commission, for San Mateo. “Museums don’t like to show us, because we’re difficult and problematic. Sculptors have to have a stronger calling, I think, than other artists. It’s the hardest on our bodies, and it requires the most sophisticated tools. It’s basically a burden to be a sculptor. So sculptors really end up being the people burning the hottest passion.

“But the opportunities are very limited. Sculptors are much better at figuring out how to get the work made than getting it exhibited. The thing that’s really lacking is a place for it to be seen. The need is to facilitate the connection with public.”

Oakland Museum Director Lori Fogarty calls the bequest of this sculptural oasis a block from the West Oakland BART Station “a game changer, not just for West Oakland, although it is really important to the neighborhood, but for the fields of sculpture and modern art. This will be a destination for people from all over the world.

“I have never heard of a living artist making this kind of generous gift. Making this kind of statement for the field and the community is extraordinary.”

One of the things that turns her on about the future center — which she hopes doesn’t come about for many years — is the idea of programming that will explore “Bruce’s incredible relationship between art and technology, art and engineering, which is so important to this region. He continues to push the boundaries and experiment with process, which is pretty unique for a sculptor after 55 years in the profession.”

Beasley says he arrived 50 years ago, when he “was the only white person in the neighborhood, the only person with a college degree. I felt a responsibility to get involved in the neighborhood. That’s turned into a lifetime engagement. I want to leave something that will be a kind of cultural destination here, to say West Oakland is a good place to be.”

Artist and professor Nathan Oliveira is honored at Stanford campus

Posted by rachellfontoura on February 8, 2013
Posted in: Clients. Tagged: art professor, Artworks Foundry, bronze sculptures, foundry, Nathan Oliveira, paintings, Stanford. Leave a comment

Stanford’s new site for contemplation and reflection will feature the paintings of the great artist and late Stanford art Professor Nathan Oliveira.

Oliveira was a client at Artworks Foundry for many years and we are specially happy to see this amazing person that was Nathan been honored.

You can read more information about Stanford’s new space on their website.

Stanford's new contemplation site on campus features paintings of Nathan Oliveira.

Stanford’s new contemplation site on campus features paintings of Nathan Oliveira.

Nathan Oliveira was a client at Artworks Foundry for many years.

Nathan Oliveira was a client at Artworks Foundry for many years.

nathan oliveira - artworks foundry

 

May the force be with you!

Posted by rachellfontoura on February 8, 2013
Posted in: Clients, Current Projects. Tagged: Artworks Foundry, bronze, Bronze cast, bronze sculptures, cast, darth vader, foundry, Lawrence Noble, star wars, yoda. Leave a comment

Lawrence Noble’s Darth Vader half-life size pieces are ready to go!

The artist have already cast bronze sculptures of other characters from Star Wars like Yoda.

You can find more about Lawrence Noble’s work on his website.

Darth Vader, Lawrence Noble - artworks foundry Darth Vader, Lawrence Noble - artworks foundry Darth Vader, Lawrence Noble - artworks foundry Darth Vader, Lawrence Noble - artworks foundry

Sharon Spencer visits the Foundry for patina time

Posted by rachellfontoura on February 6, 2013
Posted in: Clients, Current Projects. Tagged: arts, Artworks Foundry, Bronze cast, bronze patina, eskimo cultures, patina, Sharon Spencer. Leave a comment

Today we were happy to have a visit from the artist Sharon Spencer, who came from Washington to Artworks Foundry for the final patina on some of her pieces.

Sharon’s early work reflected her intense fascination with Native American and Eskimo cultures, affirming her respect for animals and the earth through her figurative sculpture. This thematic thread is constant throughout her work as it evolves into varying scale and different media, which range from large outdoor commissioned abstract pieces to simple, minimalist figurative sculpture.

Sharon’s art has been featured in Galleries and numerous private collections throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. She has received countless awards of excellence in juried major exhibitions and shows. Her sculpture captures the fragility of existence, and communicates a joyous affirmation of life, speaking quietly and powerfully to the heart.

You can see some pictures of Sharon’s visit below and more info about her work on the artist’s website!

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“The Book of Knowledge” bronze relief sculpture installed at Bernal Heights San Francisco Public Library

Posted by rachellfontoura on February 4, 2013
Posted in: Clients, Current Projects. Tagged: Artworks Foundry, Bernal Heights San Francisco Public Library, bronze relief, bronze sculptures, Dan Macchiarini, lost wax process, patina. Leave a comment

Artworks Foundry had one more project accomplished this last week!

“The Book of Knowledge”,  is a project designed by the artistic team Precita Eyes Muralists (Susan Cervantes, Suaro Cervantes, Elaine Chu, Dan Machiarini, and Marina Perez Wong) and may be the only mural wall relief sculpture to successfully combine painted, fired ceramic tiles with bronze ever!

Artworks Foundry was involved in all the steps of this project, from the fabrication of the mold, passing through the lost wax process, casting and final patina.

According to the artist, the official opening will probably be in the second week of March of 2013.

If you would like to check it out, the Bernal Heights Public Library is located at 500 Cortland Ave, San Francisco, CA 94110.

You can see more information at the San Francisco Public Library’s website.

The bronze relief "The Book of Knowledge" cast in Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

The bronze relief “The Book of Knowledge” cast at Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

The bronze relief "The Book of Knowledge" cast in Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

The bronze relief “The Book of Knowledge” cast at Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

The bronze relief "The Book of Knowledge" cast in Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

The bronze relief “The Book of Knowledge” cast at Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

The bronze relief "The Book of Knowledge" cast in Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

The bronze relief “The Book of Knowledge” cast at Artworks Foundry was installed at the Public Library.

Last Section of Remember Them Monument, by Mario Chiodo

Posted by rachellfontoura on January 30, 2013
Posted in: Clients, Current Projects. Tagged: Artworks Foundry, Berkeley, bronze, bronze sculptures, Mario Chiodo, Oakland, Remember Them, Remember Them Monument. Leave a comment

We are happy to say that the 4th and last section of the Remember Them Monument, by Mario Chiodo, is almost ready to go!

The last section will soon join the other 3 sections already unveiled and located at the Kaiser Plaza, in Oakland (19th Street & Telegraph, across from the Fox Theater).

It will be hard to say good bye after so many months seeing this amazing project here at Artworks Foundry!

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2012 Blog in review

Posted by rachellfontoura on January 22, 2013
Posted in: Current Projects, Home. Tagged: 2012 review, Artworks Foundry, Blog, complete annual report, lost wax process. Leave a comment

The WordPress.com made a very good 2012 annual report for the Artworks Foundry blog.

Looking back to what we have done in this fantastic year of 2012 made us very happy and thrilled to keep posting our news and updates into this blog!

If you are interested to see more about our stats, you can check our complete report by clicking in the link below.

We wish you a happy 2013!

Here’s an excerpt:

600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 6,300 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 11 years to get that many views.

Click here to see the complete report.

Michael Parkes -Time Lapse of Angel Patina done at Artworks Foundry

Posted by rachellfontoura on December 13, 2012
Posted in: Current Projects. Tagged: Artworks Foundry, bronze patina, bronze sculptures, foundry, Michael Parkes, patina, sculpture. Leave a comment

In this video you can see the whole Patina process done in one of Michael Parkes’ piece: Angel.

Our Patina artist is Aiya Jordan-Kawasaki. She has many years of experience and does an excellent work in the final step of the bronze casting!

Richmond BART artwork by Mildred Howard is ready to go!

Posted by rachellfontoura on December 7, 2012
Posted in: Current Projects. Tagged: Artworks Foundry, bronze, Mildred Howard, monument, Richmond Bart. Leave a comment

Another monument fabricated at Artworks Foundry is ready to go to its site!

The BART Parking Garage Artwork project was designed by Mildred Howard. It consists in a 12′ x 40′ cor-ten steel wall with a poem carved on it. The wall will be located at the east and west side of the garage building. The words of the poem in the negative space will lit from below making it looks even more beautiful!

We can’t wait to install it!

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Karen Wilberding Diefenbach’s new exhibition

Posted by rachellfontoura on October 30, 2012
Posted in: Clients, Events. Tagged: Artworks Foundry, bronze, clients, exhibition, Karen Wilberdng Diefenbach, pecore, San Francisco, sculpture. 2 Comments

Karen Wilberding’s Pecore

The artist Karen Wilberding Diefenbach is opening a  new show “The Pecore: recent Sculpture” in San Francisco. The collection was inspired by the   enduring sheep, acting both a tribute to Italy’s tradition and a meditation on time, nature and change.

The exhibition will be placed at the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco, from November 1 until December 14.

“The Pecore” shows also Karen’s latest bronze sculptures cast at Artworks Foundry. Here you can see a video filmed at the Foundry and where she explains the lost wax casting process.

You can see more information about the exhibition and pictures of Karen’s work below:

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