Posts by Bridgette
I’ll Be On The Radio- An Interview About My new Book “Kisses From Heaven”
Book two is titled “Kisses from Heaven”
There are special cherished moments after the death of a loved one. Some call them coincidences, others a message from beyond. In this case, we are calling them Kisses from Heaven. They are simple things that happen that remind us of our deceased loved one. Some seem so bizarre we are not sure how they could happen. They may be snuggling in a dream, or perhaps having a symbol of a loved one continue to appear over and over, smelling the perfume of a deceased mother or cigar of a father who passed away. These moments, however strange, comfort us. It is my personal opinion that God gives these moments to the bereaved as a way to say, “I know your pain, and I’m still here.” As a sculptor who specializes in sculpting the deceased for individuals homes, prayer gardens, and cemeteries, I have heard of these incidents over and over again. It is the desire of my heart and my co-author Zanna Mangini’s to collect these unusual stories into a book. We would love for you to be a part. Please send us stories about your Kisses from Heaven.
Here is a link to the writers guidelines should you know of anyone that would like to submit.
On Friday at www.psychiconair.com Zanna and I will be talking about the book. I will also be talking about book three. 10 a.m. eastern time.
Book three is titled “Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased a Sculptors- Journey” It is about 4 posthumous commissions and the interactions with both my clients and subject. More can be found at the link
I am still seeking publishers for Bringing to Life… and Kisses From Heaven.
A Book Publisher For One Book-2 More To Go!
I am excited that we are reviewing the contract from a publisher for an up and coming book. The book is” Digital Sculpting with Mudbox: Essential Tools and Techniques for Artists. ” It should be a great book. I’m looking forward to crossing the bridge from digital to bringing technology into the traditional sculptures studio.
A Video About The Unveiling Of The Richard Hathaway Memorial Sculpture
On Thursday, September 25th 2008 the sculpture of Professor Richard Hathaway was installed and then unveiled in Montpelier, Vermont on the Vermont College of Fine Arts Campus outside of the TW Wood Gallery.
The Dick Hathaway sculpture along with an angel traveled 1,948 miles from the artist Bridgette Mongeon’s Houston, Texas sculpture studio to Montpelier, Vermont. The exit of the sculpture from Texas was not without travail as Hurricane Ike barreled down on the Gulf Coast causing great devastation. This video documents the travels of the sculptures, along with the delivery, unveiling and emotion surrounding the love of Professor Richard Hathaway and angel Baby Jenna Mangini.
The video is part three in the documentation of the creation of the Richard Hathaway memorial.
The mold and casting of the sculpture can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYgZZjcHCW4
The sculpting of the sculpture can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faoWhdJt-wA
Professor Richard Hathaway, himself can be heard in a lecture about progressive education:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR0MxIpOB4s
An After Thought About Traveling To Vermont, Electrical Outages, And Hurricane IKE
Like many, our home was out of electricity for many days, though I must say not as long as some of the areas of our neighborhood. But apparently Texas was not the only state with outages from Ike.
While traveling out on 59 we saw 61 electrical trucks coming in from out of state. It became our car game to count them. Here is the clincher- every state that we drove through Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and NY all had power outages. They all felt Ike! Here is the map of the Ike route and our trip. Now I can see why so many felt it. I went to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Ike and found that Cincinnati had 927,000 out of power, Arkansas 200,000, Indiana 200,000, winds were even felt in London, Ontario. For a hurricane that had a width of 275 miles it is no wonder. Each state we went to felt our pain, but they were a little irritated because they sent their trucks to us, not knowing what their state would suffer.
I Love To Go To The Cemetery, Inspirational And In This Case, Very Funny!
In NY, On To Vermont!
Nothing special about traveling through Ohio. I’m glad to be in Buffalo, NY. It is my home town and the resting spot is my sisters house before we go on to Vermont. I’m looking forward to the last leg of drive to Vermont. It will be during the day and hopefully a little more leisurely. I’ll post the Dick Hathaway state auction pieces in the next day or so. Just 7 or 8 hours of driving, but still so tired.
Headed Toward Memphis With Sculptures- Funny Stories and Pictures
We made it to Memphis. 10 + drive. Couldn’t leave Houston until Dick and Jenna were completely secure. Which meant not getting on the road until 3:00. It was a long day, but my traveling companion is great and helps keep me awake and alert. Dick fit into the SUV, which I was thankful for. Jenna is kind of tucked into his lap area feet up in the air. That is the way Jenna would travel anyway. I think I can hear here giggling in the back, under the covers.
We counted 63 electric trucks coming in on 59 as we were headed out. I am thankful for them as I was the electric company from Tampa that was at our home/studio the day before I left. Thank you to all of the states that have helped Houston/Galveston area. 59 is one of those roads that you have to go through a lot of little towns. We could not go highway because, well, frankly we were not sure what the towns or roads would be like east of Houston, so north it was. Just outside of a small town a police car stopped me to “remind me to do the speed limit” my traveling companion, Gloria said, “they are going to think we have a dead body back there.” The officer heard her and glanced back and then jumped. She was so intrigued with the sculpture and taking pictures of it that “remind” us was all that she did. I took a picture of the office, but unfortunately it did not come out. I think I was nervous about the possibility of getting a ticket. I did not, Thank you Dick!
Our route was apparently an evacuation route and it felt appropriate to get a picture of the SUV under one of the signs. The other pictures shows Dick and the souvenirs that we bought for him. In Texas he purchased a thimble, and in Arkansas, Arkansas to be exact, birthplace of Clinton. I wonder what Dick would think about that? In hope we bought a key chain toothpick holder. Can you see these souvenirs in the pictures? We are going to give them to the Dick Hathaway auction that is held regularly at Vermont College in hopes of raising money. I think Dick would like that.
More posts next time we get to
WI FI along the way.
Travel mercies!
Bridgette
We Leave In Two Days!
It will take some time to get to Vermont with two stops on the way. My original traveling companion, besides Dick and Jenna was going to be my daughter, but she could not make it. Luckily I have found a friend to help keep me awake along the way. Went to the foundry today to check on last details and make sure they would have everything ready. I thought I should get a picture of the three of us together.
I know I look like I have the hurricane fog. Yes it is true. I can’t tell you how stressful this last week has been. Went to the bank to get money for the trip. The entire roof was blown off of the bank. In the mall next door the entire side of the mall was gone. Had to stop to get more gas containers for the generator. I feel bad leaving my family in this situation but I am very glad to be leaving Houston and the stress of the post hurricane and survival mode.
Soon we will be in Vermont. Can’t wait to see the changing of the leaves! Dick Hathaway is coming home, along with an angel!
More IKE
As normal as it feels sitting here in Scholotzsky’s on the WI FI We must go back to survival. Waiting in long lines at grocery stores for food for the house, and more long lines for the gas for the generator. I’m also hoping to get something to chain up that generator with. It is a hot commodity in this city right now. Found ice on the way out and bought a 8 bags. Brought it back to the house and distributed it to neighbors. Everyone has to help everyone else out. Soon as I can escape again I’ll post. Oh yes, FYI Still working, picked up wax just before hurricane and have been working on it with a torch on the studio porch. It must go to the foundry in the morning. And…. the Dick Hathaway sculpture made it along with Jenna. No problems. We will still try to leave on Saturday, if my SUV that I have rented with Budget, is still available.
More of IKE
The next night , after the hurricane we had a rain storm. The water had no place to go because there was a storm surge in galveston and though they are 60 miles away the water pushed up into our bayous, we are after all the bayou city. Then when it rained, well the water had no place to go. I sweated it as the water got closer and closer to our home. Here is my husband and dog, Sam, and my street. Many neighbors already had some debris on their front lawns awaiting pick up. That compounded the problem as it blocked the drainage ditches.