In Loving Memory of The Studio Dog- Chas
day he passed he had a horrible fever. To
cool himself off he stayed here. Tilly the
turtle’s babies came and climbed on him.
We had Chas for about 9 years. He was 10 years old. We acquired him because of an ad in the Greensheet that said. “retriever needs home.” The people looking for a home for him said we were the only family that told them, “Come and take a look at our home and see if this is a place that Chas would like to live.” They did. Chas came to visit and never left. He also came with some treats and a yellow plastic flower pot, that up until moving to our home was apparently his playmate. He never paid any attention to that flowerpot after moving here. His previous family taught him a trick of shooting him with a gun, and Chas would pretend to fall over dead. It was funny. He really had no other tricks,oh. yes, he did like to turn circles when the food came out. Emmy, our other dog and he got a long famously. I’m sure she will miss him.
TILLY AND CHAS
When Tilly- the turtle came to the yard there was a love affair between the two for quite some time. They have tried to work out their differences in their two year relationship.
on a regular basis.
FOSTER UNCLE
Chas helped us with many different foster dogs. He always made them feel welcome and tolerated hair pulling and nips from all of the puppies. Some even sat right in his bowl. Being foster parents to puppies for the Homeless Pet Placement League was easier for us humans because Chas took such good care of them.
He loved the dog park and would always wander off with a “yodee od doe” type of mentality. Sometimes I would find him looking at all of the people wondering where “we” had wandered off. When finding the pond in the middle of the park he would not swim, but instead would put his old body into the water and sit for a spell.
and found the puppy from next door sitting in his
food dish.
On Monday April 30th Chas went to dog heaven. I am certain that he is with our other dogs, Casey, Bess, and Conan. We did not know that Chas had cancer and quickly went down hill. The last few days I would find him sitting in the creek, his head resting on a water fall, the water trickling round his body. If I were sick, that is where I would like to be.
He will be missed. We love you Chas.
Our Foster Puppy Was Adopted
Our foster puppy was adopted Saturday. She went to a good home and was adopted with another puppy, so Boots has her own puppy!
A Real Dog For a Bronze Boy
My husband and I regularly foster animals for the Homeless Pet Placement League . Basically we take care of the dogs, make sure they are healthy and then take them to the adoption place, Petco on Shepherd on Saturdays. This little gal is Boots, and we have been fostering her for several weeks now.
When she arrived and would come into the studio, she loved to sit next to the Lucas sculpture. I thought it was strange. She would even plop right on his bronze foot. I moved all of her toys and blanket next to Lucas and would joke that Lucas has a dog.
I talked with Lucas’ mom just a few days ago and told her this story. She said that Lucas had always wanted a puppy, but she never got around to getting him one.
My husband said that when the Lucas sculpture leaves the studio to be delivered to his mom, Boots will probably get adopted.
Portrait Bust
It is always exciting to watch the process of sculpture from start to finish. Here is the final of the latest sculpture that I have sculpted.
It will be presented at the end of this month.
Goodbye Florencia- I’m Looking For a New Apprentice.
My apprentice, Florencia must leave the studio for a time. I am hoping she will be back and she has stated she will be in on weekends when she can. I was happy to hear her say that the studio was not only a wonderful place to work, but a sort of creative refuge. I feel that way, and the surrounding area with pond, stream, turtles and fish also aids in that.
I have been sending out press releases to schools, summer is a good time to find a junior or senior student who loves art. Feel free to pass this along to those you know who may be interested.
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Houston Sculptor is seeking summer apprentice.
This job consists of working in a real art studio with a master sculptor as well as in the foundry for bronze casting when necessary. Work is figurative. Your duties would include anything from smoothing clay, helping to make armatures for life size sculpture, assisting artist with working waxes for the bronze process and clean up. The work can get dirty. Desire for art and a summer commitment is the only prerequisite.
This is not a paying internship however there are sometimes bonuses involved and the learning experience and exposure are invaluable. The artist’s studio is located just north of the 610 loop off of shepherd. Hours are flexible, we can work around your schedule if you can committed to at least 5-10 hours a week. Upon completion of the summer the artist would be happy to write a letter of recommendation for the student for college or job.
If you would like to see some of the artist work or look at how other apprentices have helped check out the blogs listed below.
https://creativesculpture.com/blog/
http://www.dickhathaway.blogspot.com/
Artist’s web site is located at https://creativesculpture.com
Please contact Bridgette at
Bridgette@creativesculpture.com
And put Intern/Apprentice in the Subject headline. Be sure to let me know when you are available and your desire. If you are under 18 we will need to meet at my studio with your parents and they will be required to sign a consent form.
A Trip To The Foundry
If you have read my blog then you are familiar with this part of the bronze process. After the bronze is cast and the pieces are welded together I am asked to come to the foundry and look at the metal. Marker in hand I go over the piece and look for any blemishes or things that might need a little work, perhaps some clarification. I like to bring the clay bust with me so that I can compare the two. My apprentice came with me and we had a wonderful conversation with Miguel at the foundry. He is always a delight, and then a quick stop over at Ben Woitena’s studio to see how his work is coming along. I especially enjoyed our conversation as we compared figurative sculpting to the type of work that Ben does. Here is a link to see Ben’s work.
After these minor details are taken care of the bronze enters the patina stage and is mounted. Soon this sculpture will be home.
Jeanine’s Life Mask
Last year when I was contacted by Jeanine’s parents they sent her life mask to me. It was taken when she was about ten years old. They wanted to know if I could cast her image from the mask. I have documented this in the book, “Bringing to Life the Spirit of the Deceased- A Sculptor’s Journey.” It was strange to look into the life mask. It felt like I could look deep into Jeanine. It is also odd… when you shoot a photograph of a life mask or the inside of a mold, you never really can tell if it is something that is concave or convex.
This is a wonderful thing to have. I have included photographs of the life mask, as well as the cast.
Artist Carves History in Bronze
I have been working on creating some new pages to my web site. The newsboy gallery can be found by clicking on the Newsboy category
And I have uploaded pictures of the newsboy placed in Austin. There are no pictures of the number two in the edition, as my client has not given it to his father yet.
I have been sending out press releases about creating the newspaper to match newspapers in history. I’m hoping to sell out the edition of the newsboy, there are eight left, and creating newspapers throughout history. I really would like to see one of these in Buffalo, N.Y. and also one in Washington.
The press release follows.
Newspaper Headlines Through History are Being Carved in Bronze.
Is it not interesting to think about which newspaper headlines stand out in the history of our country? What newspaper headline would stand out in the publication of your own newspaper?
In 2005 Texas based sculptor Bridgette Mongeon was commissioned by the Texas Press Association, to capture an important time in newspaper history—the age of newsboys. You can almost hear the cries of, “Extra! Extra! Read all about it…” from the mouth of the bronze newsboy who is caught in full stride as he hawks his newspapers on the street corner. The artwork, originally created for the Texas State Capitol building, presently resides outside the offices of the Texas Press Association in Austin, Texas. A table-top bronze of the Newsboy was also created as a limited edition art for home or office.
In January of 2007, Ms. Mongeon was contacted by a client wanting to know if the life-size bronze newsboy was part of a limited edition, and if it was available for purchase as a gift for his father, a former newspaper publisher. He inquired if the newspaper that the Newsboy was selling could be recreated to resemble his father’s newspaper capturing the year they were awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The artist created a bronze Newsboy to the client’s specifications, and it became number two of this edition of ten. It will soon be presented to his father. The story of the Pulitzer Prize winning paper is intriguing, but cannot be revealed until after the surprise bronze is presented.
The idea of carving and capturing history in bronze so intrigued Ms. Mongeon that she is committing to do the same thing for the remaining editions of the bronze Newsboys and is presently seeking newspapers and placement for the remaining eight life-size bronze sculptures.
Upon request, the new masthead and headline are painstakingly carved into the front of each paper. There are several papers in the sculpture that need to be changed, there is a newspaper the Newsboy holds, several under his arm, and a stack at his feet. The back of the newspaper remains the same, a subhead line that reads, “In Memory of Skinny and Others.” This was created from a historical article that the artist read about how newsboys would take out an ad in the paper if one of their own died. It is the artist’s way of posthumously recognizing the contribution of the newsboys.
When the artist is asked if there is a specific newspaper in history or place that she would like to see one of the bronzes installed she replied, “I live in Texas but was born in Buffalo, New York. I would love to see a Newsboy placed in my hometown, and if I could pick the place, I would love to see one near the Albright Knox Art Gallery. To have one in Washington D.C. would also be great.” The Newsboy is not Mongeon’s only newspaper related art sculpture. She was also commissioned by the Houston Chronicle to create a small sculpture of Jesse Jones that is given as The Jesse Award to outstanding individuals at the Houston Chronicle.
A writer as well as a sculptor Ms. Mongeon has a heart for journalism and communication and has created an online journal of the entire eight-month process of creating the life-size bronze Newsboy and small Newsboy collectible. The journal extends from research to casting and placement of each of the pieces in the edition. She has added an educational section to help students and teachers learn and teach about art, journalism, history and even politics, all relating to the bronze Newsboy. The journal is rich in online resources for further education. The sculptor expresses a desire to be involved in the education of the children in each area that the Newsboy is placed. “The Newsboy is not only a symbol for the newspaper industry, it is a symbol of the strength of children. These newsboys and girls changed history with their newspaper strike of 1899, which affected the child labor laws. Just because you are small doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference, and this is an important concept for children to learn,” state Ms. Mongeon.
The Newsboy journal can be found at the artists’ web site located at www.creativesculpture.com. If you are interested in one of the remaining editions of the Newsboy and have a headline to match, Ms. Mongeon would love to hear from you and can be reached at her contact form. Then together the publisher and artist will carve history in bronze.
This article/press release can be used word for word. If you would like to interview the artist or require more information for a story please contact the artist.
How Much Money Did Richard Hathaway Make For Others?
Somewhere I heard a quote about how much money Dick raised in his life
time as an auctioneer. Anyone know that answer?
How Did Professor Hathaway Call to Others?
I sent this out to some that new Dick. I have been working on the chapters in the book about Dick and Sarah Hooker was kind enough to reply.
“I picture Dick sitting on the bench at Vermont College hand in the air as if he is beckoning to the person passing by or across the green. Greetings from Dick were not just average hello’s as Sarah Hooker states, “Well, it was more that he had a megaphone with his hands as if to announce whoever it was, but it was personalized—so, for example, he’d say, “Heeeer’s Miss Sunshine herself, Sarah Jo Hooker” or “I give you the goddest of the Adult Degree Program, Sarah Jo Hooker”, or it might be “Here’s Portland Maine’s most renowned druid, Susan Hammond!”–“