Posts Tagged ‘memorials’
Coulson Tough Sculpture for the Woodlands and Possibly Galveston?
This past year, I had the honor of sculpting an incredible man. The connection to this commission spans 30 years. Here is my back story. At the beginning of my sculpting career, I had a fabulous idea. The Historical Strand in Galveston was going through some beautiful restoration and renovation, and I had the notion to create a series of bronze figures in costumes of the 1880s. I wanted to pitch it to Mr. Mitchel, a philanthropist and investor in the strand, and see if he would be interested. He was already instrumental in bringing art to The Woodlands, a community north of Houston. I could see bronze children playing hoop and stick, ladies walking in bustle skirts, and men wearing top hats. I imagined the corners of streets with bronze people so that visitors could interact with them, and that also would be a sort of intriguing artistic directional system to lead tourists to destinations.
I love Galveston. It speaks to me. The connection began the first time I visited. So, mustering up all the hutzpah I needed, I contacted George Mitchell about the possible opportunity to do these bronzes. I knew he was doing a lot with art in The Woodlands. I had hoped the trend would continue in Galveston, and I began correspondence with Coulson Tough about this idea. Cleaning out years of art paperwork recently, I found my original correspondence with Mr. Tough from 1992.
Mr. Tough was a creative person in his own right as an architect and visionary, working in development alongside Mr. Mitchell. He joined forces with Mitchell in 1973, working on The Strand in Galveston and The Woodlands.
Outdoor art is everywhere in the Woodlands. There is a collection of over 86 public art pieces. It proudly stands as the largest public art collection in Texas.
I’m intrigued by the history and structure of The Outdoor Sculpture Project and the Woodlands Public Art program. Early in my career, it was interesting how many cities, like the Woodlands, have adopted a ‘percent for art’ program. This innovative approach involves imposing a fee on large developments, which they then used to creating public art.
A 2023 article in Paper City states, “The Howard Hughes Corporation’s vast Art Fund and The Woodlands Arts Council keep that drive going. “The Howard Hughes’ Art Fund is a major driver behind the public art in The Woodlands, particularly the larger pieces. The Art Fund was created in 1973 by community leader Coulson Tough under the direction of the founder of The Woodlands, George Mitchell.”
The Woodlands is about 45 minutes north of my home and art studio. I have seen events at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, one of over one hundred projects created through Coulson Tough’s influences. I mostly love to kayak Lake Woodlands, including visiting the one piece of art in the water—the 35-foot-long steel sculpture Rise of The Midgard Serpent by Marc Rosenthal.
I was so excited about the possible Galveston bronze idea all those years ago, but as I pursued it, the prospect of it fizzled out. But my connection to the Woodlands and Tough appeared in a recent commission.
In 2022, just after the death of Coulson Tough, The Howard Hughes Corporation and Kinzelman Art Consulting contacted me about creating a sculpture of the beloved man. The Woodlands honored the community leader by naming Tough Elementary after him. The school was the intended spot for my sculpture of this man of influence. I feel honored to not only have a sculpture in The Woodlands but for it to be of the man who brought all the incredible art to the area.
I learned a lot about Mr. Tough while creating the sculpture and shared it with the kids at the school. His mark is all over southern Texas, from The San Louis Hotel in Galveston, Texas, to the A&M campus in Galveston and the University of Houston.
The sculpture is of Mr. Tough sitting on a large bench with plenty of place for visitors. It appears to be a blueprint in his lap, but instead of drafting, there are images and a list of some of his projects. His hand rests on the blueprint as he looks into the distance, reflecting on his contribution and community. The children can bring paper and pencil and rub the images, transferring them to their own paper. With permission from the family, I hid some things in the sculpture. I love that the children at Tough Elementary can learn about the man as they explore.
The unveiling of this sculpture was in December 2023. Many were in attendance, including his son and grandchildren. I may have seen a tear or two.
I never got to create my bronze historical figures in Galveston, but I sure wish someone would pay me to cast a second in the edition of Mr. Tough so we could put him down in Galveston. I think he belongs there as well.
I am so proud to add this one to my collection of art created for schools, to have worked with Mr. Tough—posthumously, and to be a part of The Woodlands art. I have the best job in the world. I get to celebrate a life remembered.
Visiting Cemeteries And Sculptures
Today, while at the Glenwood Cemetery I visited the places that I love the best. I visit Ellie, as I most often do. I realize that this little girl would be nearly 20 now. I never knew her, though each time I do a posthumous sculpture I feel like I do know my subject. Somehow we develop a relationship after death.
And I visit this sculpture created by Harriet Frishmuth. It is interesting because it has the same softness that I feel from the angel that I mentioned in my last post. I have seen other work of art by Harriet Frishmuth such as aspirations in the Forest Lawn cemetery in Buffalo NY. This sculpture is hidden in Glenwood and hard to find, but I always stop and say hello.
Though my other posthumous sculptures are not at this cemetery I think of them as well, and the mothers and fathers who love and miss their little ones. To those who have a similar loss, may you find peace and comfort in the celebration of the lives of these precious little ones. They are still with us.
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Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.
Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.
She is the vice chair of the planning committee for 3DCAMP Houston 2012 http://www.3dcamphouston.com
She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series http://www.godsword.net
Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter and twitter.com/creategodsword
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Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast
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My First Inspiration Comes Back
When I first started sculpting nearly 30 years ago I became intrigued with cemeteries. When I travel, I visit them like some choose to visit museums, or historical buildings. When I go to the cemeteries, I gravitate toward certain plots. I visit them as if I knew the individuals buried there. I visit because of the art.
From the moment I entered Glenwood Cemetery, many years ago I fell in love with this sculpture. It is very simple. It does not look like it belongs on the base where it is placed. I remember when I first began sculpting, even before I began creating work for cemeteries I said, “One day I hope to create a sculpture like this, with the same feeling and emotion and peace.” When I would envision my own burial plot, it is this sculpture that I envision on it.
Today a potential client called and told me that she and her mother liked one specific angel in the cemetery. They would really like their sculpture similar to this. I was elated. It was my angel! Though I’m not sure we should call her an angel because she does not have wings.
I don’t know if I will get the commission. I do hope I do, as it will fulfill a deep desire in me that I have held for 30 years, but I think it is nice to know that this sculpture that I have loved has a special place in the heart of others as well. I hope when I am gone, others will feel that way about the work I leave behind.
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Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.
Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.
She is the vice chair of the planning committee for 3DCAMP Houston 2012 http://www.3dcamphouston.com
She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series http://www.godsword.net
Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter and twitter.com/creategodsword
Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast
Click on Podcast Host Bios for a list of all podcasts.
I Love Cemeteries, And I love What I Do For a Living
I left the cemetery today and said, I miss doing more posthumous sculpture. I need to focus on only this. Perhaps the lull in this type of commissions this past year and a half are because we have really walked our own loss through this time. In fact, death, which is usually so much a part of my creativity , has become very personal with the losing of a father, mother, father in law, step mom and God mother— all within a few short years. I’m keenly aware of the loss from my clients perspective.
Leaving the cemetery today I thought, “Sure the giant monuments pay a lot, but for me, this part of my work- posthumous sculpture is much more fulfilling.”
I know many artists who bid on these type of projects and refer to them as, “just another commission.” Anyone who knows me and has followed my work and my studies over my career knows that I do not refer to posthumous sculpture in this way. I believe that sculpting for a prayer garden or a cemetery is one of the most honoring things I could ever do in my life and with my talents. When I do this, I always thank God for giving me this talent.
I know that some might think of this type of work as macabre. I suppose it is in how you look at death. It is interesting that I really no longer want to think about Halloween, but I am increasingly interested in The Day of The Dead. The Day of the Dead is A Hispanic tradition where family members embrace, remember and celebrate their loved one. We— in the western culture are too quick to brush a death away. People think they cannot or should not grieve and celebrate. My work gives people permission to do that, as does The Day of The Dead.
Another element to my passion for this type of work is the children. When I found this tiny grave at Glenwood cemetery I knew I had to have my picture taken with it. The children are here for such a short time, but this does not lesson their impact on the lives of others. The posthumous sculptures of and for children are by far my favorite thing to create.
I went to the cemetery today with a parent. I don’t know if I will be awarded this commission. But it does not matter. The moment we meet. I am connected to this mother and her grief. Someone else may be sculpting the project, but I will be holding this family in my heart and prayers for many years to come. When holidays come, I feel their greif and pray for their loss. As I told a friend of mine this afternoon, the responsibility that comes with this type of work is more than creative, but I embrace it. It is a part of who I am.
Here is a portion of the novel I wrote. This is a young adult novel about a young girl who, like her mother, is very sensitive to the emotions of others. Her mother is a sculptor. Yes, it is based a bit on my own experiences. I am reminded of the novel and this scene as I visited this place in the cemetery. The inspiration for this novel came from this marvelous serene cemetery. Maybe I should work on getting his novel polished and published. Today when I visited, the man in my story was gone, there is a headstone now, but I will forever have this vision printed in my heart, and I know my potential client can identify with the sentiment.
Picnic in the cemetery
The creeping vines cling close to the brick, creating topiary sentinels that hold open the iron gates welcoming the large, sliver van. Mothering oaks spread their long arms intertwining over graves, and winding grey roads that are carefully edged with red brick curbs. The roots of the nurturing trees hold the dead, with tears from years of grief and memory– cradling, scooping nestling.
Caroline looks for her favorite places, as the van proceeds at a reverent pace deeper and deeper into the shade, and green and history that is the cemetery. The road widens at the gazebo, a courteous place for parking. A man in jeans and a light blue shirt who is not quite as old as her own parents stands at the foot of a tiny fresh grave that is heaped with dirt. Dirt that will settle into the earth as the pain and grief settle into the man. He stands, arms heavy and empty and hanging by his side. There is no head stone only stuffed animals and store bought figurines of cherubs. Caroline feels a bit breathless, the center of her chest tightens, a longing and loneliness bore a hollow spot in her.
She tries to shake it off. “This is someone I don’t even know.” She reminds herself. She wishes she was alone at this moment, that the man were not there, nor her mother for she has an overwhelming urge to lay down on the ground next to the pile of dirt, and tell it a story. “If only the man knew my mother, and what she does, maybe she could help.” She thought. But she has discovered, as Ms. Moyer has, that not everyone can handle what Ms. Moyer does. To some it brings immense comfort, others extreme pain. Even some that come to her go away for a time and then come back and say, “No, I can’t do this.”
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Bridgette Mongeon is a sculptor, writer, illustrator and educator as well as a public speaker.
Her blog can be found at https://creativesculpture.com.
She is the vice chair of the planning committee for 3DCAMP Houston 2012 http://www.3dcamphouston.com
She is also the owner and creator of the God’s Word Collectible Sculpture series http://www.godsword.net
Follow the artists on twitter twitter.com/Sculptorwriter and twitter.com/creategodsword
Listen to The Creative Christian Podcast or the Inspiration/Generation Podcast
Click on Podcast Host Bios for a list of all podcasts.