Thelonious Monk Inspired Sculptures

October 10 is the birthday of Thelonious Monk, jazz composer & pianist. Coincidentally, just yesterday I picked up two new bronze casts from my foundry of my sculptures inspired by Monk. (Their patinas are different than the ones pictured here.) First, six views of “Monk Solos in 3D, III”, then five views of “Monk Solos in 3D, II” . ( The first version has sold out.) The sculptures are what Monk’s music “looks” like to me—off-tilt, angular, & surprising, but always gracefully resolved. Of all my works these two really give you a whole new visual experience each time you see them from a different angle.

Jimmy McGary Documentary & Sculpture at Cafe Vivace!

This Thursday, April 25 at Cafe Vivace, https://www.facebook.com/pg/caffevivace/posts/ there will be a screening of a new documentary on the life of the late, great Cincinnati saxophonist, Jimmy McGary. As part of the festivities I will be displaying the portrait sculpture I did of him in 1990. We were friends. I went to hear Jimmy often in the jazz venues he played in around town. He played beautifully, especially at difficult times in his life, and his playing inspired & moved me. My portrait of him is about that ability—the ability of artists to rise above the trials and tribulations of their lives and to inspire others through their work. The big hands represent his deeds; his well-defined face, his individuality & character; and the turbulently textured body, the painful, temporal aspects of life that we all must rise above.

He had a look about him, even when he was not playing, that I can best describe as having been chiseled by the wind. I could picture him on the prow of a ship. He had that look.

If you’d like to make a sculpture like this see my Teaching link above.

“MAESTRO, JIMMY McGARY”. Cast stone from clay original for bronze. About life size.