SculptSite.com: Christopher Stone Sculpture

SculptSite.com: Christopher Stone Sculpture

A week in Seville

I have just returned from a very interesting, and very hot week in Seville, (44 degrees C average temp). I have been exposed to some great art in its many forms, painting, sculpture, and Flamenco for example.
But first I want to complain, as I am oft want to do, Calle Sierpes must be one of Seville’s most renown streets, they say that “Tapas” were invented here, a small plate containing a tasty tidbit was placed on top of your glass of wine or beer to prevent the hot dry dust settling on your tipple, Tapa, literally means top, or cover, sounds good to me, so I shall continue to believe it.

Calle Sierpes
Cervantes, the creator of wacky Don Quixote spent some time in jail here, and it is said that the idea of Don Q came to him during his unfortunate stay in the now long gone prison, however a marble plaque set in a wall reminds us of this infamous fact.
The last time I walked down Calle Sierpes was during the lead up to the “Expo 92″ in which I collaborated as an artist, therefore, after so long I had good reason to do so again, what a disappointment! many of the wonderful old facades have been pulled down, or are in the midst’s of renovation, (I hope), covered with tatty scaffolding, and from what I saw a complete lack of care taken to preserve these never to be repeated buildings.

Calle Sierpes at past
It happened that I was taking my stroll at about 4 in the afternoon, (Mad dogs and Englishmen) so most of the shops had their shutters down, all, without exception were covered in very poor graffiti, no art here, just scrawls in bright colors depicting our basic instincts and egoistical name scribbles, the whole thing resembled a poor neglected, minority neighbor hood, not the elegant, historical, tourist attraction which I remembered with fondness.
Stradivarius, Claire’s, Salon’s de juegos, Footlocker, and most all of the other international high street stores abounded,leaving Calle Sierpes looking just like any other high street anywhere, but dirty, and uncared for, I personally see no need for this reproduction, all of the stores here have at least one other outlet somewhere else in Seville, why cannot this monopoly be restricted to the bland, boring, repetitious shopping malls we all love to hate?
Maybe I should return during opening hours when the shutters are up, and the street is thronged by Sevillano’s, and tourists, buskers, and beggars, and all the wonderful folk that bring Seville to life.
Talking of buskers, the quality of acts that I saw in Seville were superior to any I have been fortunate enough to see anywhere on my travels, less, of course New York, which are better than any paid for entertainment any where, but that’s another story, for another day.
Come on Seville councils, you are doing a fantastic job on the City, from the new tram cars, the splendid metro, the paved pedestrian walkways, investing millions, and making Seville a must for any visitor to Spain, and a delight for both visitors and residents alike, but please don’t forget your old faithful friend, Calle Sierpes.

Painting by Concha Jiménez Muñoz
Another treat for me whilst in Seville was a visit to the Café Bar Sur where Concha Jiménez Muñoz has an exhibition of her latest work. Concha is a very talented young lady, with an impressive CV.and who deserves recognition for her interesting work http://www.conchajiminaz.com/

Gazpacho Andaluz
Café Bar Sur is a special place for lovers of Art, drop in any time and enjoy the art and the atmosphere, or if you are a music fan, Saturdays is Jazz and Blues night. I could not discover a web site for Café Sur, but google away, you’ll get lots of hits.
65 kms from Seville is the town of Morón de la Frontera who’s town hall staged this years festival of Flamenco entitled “Gazpacho Andaluz” which took place on the 31st July at 10pm.
The event was dedicated to the memory of Luis Torres Cadiz, (Joselero de Morón) who lived for many years in Morón, and is buried there, This year the festival is celebrating the centenary of his birth, (1910-2010).
The event was presented by Juan Ortega Chácon with the following artists Singer, Miguel Poveda, accompanied on the guitar by Juan Gomez Chicuelo, Dancer, Pepe Torres, accompanied by singer Moi de Morón, and Miguel Lavi, with the guitars of Eugenio y Paco Iglesias and the rhyhm of Luis Torres.
For the modest price of 12 euros, a fantastic night had by all.
All the best.Christopher Stonehttp://www.sculptormine.com/

Hello, Welcome

Hello, Welcome, and thank you for your visit.
As you will see I am a sculptor working in all mediums, but practicing mainly in stone and marble carving.
I have been around the art block a few times, and I have managed to survive.
I am represented by some good galleries, and I have been represented by some bad one's.
If you like what you see, or are interested in any thing you see, please contact me.
If you are a gallery with serious ideas, please contact me.
All the best,
Chris.

stoneibiza@hotmail.com

Creativity is the ability to generate innovative ideas and manifest them from thought into reality. The process involves original thinking and then producing. The process of creation was historically reserved for deities creating “from nothing” in Creationism and other creation myths. Over time, the term creativity came to include human innovation, especially in art and science and led to the emergence of the creative class. [from Wikipedia]
Creativity is like sex. You fumble your way through, you get lost in it, you fall in love. Both are passionate, rhythmic, pleasurable, and flowing. Both can bear fruit. And both can rack your soul with vulnerability, bliss, fear and awkwardness.[from the web]
Where have we as artists supposed to find our creativity? This is a personal question, and one that has different answers from all of us as individuals. I have been asking myself this question on and off for years, I found some help from reading some creativity quotes from world renown artists, they gave me some guidance, looking to these masters, I have tried to follow their lead.
Rodin for one, had some great ideas, he was one of the first to challenge established styles, and revolutionized sculpture, it has been said that Rodin was the best sculptor since Michael Angelo. This is a bit tall, but, O/K, why not? after reading as much about the man as I could find, I realise that the statement has some foundations. I believe Rodin was the Damien Hirst, or Tracy Emin of his time.
Rodin followed his own belief that all in nature is beautiful, and any artist who tried to improve upon nature by adding “Green to Springtime, Rosé to the sunrise, or Carmine to young lips” is creating ugliness because he is lying. So he went out and created what he considered to be the beautiful, to many people of the time his work was, outrageous, ugly, shocking,and indecent, on reflection we can see his works were in fact wholly truthfull, and honest renditions of what he saw, and these pieces have gone on to mark the transition he introduced in sculpture.
Rodin very often recycled his own work, by using part, or whole sculptures that he had already made (Marcottage),in other works, and many of his now very well known pieces are in fact parts taken from former ideas of his, the most famous is of course ” The thinker”, the original idea came to him, and was to be used on his epic “The gates of Hell” which were based on Dante’s inferno, the Thinker was said to be Rodin’s idea of Dante himself.
My particular favorite quote from Rodin is “Nature is the source of all beauty”. He is also known as saying that it was Michael Angelo who liberated him from academicism. Again a bit tall, and hard to swallow, until you begin to learn a little more about Michael Angelo.

As a side note to this paragraph, my particular favorite of MA’s time was the sculptor/ goldsmith Benvenuto Cellini whose autobiography makes terrific reading, it is not a heavy and ancient tome, its lighthearted, and endearing, and could be applied to almost anyone of our YBA’s today.
Picasso also held some very firm beliefs, it is said that he had a reckless, impulsive, or very unconventional attitude toward money, material things, and ownership, above all stating,he did not want to be possessed by his possessions. The obligation of owning things was oppressive to him.

Picture from Picasso
A famous quote of his is ” I have never made trails or experiments, whenever I had something to say ( literally and artistically) I said it in the manner in which it needed to be said…. I can hardly understand the importance given to the word research in connection with modern art. In my opinion to search means nothing in art. To find is the thing!”
The following was written to a student, by a teacher, who had submitted a poem for her approval, it could easily be applied to art in any medium. “This is a well crafted poem. If you look at every line, see how well it is written, the form, the rhythm, the rhymes and syntax are all well handled. But the trouble is you knew everything in it before you sat down to write it. You didn’t surprise yourself, you didn’t discover anything as you wrote, nothing happened, and that is why Poetry has yet to walk into the poem”
All the above has helped me overcome the creative blocks that fall in front of me from time to time, we all have our own ways of rocking, and this is one of mine. I would like to quote Picasso once more, this statement signifies just about all that I feel regarding my artistic endeavors.
“To finish a piece? What nonsense! To finish means to be through with it! to rid it of soul, to give it the final blow! The coup de grace for the artist, as well as the piece”.
Christopher Stone
http://www.sculptormine.com/

Some time ago I came across, whilst browsing, The Core gallery, situated in Deptford, South London, It struck me as a well organized, and well run outfit, recently I made contact with this gallery regarding a submission proposal, and as with all good galleries their program is fully booked way into the future, however unlike most galleries they took the time to respond to my mail, I received a nice note from Artist Rosalind Davis informing me that they were booked out, but she went on to tell me of an open submission that they are running, and attached all the relevant documents, what a refreshing change! and what a show of professionalism on their part. Thank you Rosalind.
The open submission reads like this “Grand and spectacular, Ephemeral or concealed, art qualified and created by daily life, which is based upon the Statement of Intent by Mark Titchner” all good stuff, I shall give it a shot.
Judges will include such notables as Graham Crowley, Matt Roberts, and Kate Jones, Google
them if you don’t already know them, you’ll be surprised, any way to enter cost’s just ten quid, and is only by snail mail, so get a move on.
More info at Coregalleryinfo@gmail.com or have a look at their website.

“Bold tendencies” by Edward Fornieles
While you are around and about in South London you can go and visit “Bold Tendencies” which set in a disused multi storied car park in Peckham, (what a fantastic use for this type of building)!A long, and impressive list of artists are showing their wares, including Rachel Adams, James Balmforth, Nicolas Byrne,and Juliana Cequeira, to name at least some.
Franks Café and the Camparí bar will make a second appearance serving up their delights using the very best summer produce. This will be Bold Tendencies No 4, and is sponsored this year by The Cass Foundation, (well done again, and keep it up, we need you!!)
This program was pioneered by The Hannah Barry Gallery in 2007.
I have checked out the show, which is now running, and its well worth a visit, I plan to go before it ends in September.
Full details at Hannah Barry Gallery
Christopher Stone.www.sculptormine.com

Commercial Galleries

After more than twenty years of vocational art, and more than a decade of working with international commercial galleries, I will be resigning from this form of representation.

I will, of course fore fill all professional commitments, and complete the exhibitions which are now running, and those which are planned for later this year.

I am currently represented by galleries in New york, and Connecticut in the USA, Antwerp Belgium, Dublin Eire, Omagh,and Belfast Northern Ireland, and Sussex, in the UK, I have recently terminated with galleries in Bressuire, and Nice in France.

As a stone carver working on medium, large, and very large sculptures, the relevant transport costs are inhibitive, especially to the states, over the years I have shipped many hundreds of tons of stone and marble world wide, I have also brought many hundreds of tons home again when exhibitions have finished.

It all starts with great ideas, lots of plans, and prospects of a bright future. Initially the galleries are nothing less than encouraging, and enthusiastic accepting almost anything I turn out before an exhibition” however if the show doesn’t go as planned, or sales are slow, a new star is quickly found, and my stone sculptures become a liability, and in the way, so back home they come, other galleries elsewhere insist on new and unseen work for my future exhibitions, so off I go again, more production, more plans, more expense. I have had many galleries play their trump card should I complain, “If you don’t like it, you can take all your stuff away” needless to say this is often difficult, and most times impossible.

I am tired of this back and forth, some galleries have such a little regard for their artists feelings, and even less for their pockets.

I have been placed on more pedestals than my sculptures have ever been, built up like a king, praised,and heralded, only to have the pedestal quickly kicked away when they feel fit, This, I suppose, in its self is ok, they are in it for the money, same as me, although I put my heart and soul into it also.

I have stated publically my relationship with Malaga based Stephen Howe’s, fine art, Stephen is an agent, he is out there every day, looking for openings, situations, and most of all clients, everything that is needed to sell and publicize art, he works hard at his craft, and the results show, I feel that this partnership will go from strength to strength, as we both know what we want, and believe we know how to obtain it.

We have plans, and ideas for this, and the coming year, both in Spain and internationally.

Any further enquiries can be directed to. info@stephenhowes.es or visit the website. www.stephenhowes.es


Christopher Stone.
www.sculptormine.com

We miss you Barry.

Nearly a year has passed since the art world lost one of its greatest contributors, and I personally lost a friend and mentor.

Barry Flanagan left us in late August 2009, leaving behind a legacy of wonderful art that is renown internationally, work by Barry can be seen in many museums, and public sites the world over, cavorting, leaping, dancing, hares, hares playing drums, or sitting forlornly thinking, all results of this great artists imagination, and reminding us of his time on this earth.

I have read articles stating that Barry travelled around Europe in a Rolls, pulling an Airstream trailer, the Airstream I can vouch for, the Rolls Royce I doubt, I do know Barry had motor caravan, and planned to traipse around the continent, self sufficient, and incognito, but I best remember his Fiat Panda, white, old and rusting, parked here in Santa Eulalia out side one of his favorite local haunts, complete with a rather large vintage clinker built sail boat on the roof, tied on with what looked like old seat belts, Barry had developed an urge to row, so of course Barry rowed, with his own particular style.

This island, especially this town, is awash with Flanagan tales, mostly true, although many embroidered to fit the market, I do not have enough space here to tell of all the amazing bits and pieces of kindness worked by this man, for example, of how he engaged a young and very broke stone carver, to carve several abstract forms, a globe, a cube, a pyramid, in field granite, of how he generously paid this carvers time over many months, supplied all the tools, his own studio in which to work, and who, when the stones were finished gave them as a gift to the same worker, praising the quality of the work, and going on to encourage him to exhibit them at a local Art gallery, this achieved, Barry turned up on the Vernissage of the said exhibition, and went on to discreetly buy three of the carvings for his own private collection, in cash, and without any discount.

I have seen first hand how this great human being silently worked his magic, seen how so many people benefitted from his unique form of kindness.

I have also been on the wrong end of his sharp tongue when I had displeased him, and seen him stalk away in anger, only to have him return a while later with two cups of tea, and a smile, as if nothing had happened.

I have never heard Barry utter one negative word about anyone, ever, and I have seen Barry quietly leave the room should any one begin to disparage another.

Working with Barry Flanagan was, for me, without doubt, the most rewarding experience I have ever had, his legacy to me was the vast amount of knowledge which I gained during our time together, I learned about art, about artists, techniques, and methods, all from a master, but most of all I recall Barry Flanagan as being a completely decent, and humane person, who I know is missed by many people, here on Ibiza, and in Dublin, and I am sure wherever he left his mark.

The Royal Academy have some of Barry Flanagan’s monumental sculptures in the courtyard, during this years “Summer Exhibition”, which opened on June 14th.
Christopher Stone
Ibiza.
www.sculptormine.com

Yeah! We killed the golden goosehttp://www.sculptormine.com

I read recently of someone having a pop at Damien Hirst because he is laying off staff, the same article refers to “Sliced up cows”, it states how much money Hirst has supposedly to have made from such, another article tells us about his plans for his own gallery in Hyde park.
My take on all this is as follows, Multinationals with very deep pockets are always laying people off, no one can, or wants to “Keep paying” when the in coming tide slows down, 325.000 pounds a year, this is direct salaries, you have to add on the SS, income tax and other relevant expenditure, eventually you arrive at about 500.000 pounds a year, who would not want to make this saving? I would for one, lets not think that it is all so easy, employing 20 people is responsibility enough, and it turns out they will be paid up until the end of the year anyhow

If Hirst is lucky enough to place the winning bid with the parks commission, or who ever else does, and when the new gallery does go ahead it will mean work, for lots of some ones, from the janitor to the manager, plus all the folk involved in its refurbishment, a lot of money out there on the economy, there has also been a lot of cribbing about Anish Kapoors “Orbit”, again imagine the work involved on getting that one together, its all about getting it, and spending it, I think its great that Hirst can come up with his sharks, etc, I think its great that Tracy Emin can sell her bed, I think its fabulous that there are people willing to fork out cash for the like, they buy it after the artists have put it together, its all good for the artistic economy, the money goes around and a whole lot of people enjoy the spin offs, so good luck you guys, keep it up, its good for us all, and most of all its good for Art.
As a side note to the above I want to say that I have been lucky enough to collaborate with a great sculptor off, and on for many years, what started as my self giving a helping hand grew into seven or eight helpers, or “Elves”, lots of talking, lots of beer drinking, and little production, yeah, we killed the golden goose, I have lived it, and seen it first hand, its great whilst it lasts, but it dont last forever, what my personal experience left me was my gratitude to the patron artist, the knowledge I gained, and the friendship that was built.
Christopher Stone
Ibiza,June 2010