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• 2002 Sister Cities Sculpture Show (with Mexico)
• New York Sports Sculpture Exhibit
• Member News

2002 Sister Cities Sculpture Show: a wrap-up

by Billie Caselli Clark

Wonderful new doors were opened when Saltillo (Mexico) and Austin sculptors joined in an exhibition and reception at the Mexic-Arte Museum over the Cinco de Mayo weekend in Austin. It was an idea supplied by mayor Gus García, and acted upon by the Austin Association of Sculptors. Mexic-Arte graciously provided space for show. There were problems, mostly as a result of the last-minute agreement to do this, but in anticipation of this being an annual event, the efforts will have been worth it.

The biggest question looms: "Whose show and reception was it anyhow?" My impression is that the City assumed AAS would take over, and AAS assumed the City would be in control. This involved the reception expenses and supplies (food, paper goods, etc.), the invitation list (there was none, and therefore a poor showing of Austin folks), and most important, publicity (there was none, although Mary Paige had sent out several news releases). Since the exhibit was up only for a week, perhaps this was not as serious as we felt it was, but more publicity certainly would make it easier to build on next year. Also, mounting a sculpture show is very hard work, and without publicity there is no audience and no reason to do it. And of course, we who are involved feel this project worthy of feature articles; perhaps next year.

A partial solution to these problems would be for AAS to establish a permanent "sister cities committee" that would be involved from the beginning with the city's committees, working together to determine duties and obligations and keeping communication open to prevent misunderstanding. I believe Cindy Cervantes would be the city's contact person. There should be clarification of budget matters, invitations to the opening, reception catering, and above all, publicity and promotion for the event.

If Mexic-Arte chooses to host this exhibition, as they have indicated, it might be more reasonable to have Mexic-Arte work directly with the city, and AAS answer to the museum rather than to the city. Mexic-Arte would be in a better position to help decide on sculptors, space and time for the exhibition, receptions, etc. We members of the AAS board would very much like to see this event held at the museum. Sculpture shows are popular with schoolchildren, and it would certainly attract the attention of the public at large with sufficient publicity. We all agree quality is a must; jurying must be determined.

Left to right: Jose Guerra, Saltillo artist; Mary Paige Huey (TSOS); Lupita Escartin, Chairman of the Saltillo Sister Cities Committee; Cindy Cervantes, special assistant to (Austin) Mayor Gus Garcia; Sylvia Orozco, director of Mexic-Arte Museum (Austin); Billie Caselli Clark (TSOS); and Saltillo artist Ignacio Vallejo.

It becomes apparent that the three entities, the mayor's office, the Austin Association of Sculptors, and Mexic-Arte Museum should all get together that we may truly be Hermanados en el Arte (joined in brotherhood through art). We welcome additional comments and suggestions.

AAS committee: Billie Caselli Clark and Mary Paige Huey (MPHuey@aol.com), co-chairs; Nancy Cardozier; Bob Brooking; Cindy Cervantes, mayor's office; Sylvia Orozco, Mexic-Arte Museum

New York Sports Sculpture Exhibit

by Rey Alaniz

I attended the gala weekend of the National Sculpture Society in conjunction with the Sports Sculpture Exhibit at the Park Avenue Atrium in New York May 9-14, 2002. The National Sculpture Society is the oldest sculpture society in the U.S. and claims as its members some of the best contemporary sculptors in America today and some titans from the past, such as A. St. Gaudens, Daniel Chester French, Borglund, etc. They have a tiered level of memberships beginning at colleague level and progressing to a "fellow" status, if you make the grade. I believe some TSOS members have achieved "fellow" status.

On Saturday, we were taken on a tour by chartered bus to the Modern Art Foundry in Long Island. This is the foundry where many famous artists like Lipchitz have done their casting. We were treated to a barbecue after the tour. After the tour of the foundry, the bus took us to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a guided tour. I got to meet and visit with several artists on the tour.

On Sunday, there was a meeting on "Technology and Art" at the NSS headquarters at the Park Avenue building on Lexington. On Monday morning, there was a reception in the atrium of the Park Avenue office for all the artists participating in the Sports Sculpture Exhibit. The overall quality of the exhibit was exceptional.

TSOS President Rey Alaniz with his marble sculpture Cyclist, which was part of the New York show.

In the evening, I attended the black tie awards dinner at the Century Association on 43rd street just off 5th Avenue. There, I met the artists that sculpted the bronze statute of MLK on the east mall of the University of Texas -- Koh and Varilli -- and saw slides of their latest church commission. Davis Buckley and Nina Akamu were awarded the Henry Hering award for their work on the recently completed the Japanese-American Memorial in D.C. The memorial is unique in that it incorporates sound as an element, a specially designed bell. They showed slides of their work. Tuck Langland and Mr. Frudakis also showed slides of their work. I also met Mr. Carter Jones, one of the jurors of the Sports Sculpture exhibition. He is a working sculptor in lower Manhatten, close to the Compleat Sculptor store.

New York was a great experience. We went to Ground Zero, Empire St. Bldg., Saint Patrick's Cathedral, the Metropolitan Museum, MoMA, Grand Central Station, The Compleat Sculptor store, Times Sq., saw Diane Sawyer and Charlie Gibson on the GMA show. We had a great time.

For more info on NSS: www.sculpturereview.com/nss.html

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