I was born in Reno, Nevada in 1950 where my Dad was in the process of completing his MS degree in Chemistry. About one year later we moved to Richland, Washington where he was employed at the nuclear research facility there. We lived there until the summer of 1958 and I spent those years exploring and discovering what can be found in the woods and sand dunes of what is called ‘the shelter belt’ which surrounds the city. I am one of four siblings.
In summer of 1958, we moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico and it was quite a change from what I knew to that point, but I found many opportunities to explore the canyons that traverse the city and the mountain landscapes surrounding it. I always had an interest in creating art and always included art classes throughout high school.
Other interests include music, gardening and fly fishing, which I began with my Dad in our explorations of the wonderous wilderness areas around northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. I now continue to pursue this interest with my children.
After graduating high school in 1968, I enrolled at Brigham Young University in Utah. Although initially enrolled in the chemistry department, I soon found myself taking in more and more art classes where, during my second year, I finally decided to pursue a BFA in Ceramics. The art department at that time, offered a rather traditional approach to art instruction with a focus on design, traditional training in media craft and processes. The course of study required students to take drawing, design and other classes which exposed us to the variety of art media and techniques that accompany each discipline. I discovered many new possibilities for artistic expression, but ultimately decided to focus on sculpture and painting.
My university background taught me traditional approaches to making art that, along with strong fundamentals of design and color along with a background in drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture. With the required study of art history, I discovered the exciting world of abstract art in its many forms and found myself drawn to it enough to pursue ever since.
In 1973, I went to work helping a friend who had decided to start a bronze casting business, focusing on art casting. We met because he had just completed his MFA in sculpture and had secured a relatively large-scale casting job which required another person to help. I did not know this guy, but we had a common friend who assured us it would work out and we became lifelong friends. I spent 13 years working in the business, where I learned all aspects of bronze casting and assisted in designing and building the equipment we needed in the processes. The business grew into a considerable enterprise and I learned many things from building construction and basic engineering to management. All requisite to the process of creating, building and installing sculpture. I also learned how to fabricate metal and use industrial paints and coatings. All things I continue to use in the creating my art.
I work in sculpture and painting. The sculpture is mostly metal, with some addition of other materials like stone. I occasionally will create pieces in cast bronze but mostly everything is fabricated in metal and primarily aluminum. I paint the aluminum with gradated colors and add design elements in bronze, stainless steel, stone or glass to the final pieces. The works often include aspects of figure combined with and into a landscape form that expresses someone in a place and/or event. This could be a ritual or celebratory event/experience, imagined or remembered.
Background
Education:
BFA Brigham Young University – Provo, Utah – 1973
Work experience:
Design Associate – Stippich Design – Highland, Utah – 1983 – Present
Shop Foreman – Giraffics Sign Division – Lindon, Utah – 1986 – 1987
Production Supervisor/Design Director – Wasatch Bronzeworks – Lehi, Utah – 1973 – 1986
Museum Exhibits:
One Man Show – Springville Art Museum – Springville – 1985
Solo Exhibits:
One Man Show – Calvin Charles Gallery – Scottsdale, Arizona – 2012
One Man Show – A Gallery – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2005
One Man Show – Phillips Gallery – Salt Lake City, Utah – 1997
Group Exhibits:
Two Man Show – Calvin Charles Gallery – Scottsdale, Arizona – 2004
Abstract Show – A Gallery – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2003
Two Man Show – Coda Gallery – Palm Desert, California – 2001
Two Man Show – Coda Gallery – Palm Desert, California – 2000
Sculpture of Utah – Utah State University – Logan, Utah – 1996
Group Shows – A Gallery – Salt Lake City, Utah – 1995
Group Shows – Phillips Gallery – Salt Lake City, Utah – 1994 – 1998
Artists of Bull River – Bountiful Art Center – Bountiful, Utah – 1989
Artists of Bull River – Kimball Art Center – Park City, Utah – 1981
Publications:
Utah Painting and Sculpture – Swanson, Olpin and Selfrit – 1997
Collections/ Commissions:
Cornerstone Building at Cottonwood Corporate Center – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2015
Cottonwood New Park Building 3 – Park City, Utah – 2013
Regent Apartments at City Creek – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2011
Utah State DHS/DEQ Office Building – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2009
Utah Transit Authority/ Salt Lake City [Planetarium station] – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2008
Intermountain Health/ Dixie Medical – St. George, Utah – 2008
WW Clyde Corporate Collection – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2007
Cottonwood New Park Building 1 – Park City, Utah – 2006
Salt Lake Airport Authority – Salt Lake City, Utah – 2005
Thiokol Corporate Collections – Brigham City, Utah – 2005 – 2006
Union Bank Corporate Collection – Lincoln, Nebraska – 2005
Cottonwood Corporate Center Buildings 8-9 – Salt Lake City, Utah – 1997
Cottonwood Corporate Center Buildings 10-11 – Salt Lake City, Utah – 1995
Bryan Medical Plaza East – Lincoln, Nebraska – 1994
McDowell Gillman Associates PC – Salt Lake City, Utah – 1992
American Express Credit Card Division – West Valley City, Utah – 1981
Private collections:
Bennion – Salt Lake City, Utah
Davis – Newport Beach, California
Drake – Salt Lake City, Utah
Fortuna – Salt Lake City, Utah
Kaufman – Cathedral City, California
Johnson – Indian Wells, California
M. Miller – Salt Lake City, Utah
Okland – Salt Lake City, Utah
Rennick – St. George, Utah
Schott – Indian Wells, California
R. Smith – Salt Lake City, Utah
Stewart – Salt Lake City, Utah
Stoicescu – Limasol, Cyprus
West – Park City, Utah