When I first glimpsed the video produced by the City of Olympia announcing the kickoff for the Percival Plinth Project, I was tickled to discover that it features Joie de Vivre as the backdrop for the video.

I am pleased to announce that  Joie de Vivre (edition 1) was just installed at Percival Landing in Olympia, WA.

The sculpture will be on display there for one year as part of the juried sculpture loan program for the Percival Plinth Project.  The little girl that inspired the life size piece was my granddaughter, Abigail, who was 4 years old at the time that I sculpted her.  Coincidentally, Abigail was born in Olympia not far from the location of the sculpture.

Viewed from Percival Landing with rotunda of the State Capital visible in the distance

A beguiling, open-hearted and upbeat child, Abigail is the heart of the message presented by the sculpture.

Yoga Bliss

More than sixty artists’ works were selected for the Juried EAFA Art Exhibit on Mercer Island.  Some of the artists are from as far away as Anchorage, Alaska.  I was honored at the awards ceremony to be presented with Second Place prize for Yoga Bliss!  Michelle Usibelli, who was juror for the show, said she selected Yoga Bliss for the award because “this impressive sculpture draws the viewer in to the ‘story’ with its beautiful portrayal of strength and elegance.”

Be sure to attend the Edmonds Arts Festival on Fathers Day Weekend.  Visit the Three Dimensional Juried Art Gallery.  While there, you will see one of my sculptures on display, Hot Yoga.  The festival runs June 17-19.  Friday and Saturday 10:00 am- 8:00 pm, Sunday 10 am – 6 pm.  700 Main St., Edmonds, WA

Hey, if you are in town, check out the Evergreen Association of Fine Arts Exhibition at the Mercer Island Community Center.   Artists’ Reception is Thursday evening, June 9, from 6:30 – 8:00pm.

Yoga Bliss

The show runs from June 6-July 22. My sculpture entitled Yoga Bliss was juried into the show. Nice to get some exposure on Mercer Island!  Interestingly, there happens to be a yoga studio by the name of Yoga Bliss on Mercer Island.

Unclad 2016: The Fine Art of the Figure is the annual show celebrating the nude figure in art.  For the first time, the annual show is being held in Edmonds, Washington.  It includes the work of over 90 artists from the local area and beyond.  Two of my sculptures have been accepted into the show:  Embrace, which is cast bronze, and Allure, which is cast leaded glass.

Embrace

Allure

UNCLAD 2016 will be held at the Edmonds Yacht Club at 326 Admiral Way, Edmonds, Washington on Sat & Sun, March 19th & 20th from 10 am to 5 pm.

At the suggestion of Denise Cole, owner of Cole Gallery, I recently had a new patina applied to a sculpture that I had cast last year.  The sculpture is entitled Embrace and now has a traditional patina.  Denise liked it so much that she invited me to install Embrace just outside the entrance to the gallery.  I recently was riding my bike by the gallery and noticed the afternoon sun on the sculpture in a way that I felt really made the sculpture glow.

I am pleased to have completed the casting of my new work, Eternal Longing.  It is a gravity defying bronze work that speaks to the dynamic interplay between two souls.

In creating Eternal Longing, I was inspired to capture that fleeting moment where the masculine and feminine are joined.  Here, the feminine is portrayed as spirited, reaching heights to which the masculine, earthbound, can only cling.  He is invited to join her, to bridge the divide between heaven and earth.  How telling it is that our hearts yearn for lasting connection with the Other, yet find that union and sense of wholeness to be but transitory.

Scene in Edmonds: David Varnau sculptures unveiled

Apres le Bain after unveiling (Photos by Larry Vogel)

“Every artist aspires to have their work in the Louvre – and today I’ve arrived,” quipped local artist David Varnau (davidvarnau.com) who, Saturday morning, celebrated the placement of two of his bronze sculptures outside the French-inspired Cafe Louvre.

Cafe Louvre is a tenant of Greg Hoff, owner of Windermere Edmonds and Windermere Real Estate company, who agree to have Varnau’s sculptures permanently placed in the courtyard of the Windermere business complex at 210 5th Ave., S.

Transfixed after unveiling

Varnau, who admits a certain fascination with people watching, pursued a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Loyola University of Chicago. It was his post-baccalaureate training in the field of prosthetics at UCLA that provided him insights into human anatomy and movement. He began sculpting 20 years ago.

“I believe in the importance of art in public places. The preponderance of public art is one of things that make walking around European cities and towns so charming. Just being able to enjoy the surprise [of coming up an outside art installation] adds enrichment to one’s day. And years later, coming back and experiencing the same piece of art, and realizing how your experiences in the interim have subtly changed your outlook. [Public art] helps one get out of their immediate thoughts for a few minutes; lets one enjoy the visual. Then, you get on with your day.”

On hand for the unveiling of the bronze sculptures, titled “Apres Le Bain” was Denise Cole, owner of Cole Gallery http://colegallery.masterpiecesolutions.org

Before asking the mayor to add his comments to the occasion Cole observed, “Edmonds has the deserved reputation of being an arts town.” She told of the Varnau installation that is at the NW corner of 3^rdAvenue South and Main Street and her hopes that other private property owners will follow Hoff’s example of facilitating installations of public art at their business locations.

Mayor Dave Earling added, “This is really an important step toward building our community’s reputation as an arts community. I want to thank David for his commitment to public art and to Frances Chapin, (Edmonds arts and culture manager) and Denise Cole for their hard work on this project.”

Cole unveiling one of the sculptures

Asked for his reaction to the unveiling Varnau said to the gathering, “It means so much to me to have this art displayed outdoors rather than in a gallery or as part of a private collection. More people can enjoy and experience it, and it adds richness to our community.”

He went on to say, “Edmonds is a very special place. Art is becoming a larger part of our community every day. Just look at the number of people drawn here today by art!”

The two pieces took shape after 50 hours of sculpting with a live model. The next steps included, in part, foundry work and formation of a silicon mold which was poured over the form resulting in something of a “chocolate Easter bunny” says Varnau. Ultimately a slurry of molten bronze heated to 2000 degrees is used for casting.

To the question how much does each sculpture weigh, the scientific response came from Varnau’s brother in law, “it’s really really heavy!” In fact, it took four men working very hard to place each

Mayor Earling welcomes the new artwork

sculpture on its pedestal.

Varnau, who retains ownership of the two sculptures, reassured the crowd, “These sculptures will last for many generations.” Varnau is available for commissions for those art patrons who may want to purchase his work.

(Emily Hill and Larry Vogel contributed to this feature)