may 2023 newlsetter

IS Day PDX 2023 was a Magical Evening!

Oh what a fun group!

International Sculpture Day is a blast every year, and this year may have been the most fun of all!

On April 29th we gathered at SCRAP, with many wearable sculptures partly built, and curiosity as to what they could become. As we looked though all of their cheap and quirky art materials, we made choices and the fun began! It’s amazing what can be done in two hours with colorful objects, hot glue and a room full of sculptors!

Once complete, we dressed up and headed out for our PNWS International Sculpture Day Parade! We had plenty of onlookers, many of whom were surprised to hear of this creative holiday! The joy was palpable!

We stopped to get ice cream, yum! Then over to Burnside to play with the movable publis sculpture, got some burgers in the outdoor seating area, and then on to Pioneer Square for our Finale!

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE DAY 2023!!!

Who knows what we will come up with for next year! …Stay tuned…..

Get Smart about AI

McAlister Merchant has had much to say about AI.

He is using and learning how to program access to tools (ChatGPT+Siri). There are BIG questions about the effects of widespread uncontrolled implementation of AI programming of art of all kinds. “I think something like licensing, or copyright, or patent should be considered AND IMPLEMENTED sooner than later.”

Watch the entire video, please.

There are several (many) YouTube videos and online articles about this topic. They’re worth viewing and discussion.

Newport Visual Arts Center Show

Our PNWS group show June 2 – July 29, 2023 at the Newport Visual Arts Center will feature 56 wonderful sculptures by 31 PNWS members.

Opening Reception – Friday, June 2nd, 5pm-9pm

“Into the Depths” includes local and regional sculptors who dove into the depths of their multi-dimensional imaginations to create this all-sculpture show. Visit a treasure trove of unique, three-dimensional art.

Into the Depths will be on display.

Featured artwork by Jill Perry Townsend
Opening reception acoustic guitar music provided by Skip Trantow, husband of board member, Toni Parque

Joseph R. Conrad Passes

Joseph R. Conrad was born July 27, 1941, in Cold Spring, MN to Walter and Martha (Kloeppner) Conrad. He passed away March 7^th surrounded by family.

After graduating from St. Boniface high school, he joined the Navy, and spent the next two years transporting troops across the Pacific Ocean.

He was happy to return home to Minnesota and go to work for the Cold Spring Granite Company, where his father and brothers (Wally & Don) worked. One day, he was tapped on the shoulder and asked to move to Raymond California. The very next day he traveled west. He enjoyed the beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

He asked Diane Sauer to join him and they were married. His son, Charles and his daughter, Sharie were born in this beautiful mountain setting.

In 1968, he packed up the family and moved to Portland Oregon. In Portland, he continued to work in the stone industry for several companies. In the early seventies, he took advantage of the GI Bill and attended Portland Community College and Portland State University. His degree was a BS in Social Science and a Geography Minor which had been delayed until he found out in 2016, that his service in the navy qualified as his missing PE credit. He walked with the class of 2016.

In 1985, he started his own company – Joseph Conrad Stonecutter. He opened the doors in the southeast industrial neighborhood so he could stay in sync with the local architect and design communities. He was proud to have built such a successful company with his children that employed local talent and beautified Portland area homes, commercial buildings and churches.

He was a veracious reader and deep thinker. He loved long in-depth conversations and could hold his own on almost any topic.

He loved to travel and explore. Joe had numerous adventures: SE Alaska, Mexico, Europe, Montana and Idaho to name a few. He was always searching for stone in nature and buildings where ever he went.

He loved to write about his life and adventures. You can follow his stories on his blog spot growingupinminnesota.blogspot.com and stonecutter.blogspot.com.

He was a self-taught artist. He started stone sculpting in his 50’s and he was involved in the Northwest Stone Sculpture Association. In his many years as a sculpture, Joe compiled a large body of work.

He was over the moon when his grand-baby, Jewell, was born. He participated in her life daily with zest. He loved cooking her breakfast, taking her to school, weekly swim sessions at the gym, music and acting lessons and whatever activity she was doing at the time. He set up an art station for her right by his workstation, so he could teach her how to draw with charcoal and sculpt with clay. Joe also made sure there was an annual Nutcracker outing and many more plays and performance experiences.

Joe would spend endless hours in his garden. Always trying to perfect his fruit trees, flowers and vegetables. His sculpture/garden vignettes were his claim to fame.

Joe is survived by his son, Charles Conrad (Debra Wicks), daughter Sharie Conrad and granddaughter, Jewell Conrad Deal.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Martha Conrad. His siblings: Wally Conrad (Irene), Don Conrad(Marilyn), Ramona Lund, Marian Zierden(Cy), Joanne Buermann(Herb), Tom Conrad(Sheila)

There will be a celebration of life this summer in his sculpture garden. If you are interested in attending, please call Debi @ Conrad Stonecutter – 503-235-3644 or send us your email at info@conradstonecutter.com.

The Hookup and Swap Shop

The Marvelous, Magnificent, Hookup and Swap Shop!!

This is the place to:

Let it go or pick it up

Collaborate

Add to

Trade

Sell or Buy

Get it fixed

Fix it

Swap

Barter

Rent or lease

Borrow

Network

Exchange

Teach a class or find a class

It’s the place to find what you need and what you want!!!

It’s the place to connect and collaborate. Let’s do this!

You can find this Hookup and Swap Shop in each issue of the Pacific Northwest Sculptor’s Newsletters.

Got something you need or want? Or perhaps something that just needs to leave your hands and make it to someone else’s studio? Just send your information to Carole at sculptor@carolemurphy.com (don’t forget the e on Carole) and she’ll make sure it gets in the next newsletter. Just put Hookup and Swap Shop in the subject line, she’ll do the rest. Easy!!!

Here, i’ll start us off:

For Rent

Space for rent for Classes or events

SE 50th and Franklin area. Contact Carole – sculptor@carolemurphy.com (don’t forget the e)

*****

For Sale or trade

Lighting for pictures of your art

Just about brand new, two lights and sold metal stand to hold paper or backdrop. Includes paper roll. Pull down behind and it shows off the work well. All for $50. Just want it to go and get used. Contact Carole – sculptor@carolemurphy.com, (don’t forget the e).

Newport Maskmaking Workshop

I will be teaching another Spirit Animal Maskmaking workshop at the Newport Art Center on June 3rd (the day after the sculpture show opening). The class is divided into two sections on two different days:

Saturday, June 3rd- sculpture workshop- 12noon- 2:30 pm.

Saturday, June 10th- glazing and Raku firing- 6pm to 8:30. Raku on the beach…very Burningmanish!

https://coastarts.org/events/raku-mask/