Voices in Bronze

Rating:
Summary: A Scupltor's Must
Review: In the age of post-modern overdrive, a careful telling of the creation of a bronze nude may sound like the makings of a dry textbook that gets stamped "used" before the end of the first semester. But I was pleasantly surprised by Palmedo's writing style which is both informative and insightful, all the while leading the reader through a drama of characters led by Miller's respectable sense of timeless craftsmanship. By the curtain's close, I was inspired as much by the creation of a master's sculpture as by the pleasant harmony of voices conducted by the author. As an artist myself, I strongly recommend this book to those who still believe there is craft in art, and a community behind any masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: A Scupltor's Must
Review: In the age of post-modern overdrive, a careful telling of the creation of a bronze nude may sound like the makings of a dry textbook that gets stamped "used" before the end of the first semester. But I was pleasantly surprised by Palmedo's writing style which is both informative and insightful, all the while leading the reader through a drama of characters led by Miller's respectable sense of timeless craftsmanship. By the curtain's close, I was inspired as much by the creation of a master's sculpture as by the pleasant harmony of voices conducted by the author. As an artist myself, I strongly recommend this book to those who still believe there is craft in art, and a community behind any masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: A must for any sculpture fan
Review: Toward the end of Voices in Bronze, as our hero, the sculpture, is being unveiled at a gallery opening, a man asks his companion if she is familiar with a Jacques Derrida essay on symbolism of "the frame." The sculpture is a representation of three young women, each situated in an individual way within her own square frame. Each of these women has her own relationship with her frame, both giving and taking from the positive and negative forces inherent in the frame.

In Voices in Bronze, Philip Palmedo traces the entire life of this sculpture, titled the St. James Triad, from commission to final resting place at its purchaser's home. A large and diverse cast of characters is required to produce the majestic work, most notably the sculptor, but also his assistants, his three models, the physically engaged foundry workers, the art gallery impresario, and the "host," or commissioner, who sets the process in motion.

Three women sit in three frames. They could be window sills. The ladies could be connected in some way, or they could be completely foreign to each other. They could be sisters-sisters who would like to be closer with each other, but who are separated by various realities of their worlds. For its part, the book doesn't bother much with interpretation, but the quality and number of Eliza Hicks' photographs gives the reader plenty of opportunity to draw impressions without ever having to see the work in person. In fact, the reader has, in many ways, a better perspective of this sculpture than if he or she merely viewed the work in person and walked away, moving onto another art work or another diversion.

The deep insight into the creative process that Philip Palmedo gives us is not limited to this sculpture. Voices in Bronze delivers insight into the creation of any sculpture, into any work of art, even into the universal creative process.

The frame of public awareness surrounding the world of sculpture is getting smaller by the year. This diminishing frame is also increasingly impenetrable, as there are fewer and fewer opportunities for the public to witness new sculpture of any importance. Sculpture lovers have to seek the stuff out. And the museum-show "market share" for sculpture seems, as always, to be taken up by the "big guns" - your Rodins, your Moores, your Matisses and your Brancusis. Contemporary sculptors and their world of sculpture are finding their spotlights shrinking, just like so many other esoteric arts and fields of study.

Derrida's essay, from "La Verité en Peinture," discusses how key meaning lies not so much in a piece of work, not in it's center, but in its frame. Voices in Bronze is a marvelous frame, to the work it explores, as well as the creative process surrounding the work. The book is both text and con-text for both sculpture and this sculpture.

And one of the nicest things of all about this book, is that its own frame (its size and shape), is a pleasure to behold. It's smaller and lighter than your typical coffee table book. It's easy to hold, and it's enjoyable to read.

Check it out.

Rating:
Summary: The Art of Sculpture
Review: Voices In Bronze is a most unusual addition to the world of art books. Here you have the story of an important piece of sculpture from start to finish. Mr.Palmedo writes about Richard McDermott Miller, a well-known sculptor of representational works. Working closely with Miller, he goes through the process of hiring models, giving interesting background material on the young women involved in the project. (The work is a triad of three nudes sitting in squares). There are philosophical discussions on the nude in sculpture. By including models and his female assistant in the colloquy, Palmedo illuminates this contentious issue in an engaging and insightful manner. He educates us in the technique of the lost wax process and there are fascinating interviews with the people on all levels at the foundry where the work was cast. What, in the hands of a lesser writer might be a textbook approach, ends up by having the reader become totally engaged with all that goes into the completion of this sculpture. The sensitive photographs by Eliza Hicks make an important contribution to the readers' enjoyment. There is a picturesque point of view of all the characters involved. I particularly liked the photo of the back of one of the models as Miller creates his wax marquette in the foreground. But there is a richness of choice for favorite photograph. The only criticism I have of this book is the quality of the paper which doesn't do justice to the fine work at hand. One hopes that there will be further editions where this will be corrected.

Rating:
Summary: The Art of Sculpture
Review: Voices In Bronze is a most unusual addition to the world of art books. Here you have the story of an important piece of sculpture from start to finish. Mr.Palmedo writes about Richard McDermott Miller, a well-known sculptor of representational works. Working closely with Miller, he goes through the process of hiring models, giving interesting background material on the young women involved in the project. (The work is a triad of three nudes sitting in squares). There are philosophical discussions on the nude in sculpture. By including models and his female assistant in the colloquy, Palmedo illuminates this contentious issue in an engaging and insightful manner. He educates us in the technique of the lost wax process and there are fascinating interviews with the people on all levels at the foundry where the work was cast. What, in the hands of a lesser writer might be a textbook approach, ends up by having the reader become totally engaged with all that goes into the completion of this sculpture. The sensitive photographs by Eliza Hicks make an important contribution to the readers' enjoyment. There is a picturesque point of view of all the characters involved. I particularly liked the photo of the back of one of the models as Miller creates his wax marquette in the foreground. But there is a richness of choice for favorite photograph. The only criticism I have of this book is the quality of the paper which doesn't do justice to the fine work at hand. One hopes that there will be further editions where this will be corrected.