I am so happy to have my bronze sculptures in a number of fine art galleries all across our beautiful country. Some are just ending their seasons, while others are now entering their season. And with the state of the economy right now, many galleries are struggling.
I recently visited Xanadu Gallery in Scottsdale, AZ, owned and operated by Jason Horejs. His gallery is awesome and they have introduced some of their collectors to my work. I am so grateful for Jason, and all the gallery owners, for doing their best to help keep people excited about artwork. Some people think that there is no need for art, especially in tough economic times. Well, I may respectfully disagree. Though this may be a great time to get superb deals, purchasing art goes deeper than just the amount of dollars invested; it has to do with emotional connections and expressions, of finding a creation that has specific meaning to you, that pulls from your thoughts a memory or a time, or whispers of a place you once knew. Artwork can even touch you in that it inspires you to be or do something that you haven’t thought possible.
The wonderful thing about the galleries that I am so happy to be included in, is that they carry sculptures and paintings; giving their visitors a variety of beautiful work to open their eyes and hearts. When you get a chance to visit or just stop into a gallery, no matter where you are, take that opportunity, walk in and see what speaks to you. You might be surprised what happens!

I am so proud of my son, Isaiah, who has just gone over 1000 hours of flying! He flies tours over Lake Powell and other wonders of our beautiful southwest territory. One of my favorite sculptures called Journeys of the Imagination was created from what Isaiah did when he was only six years old. Isaiah cam running out the door wearing shorts, shirt and his older brothers gym shoes (they were way too big for him!). He also was wearing a cape, backpack and was wearing his swim goggles! He ran all around the yard then climbed up and jumped off the tallest rocks in the yard. I had to grab the camera and take some shots. Isaiah also loved to make paper airplanes, so I thought I would combine the excitement of Isaiah’s  imagination with his love of paper airplanes and sculpted him in his fantasy costume riding atop one of  his paper airplanes!

Just got give a shout out to my Fly Boy– Great Job! Keep on flying!

We received a very nice note and picture from Ms. Candy Burnett, the President of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation in Alabama. They placed the Circle of Peace sculpture in front of the Women & Children’s Center. Here is what she said,

Gary Price’s bronze sculpture, “Circle of Peace,” provides a warm welcome for everyone who visits Huntsville Hospital for Women & Children. The five playful children in the sculpture help to alleviate the fears of our youngest patients, and the sculpture provides a nice respite for patients and families spending time at the hospital. On any given day, parents can be seen taking photos of pediatric patients and patient siblings as they “complete” the circle and join the fun.

The sculpture, which graces the entrance of the hospital, was donated in 2003 by 55 generous grandmothers in honor of their grandchildren and all the children of north Alabama. “Circle of Peace” has become a beautiful icon that symbolizes the mission of our hospital and the special children who are born here, and healed here.

Candy C. Burnett, CFRE

President

Huntsville Hospital Foundation

Thanks, Candy, for the kind words! And how cool is it that 55 grandmothers donated to bring this sculpture to the Women & Children’s Center. I think it is a great example of what can happen when people get together for a cause they believe in.

Doesn’t the sculpture look great in front of that beautiful building?!

Wow! What a snowstorm! There has been a low pressure hovering for days around our state producing lots of rain. Well, in came some cold air and wham! what a snowstorm! One of my employees took some shots right out front of his house. Pretty impressive amount of snow. What was sad to see was what happened to a lot of trees- since they have started budding and growing, they couldn’t hold the weight of this heavy, wet snow and branches came crashing down. By the end of the day, lots of the snow was gone from the roads and such, but still all over the yards. We need the water, for sure. I am surprised the ski resorts are closing; they just received 36 inches of snow.

Good news- 70’s next week!!!

You know, when we get so involved in something; a process, a job, anything that becomes routine, we tend to lose a bit of the importance or aesthetics of what we may be doing. So it goes with the casting process. When what we do has become a “job” it has lost it’s luster.
Yesterday we had members of the Good Sam Club come for a tour of the foundry. You know, I am happy they came, not just because they are such cool people, but all the sudden you get to see things in a different view. What has become routine and something we don’t give a second thought too, is all the sudden a major, magical experience, full of wonder!
I am so happy that occasion happens to see this casting process through the eyes of someone who has never witnessed how a bronze sculpture is created. They marvel and even get confused at parts of the process. It renews my excitement of what we do here and I stand back and look at how it all happens and yes, it is amazing! So I guess what I am trying to say is take the opportunity to step back from what has become mundane or routine and look at it from an outsider’s point of view- you may realize that what you are doing is actually pretty cool, too!

A few years ago the Ronald McDonald House in Jacksonville, FL aquired my Circle of Peace sculpture to have at their building facilities. Joy Hardaker, the Executive Director, sent us a couple photos of the sculpture and had this to say about the sculpture, “Our statue is right out front of our Ronald McDonald House and it really makes quite a statement that we are about children, first and foremost. Volunteers and children love to pose for photos there and we have used photos to promote our Children’s Legacy Fund endowment to be sure that the program is supported into perpetuity. It is almost as valuable as our logo in identifying our building and our mission.”

I am so happy my sculptures can be used to promote such a wonderful mission as the Ronald McDonald House! Click here to link to their site and learn more about

what they do.

Saturday we had quite the rainstorm for most of the day. I love the rain. I love the sound it makes as it hits the roof as well as the ground. I love how it fluctuates between a light falling to sudden heavy downpour. During those downpour moments it is reminiscent of the sound of horses running. With the rain my mind reflects upon the words of a song that my children learned in church that says “I want my life to be as clean as Earth right after rain…” After the deluge of water we received, the earth did feel clean again.
Well, regardless of your or my religious views and ideas, the message of Easter is such a great one; one of renewal, redemption, and a chance of making life better. I hope you all had a great Easter Weekend!

After discussing the art in public places opportunities in McMinnville, OR, we were lucky enough to have 2 sculptures placed out there for a year. My Dreams sculpture (a girls reading atop a stack of books) is in front of the library and Ben Franklin has been installed in the plaza of the 3rd Street historic area downtown. The citizens of McMinnville are raising funds to be able to keep these sculptures in the city.

Bill Miller, an awesome photographer, took some shots of these 2 sculptures for us. The library director told me that during the cold snap that they had a couple months ago, they showed up to the library to find an anonymous individual had lovingly wrapped a scarf around the sculpture. Isn’t that cool to see that people are so attached to the sculpture?!

Bill took these shots of Ben Franklin over a 30 minute period to show how many people interact with the sculpture. Ben, you’re pretty popular with the ladies and younger crowd! The large group was a tour by an art professor on the subject of public artworks. They were able to use Ben in his lecture. I hope that the citizens can raise enough funds to keep both sculptures in McMinnville.

As I mentioned, my good buddy, Dan, has been working hard on the point up of Mr. Niswonger. He has created the armature, added the foam to build up the bulk, added clay and sculpted it to the point where I now need to spend time working on it. There is a good feel of action and movement to the piece that I like. And I was so happy that they asked that his dog be part of the sculpture, too.
As soon as I finish my sculpting we will start the molding process. I will keep you updated on how that goes.
By the way, beautiful spring weather today! We have had to deal with some cold, winter snowstorms the last week and a 1/2, so when we have a couple days in the 60’s it is time to celebrate! I am happy that I can go for walks outside and not shiver. Buds on the trees, daffodils showing, lawns  greening up, and Robbins  everywhere! I love it.

One of the employees at work had a friend visiting from Germany. She brought, at his request, a delicious confectionery called Mozartkugeln. In Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart, the candy is famous for being hand rolled into perfect round balls then packaged in the famous blue wrapper to the delight of the local residence and tourists. The Furst company started the original recipe of green pistachio marzipan inside of a layer of nougat. This is then dipped in dark chocolate and rolled into a ball. Oooh, yum! Well, other companies now make them, still delicious, and that what was brought to my employee.

What is also impressive is the packaging. Not only is the box beautiful, but look at the candies inside! Each one is wrapped then placed in the package so that Mozart’s image is facing up. Wow! You almost feel guilty eating them… almost.

Maybe I ought to sculpt a bust of Mozart and see if Furst will do a trade!