Like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, The Chief always gets his man.
That meant he persuaded me to go on assignment over the Memorial Day weekend. Going on assignment at The Star is the way The Chief makes sure you’re not goofing off. In this case, The Chief needed someone to photograph, critique and analyze the ten sculpture exhibits at Festival in the Park.
No question he picked the right person.
I once studied art and sculpture under noted instructor John Bullock, where I learned that when drawing a human being, the height of the person should always be 7.5 times the height of their head, and the buttocks 1.5 times as wide. Yes, you always learn something in this column.
Also, I was once asked by singer Natalie Merchant’s mother to be a model for one of the mom’s sculpture works in her class at VWCC. I politely declined on that gig when I found out I would be wearing…well, significantly less than a pair of my Loudmouth pants. But, I know my sculpture.
One of the top sculptures of all time is ‘David’ by Mr. Buonarroti. Like myself, Mr. Buonarroti is better known by only his first name; Michelangelo. Also on the top-10 list is ‘Venus de Milo’ by Alezandros of Antioch. Currently displayed in the Louvre Museum, de Milo supposedly lost her arms after being abandoned in a field.
I’ve always been suspicious Alezandros just wasn’t proficient in sculpting appendages. A third candidate for honors is Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ – a stark bronze naked guy contemplating the gates of Hell, so the experts say. Quite frankly, I think he’s just trying to figure out where he left his clothes.
But, my pick as the top sculpture in the world in ‘Manneken Pis’ – a little two-foot tall fellow found in a fountain bowl at a busy intersection in Brussels, Belgium. Literally translated ‘Little pee man’, the guy is urinating in the fountain and is a huge tourist attraction. Not to be outdone, ‘Jeanneke Pis’, his female counterpart, rules a fountain bowl in another part of Brussels.
This brings me to the Roanoke Art Commission and my suggestion they add an eleventh sculpture to the Elmwood Park collection: ‘Manneken Pis II’. Not only would it make Roanoke an international art destination with beaucoup of tourist dollars, but the citizens of our city could enjoy a tax break from all the coins tossed in the fountain at MP2. Remember, city officials, you heard it here first.
Now, to local high school sports where several of our ‘Big-11’ spring sports teams are still in the running for state championships. Regional championships in eight sports are being contested this week, with state champions ready to be crowned next week. The Star will provide coverage as many of our teams hopefully advance.
The Roanoke Valley Sports Club welcomes former NCAA Final-4 Most Outstanding Player Luke Hancock as its guest speaker at the Monday, June 15th meeting at Roanoke Country Club. The former Hidden Valley High School player will talk about his basketball days after Louisville’s 2013 National Championship, including making the US team that played in Russia, trying out in the NBA and playing professional basketball this past season in Greece. A 5:45 social will be followed by the 6:15 dinner meeting. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Maggie Drewry at 540-353-1103.
Staying with basketball, learn to play like the best by learning from the best at the Future Knights 2015 Basketball Camp June 15-18 at Cave Spring High School. Held 9am-3pm daily for boys ages 8-13 (rising 8th graders) the camp emphasizes offensive and defensive fundamentals as well as team play and sportsmanship. Contact [email protected] for information.
The Salem Red Sox are set for another lengthy string of home games at Salem Memorial Ball Park to get the first half of June ready for exciting professional baseball. The Sox host the Potomac Nationals, High-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals, for a four-game set June 4-7. Lynchburg comes to town June 10-11, followed by a 3-game set with Wilmington June 12-14.
That wraps it up this week in sports. I’m heading out to price a large fountain for the lawn at corporate headquarters. All this art talk has me inspired.
My next masterpiece shall be called ‘Manneken Chief’.
Until then, send your best sculpture reviews to [email protected]
