|
|
Newsletter | Return to List of Newsletters |
Dr. Irving Lipton passed away on July 4, 2001. Irv Lipton is one of the first major collector to pass away, and his
passing leaves a tremendous void. He supported artists not only with
dollars, but also by calling them often, reminding them that he believed in
them. His support kept them working.
Yet, Irv did not want us
to feel sad at his death. He preferred we raise a toast to celebrate the
vitality of his life and friendships. We were all his friends: once we
called to say we were in town, he immediately welcomed us into his
condominium. He would show us his collection, his favorite thousand works
tumbling over each other in living room, hall, bathroom and kitchen. He
would stop to fondle each one as if it alone were his favorite. And there
were always more! Then we would sit and he, with twinkling eyes, would
discuss the wonderful talent of each artist.
Yes, I think of the fun
we had with Irv and his most patient wife, Mari, but it is hard to realize that
we will only see Irv’s twinkling eyes when we look at old photographs.
Maybe, later, when we go to see his collection in coming exhibitions, if we try
hard, we can feel Irv at our side looking at his beloved collection, with his
twinkle and his enthusiasm. Jane
Mason
I'm
grateful for the chance to speak today, this feels like honoring a second
father. We have lost a great friend, a fine doctor and a true benefactor
of the arts.
When I can look past the immediate sorrow we all feel
today, I’m flooded with positive thoughts in his memory: that twinkle in his
eyes, warm smile and vitality for life, friends and family will be among my
lasting images of Irv.
How he was always there for my wife and me with
sound advice, encouragement and generosity. He not only had a profound
affect on my life and career, but I know that I speak for many of my peers as
well. And so he became affectionately known as St. Irving!
His
legacy will live for generations to come, not only through his family or the
children Dr. Irv helped grow to maturity, but through an entire art movement he
helped foster and document through the width and depth of his
collecting. His denotations to museums of hundreds of art
works from his international collection will be there for
artists, scholars and the public to enjoy, be moved by , draw inspiration
from and just share in the joy of his vision.
Even recently, in tough
times, he kept his positive attitude, allowing that great energy to shine
through. Irv kept his plans and hopes and dreams in front of him, still
sharing to the end. What a fabulous man to have touched so many
lives in a POSITIVE way! Not only through 5 decades of practicing
medicine, but with his art patronage as well.
I will forever feel
lucky and grateful for the times we had together. I will always take great
pleasure in knowing his spirit and vision will live on
forever due to his kindness, encouragement and generosity. William
Hunter (Spoken eulogy)
Our art community suffered a grave loss with the passing of Dr. Irving
Lipton. Fondly known to many of us in the wood turning field as “Dr.
Irv”--- he was a pediatrician for 49 years --Irving was a passionate and
voracious collector. Over the past twenty-five years, Irving built a wood
art collection of international renown.
I have had the great pleasure
and honor of working closely with Irving Lipton over the past four years, during
which time he and I were engaged in a lively dialogue about his passion for each
object, and for the artist who created it. He was a generous and
kind mentor, who loved sharing his knowledge of the artworks almost as much as
he loved acquiring them. Irving taught me to see, to understand, and to
appreciate wood art. Above all, from him I learned the value of wood
vessels and sculptures--not in dollars and cents, but the aesthetic value-- to
our culture and to our communities.
Dr. Irving Lipton,
collector extraordinaire, philanthropist to the arts and patron to the artists,
a kind and graceful gentleman with a perpetual gleam in his eye, will be sorely
missed. But his legacy will live on. Jo
Lauria, Assistant Curator Decorative Arts, Los Angeles County Museum of
Art
This is the Second in a series of interviews with artists working in wood by sculptor and writer Connie Mississippi
Connie’s Question 1: Please give us a brief personal
history:
Todd: I was born in Wisconsin, and raised in Phoenix, Arizona surrounded by citrus orchards, vacant ranches, and dirt roads. I attended three different grade schools while living in the same home, as boundaries were changed dividing cities. It was at the last newly built grade school that I was introduced to woodworking in woodshop. I spent half of 7th grade and all of 8th grade working on the lathe, making laminated bowls for my mother and family. In high school I wasn't allowed to use the lathe until the second year, and just passed shop class with a C, which my daughter now teases me about. My exposure to the work of Bob Stocksdale and Al Stirt at the Hand and Spirit Gallery in Scottsdale in the mid 1960s, steered me to vessel forms and the beginning of my exploration into the unique characteristics of wood. I developed an interest in drafting through high school and entered college at Arizona State University majoring in design technology, but soon shifted to manufacturing engineering when I discovered the large metal forming workshop. While in college, I built my mother a weaving loom and soon became interested in weaving, spinning and dyeing fibers. This seemed to be a balance to the harsh, cold metalwork I was doing. I moved to Bisbee in 1976, as Phoenix was growing rapidly, and I wanted a slower paced lifestyle. My uncle then gave me his small woodlathe, and my interest was rekindled in working wood. I spent years learning about tools and wood while making production items such as rolling pins, baby rattles, and boxes.
Connie’s Question 2: What do you aspire for your work ... change, exploration, and advancement?
Todd: Change, exploration, and advancement are
adjectives which define my work. They describe a system of growth, using that
which is learned, to follow a path of exploration and the advancement of
concepts. Each of my pieces is a
step along the path of understanding,
not only of myself, but also the material I work. My work is a reflection
of the changes in my life. Consciously and subconsciously, ideas and
images parallel and express major shifts in my life. Inspirations for
forms have come from my life experiences of happiness and joy, birth and earth,
frustration and despair.
Connie’s Question 3: What is the direction your current work is taking?
Todd: More and more I have become conscious of aging. I like to say that the older and grayer I have become, the older and more weathered my work is. My forms are no longer hollow, but full, solid, from the filling of time. They are now gray and cracked, or split apart having been ravaged by external forces. They may be bound with rusted wire, holding the forms from further decay, or cut into, exposing that which is hidden within.
Connie’s Question 4: Where do you feel the field of wood art is going?
Todd: The recognition of woodturning as a potential art form has made tremendous advances recently through exposure in museum shows and publication. Some woodturners are beginning to move forward beyond the polished vessel off the lathe, to making personal statements. Collectors are increasingly supportive of these changes and risks which allows the artist to continue to move the field forward beyond the decorative, to its expressive potential. Critics are helping to legitamize wood art as an expressive medium. Galleries continue to exhibit wood art, educating the public and creating a marketplace for new collectors. It is a time of growth and promise in the field.
ATTENTION ARTISTS: If you will be represented by one of the galleries during the CWA Forum in Minneapolis and will be attending, you will have the opportunity to show slides of you work We need everyone’s slides (6-8!) by Sept.1. Please send them to Christian Burchard, 777 Pompadour Drive, Ashland, OR 97520 or for more information, email at: burchard@jeffnet.org
If you would like to express your feelings, thoughts or stories about Dr.
Lipton, you can send a letter (on no larger than 81¼2 x 11 paper) to be placed
in a beautiful wood bound journal or come to the del Mano Gallery booth at SOFA
Chicago or CWA and write directly onto a page in the journal. When full it will
be presented to Mari Lipton. Please send your letters to:
William &
Marianne Hunter, 1 Cinnamon Lane, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
Wood in the galleries’ exhibits – wood as the topic in SEVEN of the lecture series – Wood is hot! Come to Chicago, and see great wood presented in the magic of the light and beauty of SOFA. CWA proudly sponsors/cosponsors three of the lectures (see paragraphs in bold type.) Below is a list of all wood related discussions. Lectures are free to those attending SOFA.
Friday, October 5
9-10:30 room 301 Curator and Artist: Two
Views of Contemporary Woodturning. Glenn Adamson, curator at the Chipstone
Foundation, previews the upcoming exhibition Woodturning in North America Since
1930 (Minneapolis Institute of Arts); master woodturner David Ellsworth gives a
"THEN and NOW" slide presentation of his experiences with luminaries in the
field. Presented by CWA
10:30-12 room 301 Critical Discourse on Studio Furniture:
Concept and Content. The Furniture Society presents an exploration of the
role and importance of concept and content in contemporary studio furniture.
Glenn Adamson, Curator at the Chipstone Foundation, furniture makers Garry Knox
Bennett and Tom Loeser, metalsmith/author Bruce Metcalf; moderated by Loy
Martin, writer.
1:30-2:30 room 301 Garry Knox Bennett: Made
in Oakland. Bennett talks about his early work, and recent works in
furniture and jewelry.
2:30-4 room 301 An Artful
Conspiracy How the confluence of artists, collectors, galleries and museums
collaborates to promote heightened awareness of creativity in society. David
Groth, artist; Ron Wornick, collector; Doug Heller, Heller Gallery; Bruce W.
Pepich, director, Wustum Museum of Fine Art, and David McFadden, chief curator,
American Craft Museum. Underwritten in part by CWA.
4-5 room
309 Sam Maloof: Woodworker The artist talks about the influences,
inspirations and observations gained during his career of 50-plus years,
creating and producing studio furniture. Presented by
CWA/SOFA
Saturday, October 6
10-11:30 CWA committee meeting to
plan Chicago SOFA 2002. Come to our booth at SOFA Friday for the
room number.
3-4:30 room 301 Critical Discourse on Studio Furniture: A
Conversation With Sam Maloof and Wendell Castle. Two of the most
influential furniture makers of our time discuss their approaches to furniture
making, their careers and the place of studio furniture in our culture. Led by
Edward Cooke, Jr., Charles F. Montgomery Professor of American Decorative Arts
at Yale University. Presented by the Furniture
Society
4:30-6 room 301 From Concept to Exhibition:
Organizational Partnering in the 21st Century A strategic partnership can enable
milestone promotion of the arts. Partners Albert LeCoff, Executive Director,
Wood Turning Center of Philadelphia and Pat Kane, Curator of American Decorative
Arts, Yale University Art Gallery, discuss the upcoming exhibit Wood Turning in
North America Since 1930, opening this fall at The Minneapolis Institute of
Arts. Presented by the Wood Turning Center
If you will be attending SOFA Chicago in October, we need your help. We must
have at least one member at the CWA booth during show hours. If each attendee
will donate an hour or two of their time, the task will be easy for all. Just
smile and hand out literature. Last year, those who volunteered introduced wood
art and the CWA to potential new members, as well as rested their tired
feet.
Hours of coverage needed are:
Thurs., Oct. 4th,
5--9pm.
Fri. & Sat., Oct. 5th & 6th, 11am-8pm.
Sun.,
Oct. 7th, Noon-6pm.
Please contact Steve Sinner and let him know when you can
sit. He’ll try to schedule you accordingly.
5150 Crestview Heights
Court, Bettendorf, IA 52722
563-332-5611 or ssinner@qconline.com
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers,
311 East North Water Street,
312.464.1000 www.sheratonchicago.com
$195/night plus tax
The Claridge Hotel
1244 North Dearborn
Parkway, 312.787.4980
www.claridgehotel.com
$140/night plus
tax
Holiday Inn Chicago City Centre
300 East Ohio, 312.787.6100
www.chicc.com
$179/night plus tax
House of Blues Hotel
333 North Dearborn Street, 312.245.0333
www.loewshotels.com/houseofblueshome.html
$229-$249/night plus tax
The American Art Company
1126 Broadway Plaza, Tacoma, WA 98402
1.800.753.2278
Sep 20 - Oct 27 Third North American Wood Invitational
Connell Gallery
333 Buckhead Ave., Atlanta, GA 30305
404 261 1712
Thru Sep 13 Southeastern Art Furniture
del Mano Gallery
11981 San Vicente Blvd., West Los Angeles, CA 90049
310.476.8508 or 800 DEL MANO
Sep 1 - 30 Bert Marsh, Feature Exhibition
Oct 5 - 7
William Hunter, Solo Exhibition at SOFA, CWA
Oct 25 - 27 Stephen
Hogbin, Special Presentation at CWA
gallerymateria
4222 North Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ
85251
480.949.1262
Sep 1- Oct 31 Wendell Castle
Oct 11 - 31 Paul Fennell and John
Jordan
Heller Gallery
420 W. 14th St., New York, NY 10014
212.414.4014
Oct 5 - 7 David Groth, Solo Exhibition at SOFA
JYC Galerie
9 Rue Herold, 75001 Paris, France
Sept. 17 - Oct. 31
Terry Martin, Solo Exhibition
R. Duane Reed
7513 Forsyth, St. Louis, MO 63105
314.862.2333
Oct. 5
- 7 Robyn Horn, Solo Exhibition at SOFA
SOFA Chicago will be held October 5 - 7 at Navy Pier, Chicago IL. Galleries that will be showing wood:
CWA Minneapolis will be held October 25 - 27 at the Marquette Hotel,
Minneapolis, MN. Galleries that will be participating:
Friday evening the MIA symposium begins with the keynote address by
Glenn Adamson, who was a principal researcher for the exhibition and an opening
reception at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
On Saturday the
symposium continues with Artists in Conversation, David Ellsworth, Stephen
Hogbin, Michelle Holzapfel, and Merryll Saylan, moderated by Edward Cooke.
Curatorial Colloquium - Collecting for Posterity with Chris-topher Monkhouse,
James Ford Bell Curator, Department of Decorative Arts, Sculpture and
Architecture at the MIA and Patricia Kane, Curator of American Decorative Arts,
Yale University Art Gallery. In the Market with Mark Lyman of SOFA Expo, Martha
Connell, Ray Leier, Michael Monroe, moderated by Jack Russell, Director of
Brookfield Craft Center. Also Collecting Art: Passion or Investment by Stephen
Lash, Chairman of Christies. During the day we will have a box lunch at
the Institute and time to view the exhibition.
CWA will again be sponsoring a "Collector’s Choice" exhibit at SOFA
Chicago in the fall of 2002.
Members will be asked to list their
favorite twenty-five wood artists. Each member who has a current full voting
membership will receive a ballot in October. The twenty-four receiving the most
votes will each be asked to provide a work for the exhibit.
On March 13th, Sheldon Boruchow died. He had a heart attack on Feb. 18th, at home. He survived for 3 1/2 weeks but never regained consciousness. He and his wife, Lillibeth, both psychiatrists, attended the Balt. ACC, the Smithsonian Craft Show, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show almost every year. Their home and offices were filled with Fine Art and Craft. He claimed he could mark the progress of his patients by how able they were to notice the beautiful work around them. He was a CWA member and a patron and friend of many wood artists. Whenever Shelly was in your booth you were in for some serious teasing and spirited sparring. He was always playful and supportive and I will miss him both as a frequent customer and a trusted friend. Norm Sartorius
Officers
President
Jane Mason
Vice President
Skip Shaw
Treasurer
Gary Smith
Secretary
Joe Seltzer
Board of Directors
Virginia Dotson
Jan Peters
Robyn Horn
David Waterbury
Tim Kochman
Ruth Waterbury
Arthur Mason
Doris Wolin
Allan Nachman
Ron Wornick
Committee Chairman
Membership
Doris Wolin
Nominating
Robyn Horn
Finance/Budget
Skip Shaw, Gary Smith
Newsletter
Jan Peters
Honors
Ron Wornick
Public Relations
Norton Rockler
Publicity & Video
Ivan Barnett
Long Range Planning
Robyn Horn
Education Fund
Robyn Horn
Galleries
David Wahl, Jan Peters
Graphics
Binh Pho
Web site, Internet
Kevin Wallace
CWA Forums Events
SOFA New York 2001
Marty Bloomfield
Slide Show
Joe Seltzer
SOFA Chicago 2001
Alan Nachman
Forum 2001, Minneapolis
Ruth Waterbury
Publicity
Bruce Heister
Slide Show
Christian Burchard,
Carole Floate
Forum 2002 at SOFA NYC
Marty Bloomfield
SOFA Chicago 2002
Carole Floate
Collectors Choice
Steve Sinner
Forum 2003, Santa Fe
David Wahl