Merry Christmas

It’s 7AM on Christmas Eve morning, and I had to stop and take a moment to say hello and Merry Christmas. for a smile check out the christmas videos page on this site  http://dramatist.wordpress.com/strike/   !!!!! As many of you are well aware I haven’t written in awhile it’s been very busy so I’ll quickly catch you all up! We had our 20^th anniversary as sculptors show in august and  since that night we have had only 1 meal at home … we have been honored by dozens of groups and organizations , we are sculpting 5 new major projects including a Lamentation (pieta) for Saint Patrick’s Church in Halifax NS. And we are trying to keep up on a small portion of our mail and messages. Last month over 12,000 emails calls and letters so please be patient with us we are reading and trying to answer as many as possible. Now the news I have held back as most of you know my children’s book series is a labor of love and on November 1^st another statue of our dog and the books Star Boomer was unveiled in a park at Saint Patrick’s church in Halifax NS and our cat Cuddles was there to unveil and bless the statue, sadly just a day before we discover that cuddles had terminal cancer she was vibrant and her normal self just gaining weight in the weeks that past she deteriorated quickly this morning she cuddled in bed with us but she is here only by the grace of God and we fear that she may not even make Christmas. She is in no pain and still trying but it is painfully obvious. I will write more in the coming days but it is difficult she has found her way into our heart and I fear the moment to come…. When it happens we will sculpt her for her place in the park next to Boomer and her heart will live for ever in a tribute children’s book I’m writing for the Canadian Navy’s 100^th anniversary.

Many of you are asking about our holiday schedule for the first time in 18 years we are in Canada for the holidays and our 6-9 city Christmas new years tour will wait till next year… we will hold only one event on January 9^th in Halifax if you want to join us drop us a note at BOOMER_NY@hotmail.com and we’ll send you the details and make sure your on the guest list, you are al welcome!  We decided to stay in Canada to be with Cuddles till the end and make every moment as wonderful for her as we could, so although Christmas is being observed our nine trees has down sized our 12 days of 12 Christmas parties off till next year and our holiday spirit a bit lacking…please understand we treasure your cards and letters and life will be back on track soon…  To day is a difficult one because I miss Macy’s on 34^th and sax  I didn’t have breakfast at the palm court today but Cozy’s in Halifax is just a s warm and loving … I’ll miss the party at the duplex but Holly and Michael will make up for all the friends we miss with TLC.. what I’m saying is even though our hearts are heavy the love and joy of Christmas is not the places or even the people, it’s the love and that transcends time and space… so where ever you are today take a moment and maybe a tear to remember all thee love in your life, and no matter how lonely this moment seems, your never alone when you give a smile and love… I promise it’s always returned and on Christmas Eve it’s returned 10 fold, so go out today to church or a mall or a walk down a busy street the magic of Christmas is there as long as you are… Santa Clause is alive and well as long as you smile and wish a stranger a truly Merry Christmas …..

We love you all and from my heart a pray you all find that moment of love that even in the sadness of death brings forth a very merry Christmas

God bless us one and all

Joey & Brian and Cuddles

20 Years of Our Sculptures

 

Calliope was to be a small celebration of 20 years of our sculpture and it seemed to grow rapidly into a vision of its own.  Diane was a blessing of organization that held the variables together, we invited just over 100 people and our door prize ballots held 793 different names and addresses, the food and venue were world class and our quite evening to unveil the pieta of the Mira on our 20^th anniversary as artists was celebrated by a capacity crowd of well wishers.  Tringa Rexhepi opened the evening with Otis Smith singing a new piece I wrote for the evening, they were a wonderful paring.  Otis entertained us with works from my catalogue as well as his own wondrous creations.  Filling the theatre with music.  The rotunda was the home to over 100 of our works as well as over 50 works by artist who we are inspired by. As we unveiled our newest works on the floor of the rotunda, the magnificent music of Ardyth and Jennifer filled the space above the sculptures with harp music from just this side of heaven. 

One of the fathers of Canada’s constitution also one of Canada’s most prominent premiers the legendary John Buchanan and his wife Mavis unveiled the Pieta of the Mira Blessed by Rev. Nancy Whitney and serenades by the beautiful voice of 7 year old Bethany Reid this was the highlight of the evening celebrating 20 years of our work.

Peter Primgaard-Nielsen friend and Butler to Mr. Hope and the wonderful musical group “Smooth Ease” helped us pay tribute to the USO and BOB Hope as we unveiled our Portrait of the legendary Bob Hope. Otis Smith took us on a once in a lifetime journey inside the Acoustic Version of The Washington Symphony. And then into his world and music. The incomparable actress and vocalist Patricia Bredin-McCulloch helped unveil the Face of the Union our Bicentennial portrait of Abraham Lincoln. While Halifax Regional Councilor and frm. Deputy Mayor Sue Uteck and the face of the Gladiator Ryan Mackenzie helped unveil the Gladiator. CTV entertainment personality and 2 time Murrow award winner Liz Rigney help unveil our portrait of Elizabeth Taylor.

CTV local and national news covered our small private celebration as did the American networks and some foreign stations. It was hard to believe our sculptures have entered the lives of so many people all over the world.

 

Our evening Calliope celebrated our muses, dedicated to the eldest and most distinguished of the nine Muses. She is the Muse of eloquence and epic or heroic poetry. Calliope (”beautiful voice”) is the mother of Orpheus and Linus with Apollo. She was the arbitress in the argument over Adonis between Persephone and Aphrodite. Her emblems are a stylus and wax tablets. She represents our quest for the perfect written work the ultimate sculptural image and the definitive musical score a never ending quest to be better than we were or thought we could be, a quest for our CALLIOPE….

If you have any pictures of the evening we’d love to see them; drop us a note at BOOMER_NY@hotmail.com

With Warmest Regards

Joseph & Brian

200 years and 2 great minds…

Polls show that only 14 percent of Americans believe that humans developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life. Forty-four percent believe that God created human beings almost overnight within the past 10,000 years, and another 36 percent believe that God guided humans’ evolution from animals over a much longer period of time.

Many people think you can’t believe in evolution and still believe in God;  Faith does not mean that you have to give up common sense. Faith is deeper than that.

200 years ago today 2 men were born who changed the world and their inpact today is as vtial as when they were  alive.

Charles Darwin the father of evolution who freed our thoughts and Abraham Lincoln the great emancipatior who freed our souls.

Remember in these challanging times their contributions were not always easy and often came with great sacrafice yet as history holds their impact did nothing less than change mankind itself…

May their contibutions never go unnoticed and may we all be wise enough to take note of our contepararies who walk amoung them in greatness passing the tourch is their greatest legacy.

 

Check back, for  A  FIRST LOOK at our Lincoln bicenntenial sculptures and my tribute to Lincoln on CNN.

May God Bless and Protect our President

12:05 pm EST The 44th President of the United Stated of America

“Each man a thread woven into the fabric of a nation, embodied in a flag, represented by a man; alive in a never ending dream called freedom”

J.B. Landry

in search of Lincoln…

 am trying to answer all your mail… and will spend the next week catching up (I Hope)…

We have decided to work hard and finish our bi-centennial Lincoln sculpture for the next two weeks …

We will post pictures of the new Lincoln next weekend…if our vision and the actual piece work out it will be one of our proudest moments… if not you’ll have a good laugh…

 

Many of you are asking about our sculptures sadly for our collectors yet happily for us we are still booked solid with commissions and will not have pieces available for general sale for some time. We are currently booked for the next two years and not taking new commissions. 

 

We could use your help, we are in a search to find someone similar to Abraham Lincoln our sculpture is working except for his smile so we need a volunteer with similar features to help us capture the fine details of the movement of the piece, so if you are close in resemblance, we could Use your help…drop us a line we are looking for someone between Nova Scotia and Virginia, when we can’t get a subject to sit for us  it helps to have a life model or photographs and both are in short suppy for Lincoln … our dream is to finish  all three  designs sculptures before the end next month. ( we don’t need facial hair either,just the look and general features)

 

We will try to show our new pieces before they head to their new homes sometime in February or March.

“ I think one’s art goes only as far and as deep as your love goes,”

Andrew Wyeth

Andrew Wyeth’s Master Bedroom not only tells a story, but it pulls the viewer into the emotional life of Andrew Wyeth’s creation.

Today I woke to the news that someone I admire and respect had passed away On the occasion I spoke with Andrew Wyeth I knew I was in the presence of greatness, his ability to see beyond the canvas was uncanny our piece Cornerstone of the Nation exists in part because of Wyeth his advice that there are moments to be alone to walk away and then comeback and feel the piece. This was the reason we let Cornerstone stand as it is without overworking it; The essence of George Washington exists because of the guidance of Wyeth. Sadly he will never see our newest piece for the bi-centennial of Abraham Lincoln once again his advice gave us cause to stop and not destroy or rework a piece that we felt in our hearts; but believed no one else could feel… Time passed and we polished and gave depth to this Lincoln and thanks to the advice of a master, we let the stone speak to us through our hands and we didn’t force the words … in a few days on the 20th of January we will show for the first time our Lincoln a tribute to greatness … Dedicated to Abraham Lincoln for asking us to put right above self, Bishop Gene Robinson for showing us that faith is the only truth, Andrew Weyth for giving us the strength to find Beauty in Love and not Image, And Barrack Obama for Hope that one day these elements may come together in the nation. Tonight our hands will begin our vision of Lincoln and between now and the inaugural we will complete 4 original versions of our vision dedicated to the four men we call hero, 2 friends, 1 idol and one Unknown for whom we hold HOPE…. Today as the colors of Brandywine are grey and snow-covered underneath lies the beauty of love sometimes hidden but always felt, the forces that draws us to a pallet of little color filled with the depth and breath of the unknown exuding a force we can’t turn away from one word sums the life and work of Andrew Weyth “ LOVE”

check back in a few days…for new works…

A full schedule of work awaits us in the studio.

We will be working of finishing the study of David and Otis Pieces as well as various sculptures for the church and our Bicentennial Lincoln …

soon we will post progress pictures; the Lincoln is without question one of our finest works and will be unveiled in February with a sneak peak here shortly…

Happy Holidays

 

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The Christmas season is always a busy one yet some how our routine is always similar so it becomes easier I guess; this year was the exception…

Our season began with a few special visits in Halifax, a magazine (Vanity Fair) and recommendation to read an article and a gift bag of the most beautiful apples would prove very special gifts! In the wee hours we left friends and family and began our journey north it was a beautiful sun rise we had breakfast at a road side dinner they are to me my favorite eateries…

 

 

Christmas is family and Sue is the OLDER OLDER did I say older sister we always wanted and Luke a younger brother

Brian, Ryan and I spend our last quite moment as the rush begins… he has inspired us and tonight he once again was our muse… to create and grow by…

 

 

 

 

It was over 5 years since we spent time with Kodi and our greatest gift this year was a surprise visit …he will always be prince charming and we will make it to Dubai soon to spend time with our friend who will always hold a place in our hearts…

 a couple of brief Santa visits in Truro, Nova Scotia and the snow began fast and furious by the time we left town power outages were beginning … for the next 1000 kms of travel we found no power a ragging blizzard and no food… in Port Hawkesbury N.S.  a gas station with a generator would allow us to fill our tank … and off again the road and the sea were at times indistinguishable the radio reporting power outages at our destination …. The first mass in Marion bridge was at 6PM and the weather wasn’t cooperating … we made it Reverend Nancy and family were preparing for mass as we hastily wrapped a few special gifts for our new found friends and family of choice in cape Breton and off to mass by now the sky cleared and it was a beautiful midnight blue sky… a special Christmas mass included the baptism of Jude MacPherson and a solo by Bethany Reid that was beautiful and inspiring … a moment with the congregations a second to look at the space our sculpture will soon occupy and off to Gabarous  and the new Wesley Zion Church for its first mass this Christmas Eve. After rising from the ashes the church was packed with all the generations of the community a new beginning stronger in faith and community they even they realize. We were asked why we would bother to come this stormy night…we had no choice we were drawn here to sculpt and that commitment is to the whole community so for special milestones we will travel the weather and distance the community that welcomed our art and we are now a part of the journey of this wonderful community….  A moment with friends old and new a picture to remember the night and again we had only a moment and we were back on the road headed to the airport just over 4 hours away.. . 

 

Mass on Christmas eve in Gabarous, Cape Breton Ann Macleod our friend and church organist, Nancy Whitney the Minister and her family Keith, Angela our cape Breton family; Our Little Christmas angel Bethany Reid and our new friend Alfie MacLeod Nova Scotia’s speaker of the house

 

 

 

 

 black ice… no power hence no gas and no food…. Reverend Nancy packed us sweets and our apples from Linda and family offered our sustenance… we’d eat at the airport! (Which again had no open food places)

 
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 The plane a gift to use from a friend … a palace in the sky and all we could do was sleep…I put on a 3D version of Polar Express and fell asleep with the glasses on … next thing I knew we were driving down Wisconsin avenue on our way to church mass had begun so we quietly sneaked to our seats …

Bishop Chane at the National cathedral ; Bill tryong to find a gift for a friend at Union Station

I spent time after mass and before the receptions painting and writing… I now have a new snowflake book set in the white house for next Christmas…barney and miss Beazley and India made it easy to write….

no matter how many times I still pinch myself….what a wonderful world!

By the time we settled in at Mount Vernon VA. the Potomac was still; a gentle wind rustled the trees and we were home for Christmas….the ghosts of George and Martha tucked us in.  Around 4AM I awoke with divine inspiration a song for the symphony by young Eliza waiting for the general on Christmas Eve….the voice from the north eastern tip of the continent echoed I could hear Bethany sing and the words flowed…it is Christmas at Mount Vernon and once again I am inspired….

Three very tired traveler… now at 27 hours non stop ; and preparing fr christmas dinner…a very special moment in the Cupula of Mt Vernon (normally off limits) and preparing to lay the wreath at the Presidents Tomb on behalf of the Nation an Honor that always leaves me in awe…

The 26^th known in the empire as Boxing Day was one of travel and work a brief stop in Philadelphia for a visit with friends and a few meetings then home to New York… Dyane had a dinner cooking (who knew she could cook!!!!) we tasted slowly it was great, we survived… I checked the pantry and spare room and no sign of Rocco Despeitus? She made it her self!

Shopping in NYC after Hours and a moment with santa….

A few calls, Then of to the theater, first Hunter is magnificent I am so Proud of him … then Liza at the Palace … what can I say once again a fine champagne even after the cork has popped and you think its done it only gets better….Liza may you are the greatest!!! We had a long night parting with friends Derrick and his crew Jason and his chita et all it was fun  ….A late night to bed

if you ever have a chance LIZA is a must do at least once in your life the show is a heart stopping experiance never to be forgotten….

Saturday pay our respects to a friend who changes our world…the Russian tea room for lunch with Mike, sign 2 contacts a busy summer is coming up and back to the air and Nova Scotia…

So many friends in such a short time … we wish we could post all the pictures and memories but space won’t allow so you just get the highlights…

Thousands of messages and letters we will respond but please give me time…

Harold Pinter passed away it has been awhile since we last saw him a genius who I wish I knew better but after watching him work and spending time with him I must say could anyone know him better than in his words….or Sondheim’s about him…

And here’s to the girls who play smart–
Aren’t they a gas?
Rushing to their classes
In optical art,
Wishing it would pass.
Another long exhausting day,
Another thousand dollars,
A matinee, a Pinter play,
Perhaps a piece of Mahler’s.
I’ll drink to that.
And one for Mahler!

 

 dose life get any sweeter… god bless you Hal …now you can rewrite his top 10 list…

The bud is on the vine, pray it blossoms…

Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature. . . . [I]f the next centennial does not find us a great nation . . . it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.

James Garfield, “A Century of Congress” published in Atlantic , July 1877.

 

 

 

 

Power may be the most misunderstood concept…

some men of virtue are corrupted by it; some men of ill repute have found virtue through it. It is almost impossible to tell how a mans heart will behave when welding the sword of state. Will he seek understanding and compassion or be filled with the wrath of vengeance

Today we raise a man to the pantheon of history, there is no training or preparation that can prepare a man for such a change, there is only a small spark of celestial conscience that burns with in his soul; the hope he will leave us a stronger union and he a better man.

Today both candadates have me desiring more, I am certain both are men who will try to raise the standard but I pray the victor governs for the good of the people and not the party.

I am disappointed that one never spoke in his own voice of the platforms and polices that would guide his administration. The other spoke often but in his first decision he chose a running mate that could not reach the needs of a nation in the throws of its adolescence.

Tonight we choose a president who will take us to our prom , this is the election marks  the coming of age of this great nation our youthful years and  growing pains behind us we are today  graduating and becoming the mature and wise nation of this world and finding our place in it . I trust that the sacred bond between the elector and electorate will be honored… Abraham Lincoln was despised by his own party as well as the opposition and arrived in Washington under threat of assassination. His decisions often unpopular proved that the trust was beyond the pantheon of common men for Abraham Lincoln chose not to be popular but to do as his heart believed right… history has proven this to be a decision for the ages …

May John McCain or Barack Obama have with in them the wisdom to do what’s right and not what’s popular…

 history will reward them with the ages…

Today you are History, it is your vote that holds the power to change the course of human events your one vote is a voice as strong as the tides of history; it can tame the winds of war or raise the sword of righteousness, today you are the most powerful Voice in the nation …

Speak wisely and from the heart…

J.B. Landry

Fresh air and Hard work…one could kill you…

First our condolences to the friends and family of Margo Hoffshe 

Early Sunday, August 17, 2008 she passed, in her sleep, in the 14th Street loft that served as both her painting studio and home.

Margo was an inspiration to so many in the city art scene always ready to help through those moments when fear over powers work… the art world has lost a treasure. Her age like her work is open to interpretation she was either 96 or 98 years of age, depending on the documentation. Keeping with her wishes she will be cremated, and her ashes buried in Graceland Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois. As she requested there be no funeral service there will be a memorial service, check her web site for details… she was a muse we will miss…

 

Funny everyone at Bethesda fountain or Sheridan square, dreams of fresh country air as they sit with no allergies… if only they knew that fresh air could kill you… grass, pollens, and hundreds on natural agents all out for the destruction of man … little did I know how pollution and stale city air protected me!… Yes I am suffering from allergies and the damned heart won’t let me take tons of medication that would mask the attack of fresh air! Avamys has helped, my allergy’s are finally under control … but not with out a battle…

 

We finished our summer commissions 2 weeks earlier than anticipated and our clients spent more on the display than they did on the sculptures … I reminded them that that means we are a deal … and they shouldn’t have told us what they spent on the display… because our prices will go up for them… all joking aside, I am very proud of all the work we sculpted this summer …one corporate piece was something I originally was hesitant to do and now must say I wish it wasn’t a commission because it is with out question one of our best pieces they got a deal!!!

 

With 2 weeks to rest we instead started work on the sculpture for Wesley Zion. Summer vacation is harder work than working!

We won’t be showing pics until the main figures are completed to help tell the story of the finished work… Rubins “Decent From the Cross” is our inspiration… The centurion Marcellus is almost complete, between us we have put in about 100 hours in the last couple weeks, this piece is one of my favorites as he morns the death of Christ he holds the spear that pierced Christ and is wrapped in the robe, casting away his worldly goods, he try’s to understand Jesus…2 Mary’s are underway and the materials for 4 other figures are waiting to come to life… our free time will be working on this for the next few months…

2 holding sculptures Moses and Christ are ready to be donated to the church this week…

(A holding sculpture is one we give the Church until the larger work is completed, then these sculptures are to be given by the Church to another Church or place of worship as a gift when the installation is completed.)…in one hand and out the other; never felt so good…

Next week we will be Bronzing the 20 + wedding day creations we did last month and soon they will be ready for delivery, all the east coast pieces we are trying to drop off personally, unfortunately, the west coast pieces will be sent UPS…but we will be thinking of you all… it was so very wonderful to share time with you all on your wedding days… this is something we are going to try and do randomly in the future, it felt good seeing what it has meant to each of you… “Thanks”

 

When you write looking for an answer please also include your phone # as sometimes its nice to put a voice to your notes…

Many of you who attended any of our classes this year have written us looking for supply sources we don’t sell supplies and recommend the products by name brand so that things are easier to locate, most supplies can be obtained at Lowes Hardware and Michael’s Crafts nation wide. For professional grade supplies please call us and we’ll put you in touch with suppliers in your area…Have fun that’s what sculpting is all about and improvise!