Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium

Fourth Sculpture Symposium Completed

Tilan — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:38:55 +0000

After years in development, a partnership with the University of Maine results in the successful completion of the fourth SISS event. Eight international and Maine artists came together in at the Steam Plant Parking Lot, on College Avenue in Orono to carve out sculptures for eight participating communities and sponsors. For a full description and images of the event visit the 2012 Symposium web page.

2011 Catalogue Available

Tilan — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 01:19:03 +0000

The 2011 Symposium held in Prospect Harbor is now captured in the production of the third catalogue. Images of Session three of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium show the unique work environment and effort that took place at the work site next to U.S. Bells. The booklet also features photographs of the installed sculptures, taken by James Allen Walker as well as artist statements.

Final 2011 Symposium Sculpture Installed

Tilan — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:59:46 +0000

The final 2011 Symposium sculpture was installed in Sorrento on Thursday, April 26th, 2012. The Sorrento sculpture committee came out and watched the installation, which was completed in just over three hours. About 15 or so spectators watched in the bright sun, as Mark Harrington, Kazumi Hoshino, Jesse and Jim Salisbury lifted the tall sculpture into place.

This piece, titled “Gate of the Sun” was made by Jörg Plickat of Germany. See link here for Plickat’s artist statement.

This is the last sculpture created during the 2011 SISS to be installed in its permanent location, bringing the total communities now on the Downeast Sculpture Trail to nineteen. The next symposium will be held this summer, July 22 through August 30^th, 2012 at the University of Maine, Orono where eight sculptures will be created.

SISS Hosts Teacher Workshop at UMaine

Tilan — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:03:50 +0000

Following the success of last year’s March Teacher’s Workshop held at Schoodic Arts for All center in Winter Harbor, the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium works again this year to host another workshop for teachers.

Held at the University of Maine, Orono campus, this year’s workshop will feature a list of speakers including Jim Boyd of New Bruswick, and Rich Reichebach, both 2011 Symposium participants and art teachers. The workshop will be held on Saturday, April 28th, 2012 at Donald P. Corbett, room 107 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The day will wrap up with a stone-splitting demonstration in the Sculpture Studio by Jesse Salisbury.

CEU credits will be available for teachers. The workshop is open to the public. Please register by emailing jweil@myfairpoint.net or call 546-2269. We hope to see you there!

Artist Selected for 2012 SISS at UMaine

Tilan — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 14:31:10 +0000

The Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium received 176 applications in response to an international call to artists, and now announces the final artist selection for the 2012 event at the University of Maine. Eight artists, including Ton Kalle (Netherlands), Lee Zih-Cing and Teng Shan-Chi (Taiwan), Hwang Seung Woo (Korea), Johnny Turner (New Zealand), Koichi Ogino (Japan), Andreas Von Huene and Tim Shay (Maine) will gather together at the Steam Plant parking lot beginning July 22 and concluding on August 30, to carve a set of sculptures for local participating sponsors.

The artist selection process began in early January with the review of portfolios and other submitted materials, resulting in a total of 26 strong candidates. The finalists were further evaluated by a panel of invited jurors.

The final eight sculptors are now being introduced to each of the participating sponsors including Bangor, Orono, Old Town, Husson University, Acadia Hospital, the University of Maine Foundation and two UMaine campus sites. Jesse Salisbury presented the artist portfolios at a gathering at Husson University on March 17. Each town will review the portfolios and begin the process of finding a match for their individual community.

Six Sculptures Installed in 2011

Tilan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:58:19 +0000

The 2011 Symposium resulted in six large scale granite sculptures. The rigging crew, led by Jesse Salisbury, worked through December to get as many sculptures installed in their respective communities.

The installation season began with the placement of the Gouldsboro sculpture made by Ahmed Karaly in 2009, which was delayed until recently due to MDOT site work. And before the winter cold settled in firmly, the crew was able to install five more sculptures.

In the spring of 2012, the sixth and final sculpture created during the 2011 Symposium will be installed in Sorrento. A new map will be produced to show the expanded sculpture trail.

Gifted Hand Craft Show Supports SISS

Tilan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:26:50 +0000

The Gifted Hand, a Fine Art, Craft and Gift Show, featuring over 60 locally and nationally recognized artisans, is dedicating a portion of admission benefits to the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium.

The event, organized by Christina Heiniger, has been featured in Maine Home + Design Magazine, Bangor Metro Magazine, and on Classical Music with Suzanne Nance on MPBN Radio.

Date: Friday, November 11th 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Saturday, November 12th 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, 2011

Location: The Ramada Inn (formerly the Holiday Inn Convention Center), Tennis Court Area, 215 High Street, Ellsworth, ME.

Sculpture Installed in Addison

Tilan — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:48:03 +0000

The 2011 Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium came to an end on September 14, with over 350 attending the closing ceremony. Six sculptures were created during the six week Symposium in Prospect Harbor, Maine. The finished sculptures are currently being installed in their permanent locations in communities around Washington and Hancock counties, an effort which will continue over the next few months.

The first installation took place on October 6 in Addison. Artist Lise Becu of Tenants Harbor was on site to help direct her sculpture’s placement. Jesse Salisbury, Jim Salisbury, Kazumi Hoshino and Dan Gagnon coordinated the crane work to place the sculpture on the waiting foundation.

The park where Lise’s sculpture now rests is set against the back drop the tidal waterfront and a beautiful marsh. This scene played and important role in Lise’s figurative design, which incorporates a blue heron and a person with face uplifted, created out of dark stone. Lise, who predominantly works with found rocks, picked the boulder from a local source before carving out her design at Fisher Field with the other artists.

The next installation on October 18^th will bring Hitoshi Tanaka’s sculpture to Emerson Park, in Blue Hill. These installations continue as the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium prepares for another event scheduled for 2012 at the University of Maine, Orono campus. The 2012 Symposium will bring the growing sculpture trail to the Bangor area and provide greater reach for opportunities for schools and students.

2012 Call to Artists Posted

Tilan — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:19:40 +0000

Artist application for the fourth Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium to be held at the University of Maine in 2012 is now available for download. Interested artists should submit their materials on or before the submission deadline of December 31, 2011.

The 2012 SISS, which will be held in Orono, Maine will engage between 7 and 8 artists to create monumental sculptures out of granite. The sculptures which will be large scale, original creations by world-class artists, will be permanently installed in cities and towns in Maine.

The event will take place from July 22 through August 31, 2012. This is the largest public sculpture event in the USA.

University of Maine Hosts SISS in 2012

Tilan — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 03:08:33 +0000

The University of Maine has forged a partnership with the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium to bring this event to the Bangor-Orono area in 2012. This partnership represents a unique effort to extend the growing Downeast Sculpture Trail into a new region.

Continuing all aspects of the SISS mission, the 2012 event will create opportunities for area schools, and interaction and engagement with local communities. In particular, this venue will create expanded opportunities for University students in the study and practice of stone sculpture.

The event will be held at the University of Maine, Steam Plant on the Orono campus from July 22 to August 31, 2012. More information and a call to artists will be posted soon!