Byron Birdsall, Night Lite, Watercolor, 1976

The watercolor paintings of Byron Birdsall (b. 1937) are distillations of reality, scenes reduced to their basics with the integrity of the subject undiminished.  In Birdsall's hands, light takes on a thousand forms, whether inspired by the relentless vertical rays of the East African coast, a hazy palpable dawn over Samoa, or the silent light of the winter Northland that illuminates but does not warm.  It is this essential aspect of light that is at the heart of Birdsall's art.  It is the life he gives this light that has cast him to the forefront of Alaska's art community and beyond.

An Alaskan watercolorist, Byron Birdsall is noted for his graded washes, a technique he studied as a disciple of Japanese woodblock printers, Hokusai and Hiroshige.

Working out of a studio in a log house on the edge of Sand Lake near Anchorage, the artist divides his time between sketching and painting, and trips to the field for stimulation. Sometimes the field is within walking distance, sometimes far into Alaska's interior, often to the Pacific Northwest, and at times to other exotic worlds. 

While landscapes and cityscapes are Birdsall's forte, his love of history and fantasies about time travel have led him to paint from archival material, resulting in many historical pieces. 

Byron Birdsall's paintings are included in the collections of a number of museums and public institutions, hang in corporate board rooms and atriums, are owned by royalty, presidents, new fans, and loyal friends.  The printing of a US Postage stamp in 1992, designed by the artist and commemorating the building of the Alcan Highway, was a personal high point for Birdsall, an avid stamp collector.

In 2005 Birdsall had the honor of appointment to the American Academy in Rome where he worked and painted for three months.  Currently he is painting for a book to be published by a maritime transport company with holdings around the world.  This has taken the inveterate traveler to South America, Korea, Boston, and Sakhalin Island.  In addition, Birdsall has painted a series of images of Jerusalem. 

Hoselton Studio: Cast Aluminum Inukshuk Figure Edition Number #2109

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INUKSHUK Lifelike figures of rock erected   by the Inuit people, are found from Alaska to Greenland.They are Inukshuk  (pronounced IN-OOK-SHOOK) which is  an Inuit word meaning "in the image of man."  .  One of their purposes was to serve  as directional markers on the treeless  horizons, to guide those who followed.  .  As such, they stand as eternal symbols  of the importance of friendship, and remind  us of our dependence on one another.

Reclaimed Aluminum Inukshuk

Size: 4.75" Tall

Brushed Finish

Inscribed with Message "The Difference You Make Today Counts In All Our Tomorrows"

Bottom Label States:

A Meaningful Messenger 

Original Edition

Crafted in Canada

Reclaimed Aluminum

1990, Wee Gates, Inc

Signed Hoselton 2109 on bottom corner 

Hoselton Studios, Canada: Our Process

Our sculptures are made from utilizing recycled aluminum alloy and a sandcasting process perfected by Gordon Hoselton and Allan Butters over forty years ago. A sandcast is taken from our original image and a two-piece mold is then designed and fabricated in molten aluminum. At a temperature of 1200 degrees °F this molten aluminum is poured into our new mold and allowed to cool. A prolonged polishing process including multiple sanding and polishing procedures is then used to infuse our sculptures with a flowing, luminous polished finish, or a softened, silken brushed finish.

Enamel on Copper Abstract Art Coin Dish / Small Plate

Roger Rittase Church Scene Painting, c. 1940

Bovano of Cheshire, Connecticut Enamel on Copper Sandpiper Plate

Handcrafted Bovano of Cheshire Connecticut enamel on copper Sand Piper six-inch plate.

 

The History of Bovano of Cheshire began in 1952, when working alone in the basement of his home in Cheshire, Connecticut, artist Jim Bower began experimenting with powdered glass fused to small copper plates. His playful approach resulted in early designs applied to small glass enamel plates, which were sold under the name Bower Enamels.

It wasn't long before Jim met John Bonsignor who realized the potential of developing a much wider array of glass-enameled products. John moved the studio to the upper floor of an old foundry building in Cheshire and began a passionate pursuit of copper enameling. The name "Bovano" was coined from the first two letters of the last name of each of the three original owners: Bonsignor, Van Leight and Noden.

In 1964 David Flood partnered with John to continue the growth of Bovano of Cheshire. Dave and John collaborated together through the 1960s. It was also during this time that the company made a dramatic change away from copper enameled plates and trays turning instead to the creation of simple little copper enameled flowers. Later designs were extended to larger tabletop flowers, with a growing choice of flowers, bonsai and maple trees, birds and butterflies.

In 1975, David became owner of Bovano of Cheshire. Hotel based trade-shows became his regular destinations he carried products and displays to markets in the New York, Boston and Chicago circuit. Growth of the company continued beyond three decades as an ever-widening range of high quality wall and table sculptures were crafted by hand.

Today, at the start of the new millennium, Bovano artisans continue to use many of the techniques developed from the early days of the company. Combining modern technology and old world craftsmanship, highly skilled Bovano artisans continue creating quality sculptures using the knowledge through decades of experience.

The old foundry building still houses the enameling studio and Bovano Home Gallery. Dave's son Jim Flood, who has been President since 1987, continues to carry forth the Bovano of Cheshire tradition.

It all starts with a single sheet of copper. From this sheet, a variety of shapes are cut. In a delicate process, our highly skilled enamelers powder coat each piece with powdered glass, adding layer upon layer of beautiful color. The placement of the individual grains of powdered glass adds to the uniqueness of each piece we create. Once the pieces have been dusted with the powdered glass, they are carefully transferred to the kiln which heats the sculpture to an overwhelming 1600 degrees, fusing the glass to the copper and enhancing the brilliancy of the colors. Several firings may be necessary to complete each piece.

Signed Green Enamel on Copper Trinket Dish

This is a signed handmade enamel on copper trinket dish. It features an amoeba shape with a lovely green enamel interior. The copper comes through around the outside edges to provide a stunning effect. The bottom of the piece has a dark black enamel. It is signed on the bottom.

Robert D. Shorty Marble Sculpture

Robert D. Shorty, is an award-winning sculptor, writer, dancer, and actor. He was born in Fort Defiance, Arizona, in 1944. Shorty has been involved with both the performing and the visual arts. He is an actor, dancer, writer, and sculptor.  He studied at the Institute of American Indian Art in Sante Fe, at Bacon Junior College in Muskogee, Oklahoma, had a scholarship in modern dance at the Connecticut School of Dance, and at the Mary Antony Dance Studio in New York City.  He is an original member of the American Indian Theatre Ensemble, La Mama Experimental Theater Club, in New York City, and has appeared in dancing and acting roles across the country

Robert D. Shorty, Diné, statement

"In 1964, I heard of the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. My father drove me there from Northern Utah. Next morning we prayed a long prayer leaving me to start my life changing adventure. It was a melting pot of creativity! It was then I took my first sculpture class.  Mr. Allan Houser was my teacher from 1964 to1967. It was then my journey in three-dimensional design began … within the time I took my first sculpture class. Prior to that I took classes at the largest off-reservation boarding school at Intermountain Vocational Indian School, in Brigham City, Utah. Mr. Houser was the art teacher, he taught painting. Mr. Houser was amused by my curiosity as I gazed at his painting. He encouraged me. All I knew I was having fun. Always unconsciously creating and enjoying myself."