A Celebration of the Life and
Legacy of a great Sculptor
by
Howard Flysher/Greenwich Village
Gazette
"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's
blood.....Make big plans; aim high in work and hope..."-the words of
Daniel Hudson Burnham, often quoted by Mr. Hart
Tonight, I had the good fortune of attending the opening of a Memorial
Retrospective of the work of the late Frederick Hart, in SoHo
at the CFM Gallery 112 Greene Street. Mr. Hart is perhaps best remembered
for his moving portrayal of Three Soldiers that graces
the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial in Washington, DC. Hart passed away in 1999
at the age of 56 years. He left a legacy that rivals the work of Hiram
Powers and Daniel Chester French, in the history of American Sculpture.
Frederick Hart was born in 1943, while his dad served in the Navy
during the Second World War. His mother died suddenly when Hart was only
three, causing him to spend most of his childhood with his mother's family
in rural South Carolina.
In the early 50's his father remarried and moved Hart in with him and
his new bride in Washington, DC. At 16 his academic achievement took him
into the University of South Carolina, majoring in philosophy. His
overwhelming desire to be an artist brought him back to Washington
and the Corcoran School of Art and American University.
As his interest in sculpture flourished, Hart became an apprentice
stone carver at the National Cathedral in Washington, working on
gargoyles. The cathedral, conceived of by George Washington as a
"house of worship for all people", was designed as a National
Church where all are welcome to come together. It may be the last Gothic
cathedral, it took 83 years to build! Over the front entrance's three
massive doors are Hart's Ex Nihilo, massive stone carvings
of Italian renaissance quality.
The show at CFM Gallery is beautifully arranged. Visitors are greeted
by a smaller than life size model of the famous Three Soldiers piece and
when you enter you can't help but be overtaken by the scale of this
masterful artist. Among the most notable in attendance were former New
York City Mayor Ed Koch. I
thought I spotted Steven Speilberg among the crowd but I could not
be certain.
His acrylic sculptures, that use a method patented by
Hart. Lifelike figures seem to haunt the interiors of these clear,
glass-like works. Myriad imagery embedded in a frozen world, detail that
would make Michelangelo envious. The pedestals are lighted from below,
adding to the sheer drama of the works. Large multi figured bronzes loom
about you, and you know that you are in the midst of legend.
For a better view before attending the show in person go to our own
layout of Hart's work. The show runs through April and you can reach
the Gallery at 1-212-966-3864 See Photos of Hart's Work by clicking
here!
I
thought I spotted Steven Speilberg among the crowd but I could not
be certain.
