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August Issue 2009
Hamlet Fine
Art Gallery in Charleston, SC, Features Works by Charles Smith
and Sons
The Hamlet Fine Art Gallery in Charleston, SC, will present the exhibit, It's Raining Frogs, featuring a new collection of human -size copper frog sculptures by Charles Smith and sons, Zan & Beau, on view from Aug. 7 - 31, 2009.
The beginning of the
human-size copper frog emerged in 1974 when Charles Smith started
making metal sculptures (following a career in science and engineering).
His first subjects were clowns and dancers made with sheet copper
overlaid with brass from one to two feet tall. "Natural
subject matter, coupled with the basic desire to render the life
size image of the human form in metal are the forces that led
to the copper frog" says Smith.
Charles Smith
The frogs have evolved over the years, first sitting on the ground, then standing, holding a wine bottle, martini glass, reading a book, playing an instrument and other various human activities. Sizes have varied also, large to small and back to the human-size again. The "Spoleto Dancing" frogs in the courtyard stand around 7 feet tall and are perfectly asymmetrical.
Zan Smith
Beau Smith
Smith's sons, Beau and Zan, learned metal sculpture while growing up, and became "Frogsmiths" after their father. The sons continue to contribute in the development of the medium and collaborate on the art and craft of the human size copper frog. Charles and Zan each have a studio in a natural setting on a small, family island in the South Carolina Lowcountry, south of Charleston. Beau works independently in Atlanta, GA.
Each frog is made individually and has its own character in expression and body language. They do not use templates, or helpers. The artists primarily use copper, brass and stainless steel, and have developed over the years a special process for initiating the verdigris patina. Each frog is signed, dated and copyrighted on a stainless steel plate near the foot of the frog statue. "These frog creatures have 'soul' and are 'crowd pleasers', making people smile," says Stephanie Shuler Hamlet of the Hamlet Fine Art Gallery.
For further info
check our SC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at
843/722-1944 or visit (www.hamletgallery.com).
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