Mardie Rees standing next to "Dawn & Dusk" on the night of the opening reception.
On May 17th, 2013, I attended the opening of National Sculpture Society's 80th Annual Awards Exhibition in Tampa Florida. The exhibition also ran in conjunction with the National Sculpture Society's 2013 Weekend get-together. I enjoyed meeting other nationally renown sculptors and discussing sculpture as well as seeing beautiful Tampa, Florida.
Read MoreThe prestigious 2013 International Portrait Competition hosted its awards banquet on April 27th, where Mardie Rees' portrait bust 'La Petite Fleur' received the "Exceptional Merit Award."
Rees flew to Atlanta, GA, to exhibit her portrait bust at the reknowned Art of the Portrait conference put on by the Portrait Society of America. Out of a large submission pool of 1800 artworks, the field was narrowed to 20 top finalists, consisting of eighteen paitings and two sculptures submitted by artists from the states and abroad.
Preliminary and final judging was based on skill and technique, as well as aesthetic and emotional content. This year's conference marks Rees' third attendance of the event, and her second time as an award winner.
Mardie Rees poses with her "Exceptional Merit Award" (painter's pallet) and her portrait bust, "La Petite Fleur"
Mardie Rees receives her award
Mardie Rees and Alicia Ponzio (the only two sculptors who were finalists). Alicia is a sculptor in San Francisco, CA.
Mardie Rees and Amy Lind (roommate at the conference and dear artist friend from Savannah, GA)
Mardie Rees was selected as one of the top twenty finalists in the 2013 International Portrait Competition. All finalist are required to exhibit their selected and original artwork at the prestigious Art of the Portrait conference put on by the Portrait Society of America in Atlanta, GA. The final judging and award ceremony will take place Saturday April 27th at the Grand Hyatt in Atlanta, GA. Awards will be given for each of the top twenty artworks, with more than $60,000 in cash and prizes.
Mardie Rees’ portrait bust, La Petite Fluer, was selected based on skill and technique, as well as aesthetic and emotional content.
Can you provide some information about the subject of your Portrait?
When my daughter, Jasmine, was about eighteen
months old I decided to attempt a portrait bust of her with her baby face. She was impossible to get to sit still and I
always had to get help measuring her with my calipers and as life would have
it the project got set aside. Shortly after she turned two years old I came
across the portrait in my studio and realized I had let six months pass. By
then she looked more like a little girl then a baby, and so I immediately took
up my tools and finished the portrait as she was then, before she could turn
two-and-a-half. It turned out to be
easier to sculpt her when she would sit still long enough to watch Elmo. It was
a precious time that I hope captures the innocence and wonder of that age.
Can you also talk about the inspiration for this particular portrait?
I have always loved the portrait bust of a little girl by Camille Claudel titled "La Petite Chatelaine." I also found Houdon’s portrait of a young girl, “Alexandre Brongniart,” also of great inspiration. There are so few sculpted portraits of young children that exude what we all know and love about children. I am always looking for the beauty of innocence and a sense of wonder.
What are the specific qualities that you strive for to make a portrait a strong piece of art?
A portrait is finished when I feel it portrays emotion, shows harmony
in the marks and shapes that frame the face, and shows likeness in both the features
and personality. Most of all I look to see if the work “breathes” on its own
and draws an understanding from the observer – What is the subject saying? What
are they feeling?
Thank you to all who came! It seemed everyone had a wonderful time at the Real Carriage Door wood shop which was transformed into a sparkling winter party. Beer was served by local 7 Seas Brewing; jazz music was played by Zizzy Zi Zixxy, with the unveiling of the sculpture as the focus of the evening. Locals browsed the gallery of sculptures by Mardie Rees, while drinking beer and chatting with friends. Children joined the fun by dancing to the jazz music in front of the band. Many doors were displayed for enjoyment to add to the creative mood. At 6 pm, Beth Rees introduced a new video about Real Carriage Door Company (viewable on a large screen held aloft by a forklift). Thursday night, the current Headmaster from Shawnigan Lake School, David Robertson, shared some background about the school and expressed their excitement in receiving the sculpture of their founder and headmaster, C.W. Lonsdale, and his faithful German Shepherd. Sculptor Mardie Rees was later introduced, and she elaborated on the process of creating the monumental sculpture over the last three years. After much anticipation, Mardie spoke the key words, "Let's take a look," and upon the count of three, the canvas was dropped to a round of applause.
The sculpture will be at the foundry (Two Raven Studio in Tacoma) through the end of the summer, and the official unveiling of the sculpture cast in bronze to be scheduled for October 2013.
