Reynolds recently hosted Richmond sculptor Paul DiPasquale as he shared
his presentation “Art Talk, Why Art Matters” in the college’s Conference Center
Gallery of the Workforce Development and Conference Center on the Parham Road
Campus.
DiPasquale investigates and produces public sculpture about
history and the people who made it. Some of his most recognizable works include - the Arthur Ashe Monument on
Richmond's Monument Avenue for which he was chosen Richmonder of the Year in
1996 by Style Magazine, Neptune Virginia Beach, which is a 34 foot tall bronze
unveiled in 2005 on the Virginia Beach boardwalk, and the Virginia Beach Law
Enforcement Memorial, which is a 20 foot bronze and granite monument honoring
officers who died in the line of duty. His public bronze portrait figure and
bust commissions include: Governor and Mrs. Godwin, Oliver Hill, Mary Tyler
Cheek, Dr. M. L. King, and Jimmy Dean.
Speaking to students, faculty, staff and people from the
community, DiPasquale showcased a number of his works in a slideshow. His
presentation also included discussing how his sculpture “Connecticut” ended up
in Richmond after being scheduled to be placed in Washington, D.C. and how his
famed sculpture Neptune came within two days on never happening.
“When we look at tonight’s topic, I think it would be
appropriate to ask – Art is what?,” DiPasqual stated, “Part of art is history.
History which is stories about people from past, present and future. Art is
also inventions. Inventions to portray people like they have never been
portrayed before.”
A graduate in Sociology with an Art minor from the
University of Virginia, DiPasquale trained at the Boston Architectural Center,
received his Master’s degree in Sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University
in 1977 and has been an instructor, resident, and/or visiting artist at
Northern Virginia Community College, Maryland Institute, American Academy in
Rome, International City of the Arts in Paris, the College of William and Mary
and adjunct instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University.
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| (L-R: Reynolds President Dr. Rhodes, Reynolds Art Curator Karen Steele and DiPasquale) |
More on DiPasquale and his works can be found at http://pauldipasquale.info/
