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Sculpture Garden home to new piece of art
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| The bronze sculpture “Uccelli,” by the late Charles Umlauf, is the latest piece added to the Center for the Arts Sculpture Garden. |
The latest addition to the Rockport Center for the Arts Sculpture Garden, “Uccelli,” was unveiled Saturday Nov. 1 during a ceremony hosted by the board of directors.
The new piece of art was created by the late Charles Umlauf, and generously donated by Cam Leonard. The piece, whose name is Italian for birds of St. Francis, was created by the prolific and internationally-known sculptor in 1972. The bronze sculpture is a detail of Umlauf's larger “St. Francis with Birds.”
During his lifetime, Umlauf created bronze castings in Italy and often gave his pieces Italian names
The Umlauf sculpture was donated by Leonard in loving memory of his wife, Virginia. As a long-standing local art supporter, Leonard was one of the founding fathers of the Center's Sculpture Garden and a past president of the Rockport Art Association. Through the Leonard's vision in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the plans for a sculpture garden went from idea to reality. Leonard continues to contribute to that vision through his current donation.
The base for the Umlauf sculpture was designed by internationally-acclaimed sculptor Jesus Moroles.
Nelie Plourde, curator of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden in Austin, said, “In Texas, there are more sculptures by 20th century American sculptor Charles Umlauf in public placements throughout the state than by any other single sculptor. We are delighted to add Rockport to our list of towns and cities with an Umlauf sculpture.”
Umlauf's sculptures range from detailed realism to lyrical abstractions. His materials are equally diverse, from exotic woods and terra cotta or cast stone of his earlier pieces, to the rich bronzes and alabasters or luminous marbles of his prime. With equal facility, Umlauf sculpted family groupings (particularly mothers and children), delightful animals, religious and mythological figures, and sensuous nudes.
Umlauf was born on a farm outside South Haven, MI in 1911, the sixth of eight children born to French and German immigrant parents. When he was eight, the family moved to Chicago. Umlauf's fourth grade teacher soon recognized his artistic talents and took him to the Art Institute of Chicago where he was given summer scholarships. After high school Umlauf studied at both the Art Institute and the Chicago School of Sculpture.
In 1941, Umlauf moved to Austin, where he agreed to join the new art department at the University of Texas as a sculpture instructor. He taught there for 40 years, retiring as professor emeritus in 1981.
During his career, Umlauf was awarded nearly every professional award, including both a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Ford Foundation Grant. In Texas, he was honored in 1985 by the Houston Art League as Texas Artist of the Year and in 1993 by the City of San Antonio as Alcalde.
Umlauf's work can be seen in public collections and museums across the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
While teaching at the University of Texas his students included Rockport's own Nanci Barnes and Angalee DeForest, among others.
Umlauf passed away in 1994.
The new piece of art was created by the late Charles Umlauf, and generously donated by Cam Leonard. The piece, whose name is Italian for birds of St. Francis, was created by the prolific and internationally-known sculptor in 1972. The bronze sculpture is a detail of Umlauf's larger “St. Francis with Birds.”
During his lifetime, Umlauf created bronze castings in Italy and often gave his pieces Italian names
The Umlauf sculpture was donated by Leonard in loving memory of his wife, Virginia. As a long-standing local art supporter, Leonard was one of the founding fathers of the Center's Sculpture Garden and a past president of the Rockport Art Association. Through the Leonard's vision in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the plans for a sculpture garden went from idea to reality. Leonard continues to contribute to that vision through his current donation.
The base for the Umlauf sculpture was designed by internationally-acclaimed sculptor Jesus Moroles.
Nelie Plourde, curator of the Umlauf Sculpture Garden in Austin, said, “In Texas, there are more sculptures by 20th century American sculptor Charles Umlauf in public placements throughout the state than by any other single sculptor. We are delighted to add Rockport to our list of towns and cities with an Umlauf sculpture.”
Umlauf's sculptures range from detailed realism to lyrical abstractions. His materials are equally diverse, from exotic woods and terra cotta or cast stone of his earlier pieces, to the rich bronzes and alabasters or luminous marbles of his prime. With equal facility, Umlauf sculpted family groupings (particularly mothers and children), delightful animals, religious and mythological figures, and sensuous nudes.
Umlauf was born on a farm outside South Haven, MI in 1911, the sixth of eight children born to French and German immigrant parents. When he was eight, the family moved to Chicago. Umlauf's fourth grade teacher soon recognized his artistic talents and took him to the Art Institute of Chicago where he was given summer scholarships. After high school Umlauf studied at both the Art Institute and the Chicago School of Sculpture.
In 1941, Umlauf moved to Austin, where he agreed to join the new art department at the University of Texas as a sculpture instructor. He taught there for 40 years, retiring as professor emeritus in 1981.
During his career, Umlauf was awarded nearly every professional award, including both a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Ford Foundation Grant. In Texas, he was honored in 1985 by the Houston Art League as Texas Artist of the Year and in 1993 by the City of San Antonio as Alcalde.
Umlauf's work can be seen in public collections and museums across the United States, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
While teaching at the University of Texas his students included Rockport's own Nanci Barnes and Angalee DeForest, among others.
Umlauf passed away in 1994.
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