Have you ever seen someone or something look so real, but it wasn’t at all? Seward Johnson creates life-size bronze figures of life situations. Seward Johnson started out as a painter and then went to sculpture. Since his switch he has created 250 life-size bronze figures. This summer, starting June 15, the Seward Johnson collection will be placed around Auburn. The collection will not stay long, and will be departing Auburn on September 15. His creations have been placed all over the world, and the sculptures are worth a lot of money. For more information about Seward Johnson go to sewardjohnson.com. There are pictures of his artwork and it explains how he creates them.

“I use my art to convince you of something that isn’t real. You laugh at yourself because you were taken in, and in that, change of your perception. You become vulnerable to the piece and intimate with it in a certain way,” said artist Seward Johnson (quote from his website).

Since the figures will be in Auburn, the students at the schools will be creating life-size figures about their school. Mr. Ober was contacted by Pricilla Creaven one year ago. She needed someone for the education part and the grant. This was originally for fourth graders across the country. Mr. Ober asked if it can go to high school students also. Mr. Ober has two sculptor classes and both will be creating figures. They get to choose what they want to do and begin to work on it. The figures are not made of bronze. The students have to bring in certain items and tools. The figures are made up of wire hangers, newspaper, duct tape, and wood. The hands and heads will be made of clay. The students get to work with plaster to make molds of their faces and hands.

The students that are in the two classes are the following (second block) Aaron Skelly, Amanda Payton, Ceresse Leland, Elisabeth Braeunig, Jeffrey Charles, Jennifer Cole, Justin Calvert, Kevin Marlow, Logan Rowe, Marion Tarlton III, Michelle Esselburn, and Vaughn Novy. (Third block) Abby Jones, Alexandria Grand, Alisha Brumbaugh, Callahan Custer, Carolynn Fleetwood, Corey Wickline, James Herzog, Justin Adams, Kayleigh Lemish, Leigha VandeZande, Michelle Neukom, and Nicholas Sturges.

The second block sculpture class is creating figures about a student falling asleep, while the teacher is standing angrily over her. The third block class is creating the “Ultimate Fan.” Their project is a boy about 16 who came to a Garrett game and brought his little sister. The boy is about to jump to cheer, while his younger sister, about 6, spills her popcorn. The group managed to save part of the old bleachers that were being removed from the Bateman Gym. Both classes have worked really hard to complete these projects.

“We like to be creative and express ourselves. Also, they liked how Kevin and Vaughn fought about everything,” said the second block group.

“I like everything, and dislike the lack of teamwork,” said junior Leigha VandeZande.

“I enjoy creating different objects out of clay,” said senior James Herzog.

Both classes sat in groups and thought of different types of figures they could create. The third block class thought of the following ideas Food Fight in Lunch Room, Texting during Class, Locker Explosion, and Bulling/Putting a Kid in a Locker. Second block class wanted to do a girl sitting outside the principal’s office with her teeth knocked out.

All the students pitched in and helped one another in the class. The classes had to make a list of items and material they needed. Also, they had to choose who is doing what. The second block class works on it, but since the hands blew up, Vaughn will be working on them. Third Block Class has Alisha Brumbaugh and Leigha VandeZande working on the two heads, and James Herzog, Callahan Custer, and Nick Sturges working on the hands. Each class has to make quite a few hands and heads because they could possibly explode in the kiln. Just recently Mr. Ober fired some of the hands and a lot of them exploded leaving only two fists. The cause of this is trapped air inside the hands.

The second block class was almost finished, but knows they have to remake all the hands. The “Ultimate Fan” is not complete yet. The class has to finish the bodies and let the clay dry out. Also, they have to assemble the bleachers so they can put the figures in place.

“Not everyone participates in the class. At the beginning everyone participated, and then it slowly faded,” said a few students who are finishing up the project in third block.

It’s hard to work on something and some people don’t do anything at all. The class needs all the team work they can get. The class is very fun, but can be very frustrating. Some people just make stupid pointless things. Others just stab the clay likes it’s a voodoo doll.

The finished projects will be placed at the ACD and Fort Wayne museum of Art. There will be 25 sculptures.









SCULPTURES ON THE SQUARE

“Celebrating the Familiar”

The Art of J. Seward Johnson

June 15, 2007-September 15, 2007

Auburn, Indiana



SPECIAL EVENTS



CELEBRATIONS



EXHIBITION OPENING

June 16, 2007, Saturday

PICNIC IN THE PARK

11:00 AM – 2:00 PM,

FREE

Eckhart Public Library

603 S. Jackson St., Auburn

(In case of rain-YMCA, 310 N. Main St., Auburn



THE GALA

SOIREE ON THE SQUARE

June 23, 2007, Saturday

7:00 PM – 10:30 PM

Cedar Street, between 7th and 9th Streets

East side of the Court House

$25.00 per person

Music, dancing, food and fun





ART, ARTISTS, AND AUCTION ON THE SQUARE

August 11, 2007, Saturday

9:00 AM- 4:00 PM

Artists will paint, draw and sketch scenes throughout downtown Auburn.

7:00 PM

Auction of art works created during the day

Courtyard Park



BREAKFAST WITH THE SCULPTURES

September 3, 2007 Monday (Labor Day)

8:00 AM- 10:00 AM

Court yard Park

$2.00 per person



BON VOYAGE PARTY

September 14, 2007, Friday 6:00 PM

Courtyard Park

FREE



CHILDREN’S EVENTS



FINE ARTS DAY CAMP

June 11-15, 2007 (Mon- Fri)

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Eckhart Park Pavilion

Auburn

FREE



THE ARTS AT THE LIBRARIES

June 20-27, 2007

IPFW students will present FREE programs on the arts at DeKalb County Public Libraries

Waterloo Library

June 20, 2007 Wednesday

10:00 AM – (grades pre-K-5th)

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (grades 6-12)

Eckhart Public Library, Auburn

June 21, 2007 Thursday

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM (grades pre-K – 4th)

Garrett Public Library

June 21, 2007 Thursday

1:00 PM -3:00 PM (grades pre-K -4th)

Butler Public Library

June 27, 2007 Wednesday

1:00 – 3:00 (grades K-5)



FIRST SUNDAY

Art Activities for Families and Children

Free

August 5, 2007 Sunday

1:00 PM

Fort Wayne Museum of Art

311 E. Main Street

Fort Wayne







LEARNING FOR ADULTS AND TEENS





DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES



INDIANA’S OWN TUCK LANGLAND

July 17, 2007 Tuesday

7:00 PM

Red Room

DeKalb County Office Building

219 E. Ninth St.

Auburn

Free

Nationally recognized and renowned Indiana Sculptor TUCK LANGLAND will discuss his own artwork, “lost wax” bronze sculpture technique, and current major public art projects on the national horizon.



LIFE IN BRONZE: THE ART OF J. SEWARD JOHNSON

July 22, 2007 Sunday

2:00 PM

Willennar Hall

Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

1600 S. Wayne St.

Auburn

Free

CHARLES A. SHEPARD III, Executive Director, Fort Wayne Museum of Art will enlighten us on the amazing life of J. Seward Johnson and his development as an artist. Don’t miss the “rolling sculptures” on display in the Museum before and after the talk.





SUMMER ART BOOK CLUB

May 24, June 21, July 19, and August 23, 2007

Thursday 7:00 PM

MJ’s Bookmark

414 S. Main Street

Auburn

FREE

The art world springs to life as four delightful novels are discussed.



LIBRARY LECTURE SERIES

FREE

June 28, 2007 Thursday

7:00 PM

Garrett Public Library

Artistic Presence: The Role of Public Art



July 12, 2007 Thursday

7:00 PM

Eckhart Public Library, Auburn

Life in Bronze: The Technique of J. Seward Johnson

July 26, 2007 Thursday

7:00 PM

Butler Public Library

Artists on Artists: Realism in Dimension

August 9, 2007 Thursday

7:00 PM

Waterloo Public Library

Celebrating the Familiar: The Evolution of Everyday Life in Art

These four hour long lectures will focus on topics related to and expanding on the artwork of J. Seward Johnson- now the art will really come to life.

4-9-07 pmc