Inspiration for Charles E. Gagnon
If you live in Rochester, MN or have visited, then you probably know about the Peace Plaza Foutain in downtown Rochester. (If you haven't seen it, you should. It's quite beautiful.) This fountain was created by Rochester artist Charles E. Gagnon, who is best known for his bronze sculptures.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of being able to frame a piece that acording to his wife, Arlyn, had been an inspiration and a tool for Chuck when sculpting the human form. It was a wooden crucfix from the Philippines. The arms and legs are missing from the small sculpture, since it was once mounted to something and had been broken off by looters. The crown of thorns is also missing but small holes remain in the head where it was once placed. It could have possibly been made of gold or some other precious metal. It was a very lightweight sculpture, but it was still very detailed.
We chose a black suede mat for the background and used a large mat width to make the sculpture really stand out. We than used a frame that matched the colors in the sculpture quite well. The outside of the frame is more simple while the inside lip is slightly ornate. If you would like to see this and the work of Charles Gagnon it can be viewed at the Charles E. Gagnon Museum & Sculpture Garden. http://www.gagnonmuseum.org/
Charles E. Gagnon has done many other wonderful works of art many which are in Rochester, MN including:
- "Saint Francis and the Birds" at Saint Marys Hospital. There is a smaller version of the sculpture located at Assisi Heights.
- A portrait sculpture of Conrad Hilton at Mayo Clinic's Hilton Building.
- "Crucifixion" at Zumbro Lutheran Church.
Chuck's sculptures are quite amazing and the Peace Fountain along with many others will give people enjoyment for years to come. "He was dedicated to creating unique, uplifting bronze sculptures that would give hope to the world and inspire peace among all peoples, as well as to make the world a more beautiful place to live." - Arlyn Gagnon
Here are some other links and articles about Charles E. Gagnon and the Peace Sculpture.
