Nanchang

Aima Saint Hunon

This entry was posted on July 10, 2014

Aima Saint Hunon Three Abstract Females in Bronze from “Oh! LALA” Exhibition

Aima Saint Hunon is a well received, up and coming artist with a very promising future. When Paul Cavanagh had a chance encounter with Aima at a gallery opening in 2011 in Shanghai, he discovered she had an interest in having some of her sculptures cast in bronze. While talking together, Paul Cavanagh also learned that while in China, Aima worked along side world renowned Chinese sculptor Xie Aige, whom Cavanagh also knows. That unforeseen meeting began what has been an ongoing, multifaceted relationship between Aima and our Asian affiliate Sculpture Source Asia.

In 2012, Paul Cavanagh and Aima began planning an exhibition of the pieces she wished to cast in bronze. Cavanagh is co-owner of the Philippe Staib Gallery in Shanghai and he proposed having the show there. He also began to discuss with Aima the choices she would have for having her sculptures cast. They decided on the foundry in Nanchang because Aima had heard the quality was equal to any other foundry. Aima also indicated that the economic value China offered her was an important factor in determining her decision.

The foundry in Nanchang, known for their bronze sculptures and bronze plaques, began making the molds and then the bronze castings in 2013. Aima stayed in Nanchang for two months learning the techniques of fine finishing and patina under the tutelage of Cavanagh. Aima has had formal training in sculpture and holds a professional diploma from the Olivier Serres Art School in France but she had never produced a bronze casting before. In time, Aima was able to rely on Paul Cavanagh’s knowledge and abilities. Aima learned quickly and her stunning, hued patinas are a good example of her intelligence infusing with her unique, creative abilities.

Aima Saint Hunon reviews and is very pleased with the work at the Nanchang foundry for her bronze sculptures in 2014.

Aima had heard stories about the quality not being very high in China. To her delight, Aima found the quality of the casting was as good as anywhere in the world and far superior to anywhere in China. There were 28 sculptures for Aima’s show, all of various dimensions. All of the pieces were completed on time and finished expertly.

Aima’s exhibition “Oh! LALA” was in the Philippe Staib Gallery in Shanghai from March 15 to May 11, 2014 to great success.

Aima’s passion for her work and her unique talent show great promise for her future success. Aima splits her time between her studios in Shanghai and New York. She works in the mediums of sculpture, painting, ceramics, collage, print making, video, poetry and performance art. We continue to enjoy our relationship with such an aspiring, multi-talented artist.

Aima Saint Hunon Single abstract female in bronze from “Oh! LALA” exhibition

To learn more about our featured artist, please visit aima-artiste.com

To learn more about working in Asia or having your work cast in Asia, please visit our Asian affiliate SculptureSourceAsia.com

Nanchang: Collaboration An Artist’s Dream

This entry was posted on June 17, 2014

Leah Poller

Leah Poller exhibited selections from her “101 Bed Collection” at the Asia Contemporary Art Show in May. Poller’s presentation at the Conrad Hotel in Hong Kong illustrates what goes on in bed is a very personal and sometimes intimate matter. The beautiful bronze sculptures in the series presented by Poller were cast and finished in Nanchang, China.

Paul Cavanagh through Sculpture Source Asia brought Leah Poller to Nanchang in 2012. Poller developed a wonderful relationship with the people working within the foundry. The foundry in Nanchang continues to produce beautiful pieces of sculpture from Poller’s “101 Bed Collection”. Poller recently stated to a reporter, “This kind of collaboration is an artist’s dream.”

The foundry in Nanchang, known for casting bronze sculpture and bronze plaques, is one of China’s most important foundries and Paul Cavanagh has a unique and privileged relationship. The opportunity Leah Poller continues to enjoy, which is open to sculptors everywhere, was made possible by our affiliate Sculpture Source Asia. To learn more about working in Asia or having sculpture cast there, please visit our affiliate website, www.SculptureSourceAsia.com

Leah Poller: Visit to Nanchang has Opened Floodgate of Creativity

This entry was posted on May 10, 2014

PAUL CAVANAGH AND LEAH POLLER

Bed Pillow by Leah Poller

Leah Poller participated in the International Shanghai Contemporary Art Fair in November 2012. She heard about the Jiangxi Tongqing Metal Handicrafts Company in Nanchang and that it was only about an hours plane ride from Shanghai. Poller was going to the Nanchang foundry to have her work cast for the first time. Like many sculptors, Leah Poller had become frustrated with the economic environment in the West. She was excited at the thought of an alternative to the escalating casting costs in the United States.

Paul Cavanagh representing our Asian affiliate, Sculpture Source Asia, along with his US educated translator, Dr. Wei Chan, escorted Leah Poller during the two day tour. Upon arrival at the airport, they were met by a car and driver from the foundry. They drove a half hour to Jiangxi where they were given gratuitous hotel accommodations by the foundry as is the custom for all visiting artists and clients.

Poller noted as she first left the car that “the entrance (was) framed by a sculptural world populated by Amazons. The grounds are peopled with 2 to 8 meters tall sculptures from Seward Johnson’s Los Mariachis to multiple size Buddha or paired dragons.” The three then went on a multi-hour walking tour of the Nanchang facility which Leah Poller described as “barely revealing the complexity and capacities of this foundry.” Jiangxi sits on 105 acres. The foundry consists of 405,000 square feet of workshops staffed by more than 700 employees.

Leah Poller said “the remainder of my afternoon was spent hiking through cavernous mold-making, casting and casing workshops and then through the smaller ateliers specialized in enlargements, wax molds, ceramic shell… In fact, the foundry is equally skilled in small works as well as large… I was left speechless as I viewed a seemingly endless line of massive works in progress that are commonplace to this foundry. As, for example, 500 larger than life-size individually sculpted Buddha for a temple.”

HIGH QUALITY AND LOWEST POSSIBLE COST- HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS SHOULD BE HERE

Poller work at Nachang Foundry

Leah Poller has recently told Paul Cavanagh she doesn’t understand why there aren’t hundreds of artists taking advantage of the quality, craftsmanship and economic value that this fine foundry has to offer. Poller continues to utilize the facility for her pieces, as she has found herself “for the first time in my artistic career…envisioning my works in public places, 12 feet high, brought in under budget, on time and executed effortlessly. The compelling opportunity offered by the Asian marketplace had started to come together. The visit to Nanchang has opened up a floodgate of creativity and for me, ‘build it, they will come’ has become a reality.”

Any misconceptions of Asia and all it has to offer are evolving. There are many artists who are interested in China such as Poller, who is now flourishing. Contact us to find out how you can partake in the benefits of Asia.

Leah Poller wrote a blog about her time with Paul Cavanagh in Nanchang, China. To read her blog and see photos please visit

www.artistorganizedart.com

ABOUT THE SCULPTOR

Leah Poller was born in Pennsylvania. She received classical training in sculpture at the prestigious Ecole Nationale Superieure de Beaux Arts, in Paris, France where she resided for 20 years. Partaking of a rich, multi-cultural environment, Poller interacted with foremost members of the international arts communities of France, Spain, Italy, Mexico and Latin America, through her art and from her collaboration on the facsimile re-edition of the major Twentieth Century Art Publications (Revolution Surrealiste, Dada, Cercle et Carre, Cobra, etc.). Returning to the United States in 1992, she established her studio in Soho and began the “The 101 Bed Collection” which has been exhibited in galleries and institutions in Europe, Mexico, Asia and throughout the United States. Her figurative work, notably ‘Women Warriors” and the newest series “Sung Heroes” unites the classical and the surreal with a uniquely modern reinvention of the portrait. She has been featured on CNN, Fox Television and in numerous art publications. She has lectured extensively and held workshops on creativity. In 2002, she was named Director of “Intercambios de Arte y Cultural Internacionale”, a Mexican/American association furthering cultural exchanges between the Americas and spearheading the restoration of a major twentieth century mural from 1935, recently discovered to be the work of Philip Guston. Poller lives and works in Harlem.

To learn more about our featured sculptor, Leah Poller, please visit her website

www.leahpoller.com

Paul Cavanagh and Sculpture Source Asia

This entry was posted on April 27, 2014

Paul King Cavanagh started the Paul King Foundry in Johnston, RI in 1966. Cavanagh attended the undergraduate program at Providence College and graduate school at Rhode Island School of Design. The year after RISD, Cavanagh spent in Rome, Italy, continuing his pursuit of the arts through independent study. One of those experiences was helping John and Margaret Manship set up a show of art work at a gallery. In preparation for the show, they had many visits to a Roman foundry. Cavanagh had been exposed to foundry work at RISD but it was not until his experience in Rome that he really knew he wanted to pursue the trade as a life’s work.

When Paul Cavanagh returned to the US he started organizing the work of opening the Paul King Foundry. Cavanagh apprenticed at Roman Bronze Works in NY and at a small sand foundry in RI. Although his true education in foundry work began when he opened his own foundry. Cavanagh could no longer depend on the systems others were using. He found he had to establish his own systems which happened only after a lot of study of the materials.

As the foundry grew, Paul Cavanagh was blessed with having a very talented group of workers. Some of those talented individuals continue to work with him. Their craftsmanship and understanding of what is required rivals any work produced by any foundry in the world. Paul King Foundry has produced numerous small and large pieces over the years. Paul King Foundry monuments are found all over the US.

Sculpture Source Asia, The Beginning: About 20 years ago, with more than 25 years of foundry experience, Paul Cavanagh was invited to participate in starting a partnership at an art foundry in Thailand. Cavanagh looked at the opportunity as both a challenge and an opportunity. For the past few years we have been able to make available to the clients at the Paul King Foundry the economy and craftsmanship of Thailand. Three years ago Cavanagh decided to end his partnership in Thailand, while maintaining his friendship and to open an art gallery in Shanghai. It was at that time that Paul Cavanagh established his relationship at an art foundry in Nanchang, China. These relationships continue today as Sculpture Source Asia. Cavanagh spends a good part of the year in Asia overseeing production of art pieces for the gallery and for clients at the Paul King Foundry interested in the economic advantages of Asia. Paul Cavanagh, who taught sculpture at Providence College, provides instruction on good foundry methods and techniques and the principles of sculpture as needed. Khun Nok, Manager, Sculpture Source Asia, oversees quality control in the Nanchang foundry in Cavanagh’s absence.

Sculpture Source Asia- foundry in Nanchang China
model making room, 2014

Paul Cavanagh has introduced the Nanchang foundry to the photopolymer process for bronze plaques. The photopolymers for bronze plaques is unique to this foundry in all of Asia. The workers have shown Cavanagh their ability to quickly grasp the new ideas and understand what is required to produce quality bronze castings.

Most recently, Paul Cavanagh has been asked to consult with a committee regarding a 96 foot Buddha for Queen Sirikit, Queen consort of Thailand. Khun Nok and Cavanagh are also working on another monumental Buddha project in Singapore.

To discover more about our Asian affiliate, please visit our sister site, or contact Cavanagh directly.

(401) 231.2540 | fine art bronze casting