Artist Mike Hart
creates Catalina-
themed artworks
FOR THE ISLANDER
In recent months, the Catalina
Island Museum Store has added
a multitude of new merchandise.
Handcrafted bronze sculptures
depicting Catalina's bison and
beloved sea lion Old Ben are
among the most unique.
7, , ,. ?
Tb-:team : more: about; the :
creative process behind these
bronze sculptures, the Catalina
Island Museum recently sat
down with the artist, Mike Hart.
Below is an excerpt from their
discussion.
Catalina Island Museum:
You are an illustrator, a painter
and a sculptor.
What do you find special
about each process and what you
can express with them?
Mike Hart: Getting from
artistic conception to a finished
product requires choosing the
right medium to capture a par-
ticular subject matter•
Sculpting is just a three-
dimensional version of a paint-
ing or illustration.
As an artist, I have to choose
which form of art accomplishes
what I'm trying to express or to
explain.
Museum: Can you tell us a
little about the bronze sculpting
process?
[
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Sculptor Mike Hart, surrounded by his works. Courtesy photo
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CATALINA
Hart: For me, the first stepdetails were left out of this
once I've decided on the sub- description. Normally each of
ject matter is to spend countless these major steps is done by a
hours on research. Sculptingseparate skilled artisan who spe-
requires an in-depth under- cializes in that particular area of
standing of anatomy, from the the process.
basic structure to the most intri- Museum: What are your ties
catetissue connections, to the Catalina Island? How
has the Island influenced your
'1 have been known work?
Hart: My first time going to
to spend as much as the Island was in 1965 via the
400 hours sculpting "Great White Steamship", what
a treat! Loved the island set-
one of my bronzes ting where you feel you could be
and sometimes as anywhere in the world and yet
only "26 miles across the sea.
many hours on the I met my wife Sue in 1969
researchbefore I and this was where she spent
start, but this is only many summa_, s throughout her
high school ~ears. Catalina has
the beginning-* remained one of our favorite
~ U/ tll~ destinations for the past 47
Mike Hart, artist On one of our many trips, we
The second step is making an
armature, which is the internal
foundation on which to build
your sculpture. I have been
known to spend as much as
400 hours sculpting one of my
bronzes and sometimes as many
hours on the research before I
start, but this is only the begin-
ning of the process.
When finished with the
sculpting, it is then delivered to
a foundry for their 10 to 12-week
process.
This will include making a
mold, usually consisting of a
flexible rubber inner mold sur-
rounded by a stiff outer mold.
The mold itself may take up to
two or three weeks to create.
Bronze, which hasbeen melt-
ed in a crucible at around 2,100
degrees, is then poured into the
hot shell mold. When the bronze
has cooled, the ceramic shell
will be broken off with a ham-
mer and/or chipped out with air
tools.
The surface of the bronze will
then be blasted clean with sand
or glass beads. If the sculpture
was cast in more than one piece,
it is now welded together.
Much time is spent chasing
the bronze sculpture, meaning
the artist defines/refines the
forms of its surface. The result
should be a perfect duplicate of
the original sculpture.
Next, the patina (color) is
applied with various acids and
heat giving each piece a unique
coloration. Finally, the surface
of the bronze is sealed with wax
and mounted.
I must add that numerous
were taken on a tour of the back
side of the island and loved see-
ing the bison in the wild.
Being inspired by what I saw,
I came home and started my
research and working on a new
sculpture of a bison, "American
Icon" which is now on sale in the
Museum.
Museum: What inspired you
to sculpt Old Ben?
Hart: I just loved the story
behind Old Ben of Catalina, a
friendly sea lion from the late
1800's who decided to make
Avalon his home.
His story is well documented
in the museum so I felt inspired
to try to capture his spirit and
personality in bronze.
The museum shared many
images to help with my research
and I'm very happy with the
outcome.
Throughout the month of
December, the sculptures are
available at 10 percent off. If
you are a member of the muse-
um, you will receive a 25 per-
cent discount.
The Museum offers art and
history exhibitions, music and
dance performances, lectures by
guest speakers from all over the
world, and the fines-t in Mlent,
documentary and international
film.
Open seven days a week
from 10 a.m. to 5 plm., except
New Year's Day, Independence
Day, Thanksgiving Day and
Christmas Day. The museum's
new ~Ida Blanche Wrigley
Schreiner Building is located
in the heart of Avalon at 217
Metropole Ave. For more infor-
mation, call 310-510-2414 or
visit CatalinaMuseum.org.
6 ! Friday, Dec. 15, 2017 THE CATALINA ISLANDER
