"Beyond Sipapu" Harry Leippe

"Beyond Sipapu" Harry Leippe. Bronze sculpture. 15"H. 18 lbs.

Many times, places and experiences contributed to the images found in my bronze sculptures.

The earliest source is my experience in the US Navy during World War II in the Pacific. A few days after Japan surrendered on 2 September 1945, I was allowed to witness the ruins of the bridges, walls, moats and buildings of the Tokyo Imperial Palace. In my diary are contemporary drawings and sketches of the complex profiles of Japanese battle ships.

In 1960, after receiving the first MA in sculpture granted by UC Berkeley, I won a merit based year long Fulbright grant. The host country was Italy and my project for study and research was traditional cire perdue bronze casting at the Fonderia Artistica Marinelli in Florence.

The temperamental cire perdue process is used in my bronze sculpture. Inevitable problems with foundry tools and equipment, waxes, mold slurry, metal alloys and various mishaps all make a generous contribution to the final image.

The Fulbright Commission encouraged and assisted in creating appropriate travels designed to enhance the program’s education and cultural exchange goals.  These trips are a second source and continue to be the inspiration for many of my images. 1) The evolution of the French flying buttress. 2) Ancient Greek Doric style temples round the coast of Sicily and at Paestum. 3) The towers of San Marino, San Gimignano and the ancient walls of Perugia. 4) The Chapel of St. Michael in Le Puy, France. 5) Roman ruins throughout Europe from Carcassone to Carnuntum.

A third and continual source of ideas is found at archaeological sites of Ancestral Puebloans in the American Southwest. These include Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, Acoma and Taos Pueblo.

After returning to UC Berkeley in 1962, I designed and constructed the first bronze foundry used in an American university sculpture class. A year later, at New mexico Highlands University, I designed and constructed the first bronze foundry used in any New Mexico university sculpture class. The acclivitous NMHU art foundry has inspired students for fifty-six years.

None of these bronze sculptures is an attempt to create recognizable images.  They are from airy nothings, a synthesis of ideas, feelings and memories which appear while ruminating on the people who lived and died in these places long ago, as well as thoughts about the rise and fall of civilizations.

My sculptures are cast by Madd Castings, Inc. in Colorado and by the art foundry at New Mexico Highlands University.

This sculpture may be viewed at 2 Ten Galeria on the Plaza in Las Vegas NM.

https://www.artistsinfo.co.uk/artist/harry-leippe/

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