About J. R. Gabriel, Bronze Sculptor

J. R. Gabriel

1141 South 800 East
Salt Lake City, Utah 84105
801.355.5232

(I am currently working on a new sculpture that I am finding extremely exciting. Stay tuned. I have also included exhibit information in my revised biography.)

As a child isolated in a small Texas town, my early escape was to raid our little library in the basement of the town jail and look at pictures of art by the masters. I dreamed, painted, drew and mashed clay around. Passion for art led me to academia where I attended West Texas University (scholarship, music), University of Utah (BFA, scholarships music, opera, theater), Brigham Young University (MS, scholarship, published thesis). I continued graduate and post graduate work at Pepperdine University, University of Texas, University of Utah, Texas Tech University, and also completed teaching certification in Drama, English, French, and Speech.

My love for all creative arts has allowed me to delve into my multiple interests: I have performed in numerous theater productions with membership in Actors' Equity; Singing has allowed me to solo in classical and contemporary music with various choirs and orchestras; Both music and theater strongly influence my greatest satisfaction, sculpting. The ability to hold and create a three dimensional image is most gratifying.

My greatest inspirations for creating fantasy came from my dear friend, Mary Lou Romney, U of U Art Department teacher, and James Christensen, BYU faculty emeritus. I have a constant urge to create and keep the inspiration strong.

I love the fragile and inviting, cooperative, sometimes resistant nature of clay and the enduring stability of bronze. My creations are unexpected characters displaying humor in the rhythm of their body language: a camel flies; a rhino plays vulnerably; an anthropomorphic bird flaps into humanity; a masked figure searches but has no eyes; an ass climbs a mushroom. I hope each makes a noise and tells a story, a mystery or fantasy--as many stories as there are people looking. It's fun, like it should be.

My ideas are "such stuff as dreams are made of," and the next piece comes to me gradually, usually while I am working on the current project--sort of two at once. I prefer not to thoroughly sketch beforehand. I see the finished product in my mind and the new idea continues to speak to me as I gouge and push the clay. I want the characters to move and dance as I find a rhythm in the art. I like exaggeration and impossible scenarios that seem to somehow make us think "perhaps." Hopefully, people will open their imaginations when they look at my work.

I am fortunate to have been "juried" into fine art exhibits around the country. Here is a selective list of exciting places where I have shown my sculptures:

Seattle, Washington----------Kalispell, Montana----------Loveland, Colorado----------Aspen/Vail, Colorado----------Omaha, Nebraska----------Chicago, Illinois----------Ann Arbor, Michigan----------St. Louis, Missouri----------Nashville, Tennessee----------Tulsa, Oklahoma----------Albuquerque, New Mexico----------Carefree, Arizona----------Scottsdale, Arizona----------Fountain Hills, Arizona----------Las Vegas, Nevada.

Because of my travels, I have begun only recently to exhibit my sculptures locally:

Springville Museum of Art--Two Juried Exhibits
Utah Arts Council--Jurors' Choice Award, Rio Gallery
Ogden Arts Council--Invitation To Exhibit Body Of Work
Provo Arts Council--Juried Exhibit
Thanksgiving Point--"Best of Utah" exhibit
Art Institute--Gallery Exhibit
Hogle Zoo Wildlife Exhibit--Zoo Choice Award
Prestige Gallery--Featured Artist
Gateway Center Union Pacific Exhibit--Juried Exhibit
Trolley Square--Featured Artist
Local Colors Fine Art Gallery--Featured Artist
Alpine Art Center/Adonis Bronze
Snowbird's Mountain Colors Gallery--Featured Artist
Jewish Art Center--Juried Exhibit
Poor Yorick Exhibit--Featured Artist

I would enjoy hearing from you. Click on "contact" and send me an email.