Sculptor Jeffrey Breslow to Appear at Loveland (CO) Sculpture Invitational Show and Sale

July 14, 2010 - PRLog -- Chicago-based sculptor Jeffrey Breslow will be appearing at the annual Sculpture Invitational Show and Sale in Loveland, Colorado on Saturday, August 7th and Sunday, 8th, 2010 (www.lovelandsculptureinvitational.org).

This show is the largest outdoor sculpture show in the US and is open to the public.  Hours of the show are 9:30am - 6:00pm on Saturday, and 9:30am - 4:30pm on Sunday.  Admission to the show is $5 for adults and children under the age of 14 are free of charge.

Chicago sculptor Jeffrey Breslow explored various media, from pottery to bronze, before discovering a unique mode of working.

Combining fallen trees with stone, he now creates compelling abstract sculptures that stand as both celebrations of the natural world and testaments to his highly-personal commitment to the manner in which three-dimensional work energizes space and engages the eyes and hands of viewers.

Comprising sugar maple or birch with sandstone or granite, Breslow’s large-scale pieces are decidedly volume-filling objects, but they are often characterized by a surprising delicacy. Taking his cue from the natural shapes of his materials, Breslow intervenes modestly. He removes bark from trees, sanding and buffing to enhance color and texture while creating an eye-catching interplay of forms. On occasion, he invests a piece with added mystery by installing a tiny hidden motor that causes the sculpture to subtly move periodically or to cloak the base in a quiet waterfall.

This deeply personal means of expression has found success with both art collectors and the general public. Breslow’s sculptures were chosen as the centerpiece of the entry garden at the 2010 Chicago Flower and Garden Show which was attended by more than 50,000 people.

One of Breslow’s sculptures, First Light, is part of the permanent collection at the prestigious East Bank Club in Chicago within full view of members who enjoy the outdoor swimming pool or use the club’s roof-top lounge area. The Ashram in Calabasas, Calif., includes Breslow’s Double Trouble among its collection of outdoor works of art. Chicago dentist and avid art collector Anthony King purchased Free as the Wind, one of Breslow’s earliest kinetic works and prominently displays it in the waiting room of his West Loop office.    

Creativity inspired by nature                  
“If I find a great piece of stone that appeals to me, I’ll buy that and then find a piece of wood that makes sense with the stone,” Breslow explains. “Other times, I find a fabulous piece of wood first, and then look for stones to go with it. Once I’ve done that, I scan my music collection, select something from the field of jazz, plug it into iTunes on my computer, put it on repeat and listen to it over and over again as I work. The music–always instrumental–puts me in a creative, euphoric state.”   

Combining the solidity of monuments with the mutability inherent in nature, Breslow’s sculptures take their titles from the musical selections he listens to as he works. Some—Autumn Day, Enchanted Garden, Eastern Winds—suggest the evocation of a particular place or time. Others—Let if Flow, Moments in Time, The Power of Life—serve to underscore the almost meditative mood his creations inspire.

“As a bronze sculptor, I worked in clay and once I determined the form I wanted, once I decided upon the pose for a figure, everything after that  was just execution,” notes Breslow. “Then I was at the whim of a foundry.”

“But making sculptures using fallen trees and stones is a much more creative and spontaneous process from start to finish,” adds Breslow. ”My work now is much more satisfying to me. Up until the last minute, the last stone, I’m making changes. That’s why jazz—with its emphasis on improvisation—inspires me. Someone who recently saw my sculptures for the first time said, ‘What an honor for the tree.’ And that’s what it’s all about for me as an artist.”

A lifetime of creativity
Living a creative and artistic life is nothing new for Breslow. Prior to devoting himself full-time to sculpting, Breslow was a leading innovator in the field of toy and game design. He began his 41-year career when he joined Marvin Glass & Associates, a world-famous toy and game design firm, in 1967. In 1974, he became its president until he and his partners closed the firm in 1988.

That same year, Breslow and two other Marvin Glass partners launched a new enterprise, Big Monster Toys (BMT). Ten years later in 1998, Breslow and his BMT partners were inducted into the Toy Manufacturers of America Hall of Fame. In 2008, the Chicago Toy and Game Group also recognized Breslow and his company with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

A Chicago native, Breslow earned a bachelor’s of fine arts in industrial design in 1965 from the University of Illinois in Champaign.              

Jeffrey Breslow Sculpture Studio is located at 1015 West Fulton Market in Chicago’s produce district. To schedule a visit, please call 312-526-3700. Visit www.breslowsculpture.com for more information.
               
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FYI   Jeffrey Breslow is available for interviews upon request to Pat Wexler or Dileep Gangolli. To access high res images of his sculptures, please visit ftp://Breslow:images@files9.cyberlynk.net/. Cut and paste the link into Internet Explorer or any Web browser. If asked, the login is “Breslow” and the password is “images.”