Library sculptures to be unveiled Friday

[JUNE 21, 2005]  DANVILLE -- New York artist Paul Oestreicher will be on hand at 9 a.m. Friday to help the Danville Public Library unveil his sculpture "Golden Morning" and a sculpture by Leo Osborne titled "Sunrise." The two beautiful sculptures, which were on display at the library during the 2003 "Touching Leaves" sculpture show, will be unveiled as permanent members of the library's art collection. The public is invited to the unveiling at 319 N. Vermilion in Danville.

"Golden Morning" is a bronze sculpture of a golden retriever frolicking in a bed of autumn leaves. "Sunrise" depicts a lion at rest. The purchase of the two sculptures was made possible by funds from a bequest and gifts from generous donors. Both sculptures and their artists are featured on the Sculptureworks website at www.gobronze.com.

The purchase of both sculptures was coordinated through the Danville Area Convention and Visitors' Bureau, the agency that contracted with Sculptureworks Inc. to bring the 2003 show to Danville. Under their agreement, a portion of the sculpture sales will return to the bureau and be shared with the library and the Fischer Theatre.

A reception for Oestreicher will be held in the meeting room on the first floor following the unveiling. Oestreicher will also spend some time at the Children's Department's "Super Hero Cooking and Movies" program at 10 a.m. The program will begin with a movie. At approximately 10:30 a.m., Oestreicher will join the children for clay sculpting. During the 2003 sculpture show, Oestreicher gave lectures and helped teach area school children the art of making sculpture with clay. Clay is being provided by Sculptureworks.

Paul Oestreicher is known for his skillful attention to detail in all his sculptures. He is not only an artist versed in media from bronze to acrylic and oil painting, but he also has written compositions for piano and orchestra. His friendship with the Unami-Delaware Indians of Oklahoma from the age of 16 gave him the opportunity to sculpt and draw the traditional elders and, with his brother David, to help celebrate and preserve the culture and oral tradition of the tribe. His bust of "Touching Leaves Woman," one of the last of her tribe trained as a healer and one of the few remaining speakers of her language, was the signature piece of the 2003 sculpture show.

"Sunrise" by Leo Osborne had a different beginning. While other works are sculpted in clay that is used to make a mold for the final bronze version, Osborne begins with driftwood that he finds along the shore. He carves the wood into the figure that will become the final bronze sculpture, but he always leaves some of the wood's texture and shape in the piece. Though the piece began in wood and was cast in bronze, the patina applied to the bronze gives it the look of marble. Osborne was born in Massachusetts but, since 1990, has made his home in the Pacific Northwest.

[Provided by Barbara J. Nolan, Danville Public Library]