Debra Fritts

Learning the Ways, 2010

2010

Louis Durot was born in Paris on April 22, 1939. He was something of an enfant terrible, and managed to be expelled from various schools for bad conduct. His ambition, as stated to his parents, was to earn money without having to work, and for a time, he was an “escort-boy” for a Parisian Grande Dame. He did, however, manage to get a good education in spite of himself, and received his Baccalaureate degree from Lycee Louis Pasteur in 1956. In 1960, he enrolled in the Facultie de Sciences, where he studied mathematics. He terminated his math studies in 1963, and turned his attention to engineering, working for Equipel, where he was responsible for calculating and measuring resistance for prototype nuclear generators. Equipel became a research facility, and offered Durot the opportunity to study organic chemistry. Durot directed numerous research projects for Equipel between 1966 and 1972. During this time, in fact, starting in 1964, he made many friends in the art world, gathering together artists from a variety of disciplines to form an artists commune — the Freelane Studio. Among the members were jazz journalist Gilles Brinnon, and a young painter, Jean Ihallero — a friend of the painter Maxime Defert. Through them, he met the artist Francois Arnal, who was interested in Durots’ engineering expertise for his sculptures. They got on well, and worked together for two years. Also in this circle were the actress Micheline Presle and the actor Daniel Gelin. In 1968, Arnal and Presle created Le Festival de Theatre de Chateauvallon, and through this, Durot became friends with the noted film director Ulysse Reynaud. In 1966, Francois Arnal introduced Durot to the artist Cesar, with the idea that Durot’s talents as a chemical engineer would be useful. Durot spent a year helping Cesar to master the techniques of working with polyurethane foam, with Durot searching for ways to make this fragile and ephemeral substance more stable and permanent, and more amenable to control. Cesars’ first works in this medium were flat, due to the difficulty of controlling the foam, but he went on to create his famous “expansions”. In 1968, Durot conceived a project to create more three-dimensional sculptures following a simple and precise design. It was during this time that Durot made his first polyurethane sculptures — the Champignons and Plantes Carnivores. Also in 1968, he He opened his first technical studio at 35, rue Leon. In order to support this new endeavor,( he needed more space, equipment, time and money), he created La Societe Durgalith. 1971 saw the Durat’s first works exhibited at the Salon Batimat in Paris. With this exhibition, Durot was hoping to attract the attention of architects with whom he could collaborate. Between 1971 and 1974, Durot created sixty sculptures inspired by fantastical “alien” life, mushrooms, and carnivorous plants. In 1974, Durot”s Societie Durgalith ran into problems with the Italian firm that owned Batimat. Credit Lyonnaise seized his studio and many of his sculptures, and quite a number of them were destroyed. This same year, Durot worked with the architects Sloan and Lecouter on an inflatable structure for the Pavillion Franaise in Osaka. Unfortunately, the project was never realized. Durot continued to pursue his research on polyurethanes, and gained world-wide recognition for his developments in this field. In 1977, a “student prank” had un-expectedly bad consequences. Durot was employed as an engineer at L’Usine Francaise de la Monnaie (the French mint) in Pessac. He took three kilos of “blanks”, and used them for playing slot-machines. For this, he spent seven weeks in jail, which was ended by an amnesty granted by Mitterand in 1981. During Durot’s time in prison, he took up weight-lifting, and also designed his next generation of sculptures. The spirals, feet, lips, and a series of erotic chairs...

As a child, I had dirt under my fingernails. I continue to allow the earth to feed me information for my art and for daily living. My expression is basic yet intrigues me to continue...

An Atlanta Journal Constitution reviewer once said ” Jane creates dreams in stone”. My stone sculptures are mystical in nature.The art reflects the coexistence of the conscious and s...

An Atlanta Journal Constitution reviewer once said ” Jane creates dreams in stone”. My stone sculptures are mystical in nature.The art reflects the coexistence of the conscious and s...

Louis Durot was born in Paris on April 22, 1939. He was something of an enfant terrible, and managed to be expelled from various schools for bad conduct. His ambition, as stated to his parents, was to earn money without having to work, and for a time, he was an “escort-boy” for a Parisian Grande Dame. He did, however, manage to get a good education in spite of himself, and received his Baccalaureate degree from Lycee Louis Pasteur in 1956. In 1960, he enrolled in the Facultie de Sciences, where he studied mathematics. He terminated his math studies in 1963, and turned his attention to engineering, working for Equipel, where he was responsible for calculating and measuring resistance for prototype nuclear generators. Equipel became a research facility, and offered Durot the opportunity to study organic chemistry. Durot directed numerous research projects for Equipel between 1966 and 1972. During this time, in fact, starting in 1964, he made many friends in the art world, gathering together artists from a variety of disciplines to form an artists commune — the Freelane Studio. Among the members were jazz journalist Gilles Brinnon, and a young painter, Jean Ihallero — a friend of the painter Maxime Defert. Through them, he met the artist Francois Arnal, who was interested in Durots’ engineering expertise for his sculptures. They got on well, and worked together for two years. Also in this circle were the actress Micheline Presle and the actor Daniel Gelin. In 1968, Arnal and Presle created Le Festival de Theatre de Chateauvallon, and through this, Durot became friends with the noted film director Ulysse Reynaud. In 1966, Francois Arnal introduced Durot to the artist Cesar, with the idea that Durot’s talents as a chemical engineer would be useful. Durot spent a year helping Cesar to master the techniques of working with polyurethane foam, with Durot searching for ways to make this fragile and ephemeral substance more stable and permanent, and more amenable to control. Cesars’ first works in this medium were flat, due to the difficulty of controlling the foam, but he went on to create his famous “expansions”. In 1968, Durot conceived a project to create more three-dimensional sculptures following a simple and precise design. It was during this time that Durot made his first polyurethane sculptures — the Champignons and Plantes Carnivores. Also in 1968, he He opened his first technical studio at 35, rue Leon. In order to support this new endeavor,( he needed more space, equipment, time and money), he created La Societe Durgalith. 1971 saw the Durat’s first works exhibited at the Salon Batimat in Paris. With this exhibition, Durot was hoping to attract the attention of architects with whom he could collaborate. Between 1971 and 1974, Durot created sixty sculptures inspired by fantastical “alien” life, mushrooms, and carnivorous plants. In 1974, Durot”s Societie Durgalith ran into problems with the Italian firm that owned Batimat. Credit Lyonnaise seized his studio and many of his sculptures, and quite a number of them were destroyed. This same year, Durot worked with the architects Sloan and Lecouter on an inflatable structure for the Pavillion Franaise in Osaka. Unfortunately, the project was never realized. Durot continued to pursue his research on polyurethanes, and gained world-wide recognition for his developments in this field. In 1977, a “student prank” had un-expectedly bad consequences. Durot was employed as an engineer at L’Usine Francaise de la Monnaie (the French mint) in Pessac. He took three kilos of “blanks”, and used them for playing slot-machines. For this, he spent seven weeks in jail, which was ended by an amnesty granted by Mitterand in 1981. During Durot’s time in prison, he took up weight-lifting, and also designed his next generation of sculptures. The spirals, feet, lips, and a series of erotic chairs...

Mauro Corda’s figurative sculptures maintain a reverence for classical and modernist traditions, while also expressing the artist’s voice. Though born in France, the artist hails fro...

William Haendel framed 16.75 X 17 paper 11.5 X 12.5 Bas relief on hand-made molded, cast, paper; Visual statement of modernist society’s role in conformity of the individual and acquiescence to nationalism. Toy Soldiers in tin, lead or plastic, cast into the paper. Bill Haendel...

Joseph Manobla, (Israeli, 1930-1979), The Western Wall (The Wailing Wall), Painted diorama sculptural relief, 12.5 x 15.75 inches (relief), 17 x 20.25 inches (including original pain...

Genre: Modern Subject: Abstract Medium: Other Surface: Paper Country: United States Dimensions w/Mat: 20" x 21" Bas relief on hand-made paper; Visual statement of society’s role in...

Genre: Modern Subject: Abstract Medium: Other Surface: Paper Country: United States Dimensions w/Frame: 21" x 21" Bas relief on hand-made paper; Visual statement of society’s role in conformity of the individual and acquiescence to nationalism. William G. Haendel is originally from Wisconsin, born in West Bend in 1926. He has had exhibitions in Canada, Sweden, Italy, and England as well as many in the United States. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a M.S. degree in 1954 followed by advanced study in both Seattle, Washington and London, England. In 1960 he was the recipient of a Fulbright Award to study silversmithing and sculpture in England. He is Professor Emeritus in Sculpture from Northern Illinois University and currently resides in DeKalb, Illinois. His most notable work is with cast paper. Images are created by transferring a wet sheet of hand-made paper to plaster molds. Images are created by transferring a wet sheet of hand-mad paper to plaster molds. These molds are created with found objects or are the direct product of the artist’s imagination. Many of the found objects are parts of Haendel’s vast collections of old toys...

modern-surreal sculpture, with a wooden base covered in gold leaf. The presence of this observer of the universe transmits peace and fantasy.

Modern mixed media sculpture by Texas artist Roy Fridge. The work features a mummified portrait bust encased in a red, white, and blue flag placed in a wooden box or crate. Artist Biography: A native of Beeville, Fridge was an only child who made his own toys. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he graduated from Baylor University in Waco with a degree in filmmaking. In the 1960s, he and his best friends, sculptors Jim Love and Dave McManaway, became known as the "unholy trio" of Texas contemporary art. In 1963, Fridge left a career in television advertising and "ran away to the beach." He settled in the sleepy town of Port Aransas...