Vol. 6 No. 4
Sept. 14, 2011
Local Artist has Brilliant Future
Inside This Issue ...
By Kim Breyley
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62 inches at the scapula (shoulder blade). Chris says, “I did not build legance, form and quality; it was these three words that the horse, it built itself.” Sealed inside, where the heart would be, guided the process and creation of a one-of-a-kind work is a metal casing holding Chris’ pre-sculptural notes, thoughts and of art. Chris McConnell, currently a senior at Cleveland intentions. At a glance this 2000-pound steel horse stands life-like. Institute of Art, and originally from Middlefield, is the artist who Chris is not new to having his was commissioned in May of this artwork on display in the area. He year by Gordon Safron to create is the artist who produced from a sculpture indicative of this area, scrap wood the giant horse and to be placed at the Red Maple Inn. buggy on display across from the This commission inspired End of Commons General Store in Chris to study the anatomy of Mesopotamia, and he is the artist horses, through books and by who created, from car hoods, the admiring the two Standardbred Holstein cow that graces the lawn horses next door to his parent’s at the Vancura Art Gallery. He has home. Chris remembers, “I would also designed and sculpted bronze dash out to watch the horses and granite pieces for display next door, while they were throughout the Cleveland area. leaving and coming, to study Charlie Bergengren, professor their movements and gestures.” and expert art historian at the Prior to sculpting, Chris Cleveland Institute of Art, says studied the anatomy of more than of Chris’ work, “I saw the horse 80 horses, painstakingly recording before it was finished and it was and memorizing the names of already incredibly lively. Chris’ the horse’s bones and muscles. natural talent is palpable. I know He then headed to Honest he struggled when designing and Scales, north of Middlefield, placing leg and chest movements and shopped for just the right but ‘he got it.’ His future is bright; sizes and shapes of tractor parts, he approaches his work with pipes and miscellaneous steel pieces. Chris credits his planning, Gordon Safron, owner of the Red Maple Inn, with Chris alacrity and it is really gratifying to watch him utilize his education and organizational steps and research McConnell local artist of the horse“Rut Maple.” develop the local folk art which is for the outcome. so popular and prevalent in the The artist describes the Geauga area. Chris is taking folk art to a new level with this horse piece, “This horse is made of steel, and very thick steel at that, some sculpture.” Charlie mentioned that he was also particularly impressed pieces are a full inch thick. My decision to use thick material was to with artist Henry Brigden’s work in Mesopotamia. assure the sculpture’s life expectancy. If treated correctly, it will last Chris says of his work and future, “My art work has grown in 100 years outside and upwards of 5000 years if displayed inside.” many ways, such as skill level, location, and ways of production. In The steel bones, tendons and muscles were heated and shaped the future I would like to earn a graduate degree at Yale for sculpture. around a small hand-made frame anchored in the McConnell’s Yale is currently number one in sculpture in the U.S. During my time driveway. The horse, all of its lines and points, are crafted to scale. The finished piece is slightly larger than an average horse, standing Continued on page 2
Hungary Chose Her
Home Improvement Pages 8-9
See What’s Happening Out ‘N’ About ... Page 13
Alpaca Farm Days Page 15
By Nancy Huth
Postal Customer Local / ECRWSS
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Amanda Peterson had a memorable year in Hungary.
ardinal senior Amanda Peterson beams as she talks about her junior year as an exchange student in Hungary. Always wanting to travel and encouraged by her Mom, she entered her first three country choices (Brazil, France, Belgium) on the Rotary Club application form and on a lark wrote her ancestral country Hungary in slot four. “When I found out my application had been sent to Hungary, I was hoping the country would deny me,” Amanda admitted, “but now there is no other country I would rather have gone to. I think Hungry chose me!” Amanda lived with the Lazlo family in the city of Debrecen, Hungary. Her 9-year-old host brother Zalan helped her learn the language, which is considered one of most difficult in the world to master. She in turn helped him learn English. At her host father’s suggestion and with his gift of flash cards, Amanda learned 25 words each day, becoming as she says a “walking dictionary.” She knew what objects were called but couldn’t say anything about them, until the Rotary Club set up lessons for the exchange students in her city. Amanda also had a 21-year-old host brother and a 20-year-old host sister. Her mom was a stay-at-home mom
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New Columbarium at Middlefield Cemetary Page 18
Spotlight On ... M&W Coleman and Variety Store Plain Country Page 4