The Gardiner Gazette, Fall 2014
Gregory Glasson: Master of Sculptural Arts by Annie O’Neill
The creative odyssey of Gregory Glasson began in Capetown, South Africa, rounded the Cape of Good Hope to Durban, continued northward to London, and finally crossed the Atlantic to the NYC environs, Canada and Central America before settling in Gardiner. This classicallytrained sculptor took many exciting detours that influenced the rich artistic life he leads today.
Gregory was brought up as an outdoorsman-surfing in the Indian Ocean, down-river kayaking, wandering the Southern part of Africa on safaris that exposed him to wildlife, otherworldly land forms and the wonders of unspoiled nature. His father was a civil engineer who gravitated to sculpture in his retirement, exposing his young son to sculpture.
Greg went on to art school in Durban where he became aware of the political upheavals apartheid was bringing to South Africa. It was time to leave, and in 1972 he went to London where he assisted South African and Royal Academy sculptors, and travelled extensively throughout Europe, self-educating himself in its museums, architecture and classical ruins. It was his good fortune to travel to Long Island to set up a sister studio for his South African London mentor and from there he began a long and varied career in the sculptural arts. In the 1980s he owned Alva Museum Reproductions, a company making fine-art replicas for the Metropolitan Museum, the Louvre and others. He also started the New York Art Foundry in Long Island City, casting fine art bronze sculptures for up and coming NY sculptors. At the same time, his own sculpture commission work was taking off and his works are now found in NYC, Long Island, Cape Cod, Washington and Chicago.
Above: Blue Crane by Greg Glasson, Chicago Botanical Gardens. Photo courtesy Greg Glasson. Left, Greg Glasson. Photo: Annie O’Neill
In the late 80s he was approached by the then-editor of National Geographic to do replicas of Mayan stellae, altars, and artifacts for preservation purposes in
Central American countries. The composite replicas would be exhibited while the originals were preserved from further damage Glasson, continued page 11
Focusing on Sustainable, Organic & Hormone Free ingredients from the Hudson Valley. MARKET
Freshly Baked Desserts Culinary Delights Prepared Meals Daily Specials
CATERING
A Creative Passion for Food Full Service Catering Customized Menus Weddings and Events
175 Main St. New Paltz, NY 12561 • 845 255-2600 www.maincoursecatering.com
Issue #24, page 10
