| This is the second in a series of articles | | | | them to last through time." |
| about the sculptor, NINA WINTERS. | | | | |
| | | | I traveled north and met with Nina in her |
| This new-on-the-scene, but skyrocketing | | | | owner-built studio in the New Hampshire |
| sculptor has been awarded a $200,000 | | | | woods. I was intrigued by the ecologically |
| commission for a life-size sculpture of an | | | | minded sculptor's commitment to our planet's |
| angel, "The One Who Learned to Fly". | | | | and our planet's peoples' physical, emotional |
| | | | and spiritual health. |
| This angel sculpture will be installed over | | | | |
| the entryway to a new French style cathedral, | | | | She showed me over 40 sculptures she had |
| in the state of Nevada, which has been | | | | created that she had created to be enlarged |
| especially designed for elaborate weddings. | | | | to monumental proportions. |
| It will be called The Angel Cathedral. This | | | | |
| building is part of a 2 billion dollar | | | | She spoke easily about her feelings. "Even |
| development. The groundbreaking is scheduled | | | | in my early years, I knew that we had to work |
| for June-July 2007. | | | | together to change the world. I started by |
| | | | trying my hand at building an ecological |
| The scale and placement of the work will | | | | studio/home in the woods. I built the house |
| ensure the effect of flight that the artist | | | | with the help of a few friends and still use |
| wanted to create for the viewers of her | | | | it in the summers. It's quite simple to use |
| artwork. | | | | solar power and we built the house with only |
| | | | a chain saw and lots of work." |
| I recently traveled to tour both of her | | | | |
| studios in Florida and New Hampshire. I was | | | | She continued, "As I grew in stature as an |
| privileged to see the maquette of this | | | | artist, I wanted to positively affect more |
| sculpture. | | | | people. I try to imbue my work with so much |
| | | | emotion that it will flow from me into the |
| Over a light lunch on her dock overlooking | | | | bronze and communicate at the other end to |
| Old Clearwater Bay in Florida, I queried Nina | | | | the viewer." |
| about her thoughts on this piece. She | | | | |
| replied, "When my daughter was a young child, | | | | I asked why she decided to make her works |
| I promised her that she would learn to fly | | | | large. She replied, "My work was purchased |
| physically, emotionally and/or spiritually. I | | | | by many collectors, but I still felt the need |
| used her as a model and tried to imbue the | | | | to make monumental works that would be seen |
| sculpture with her sense of wonder and | | | | by hundreds of thousands of people. I am |
| beauty. | | | | thrilled that this is happening." |
| | | | |
| I was also strongly influenced by "Cirque du | | | | Working in her studios is practically an |
| Soleil" for this one". | | | | obsession. Her work is large both visually |
| | | | and emotionally. Her sculptures convey the |
| She continued, "I designed the wings and | | | | heroic power and excitement of the human |
| worked with an incredible goldsmith who | | | | potential. |
| teaches at a college in nearby St. | | | | |
| Petersburg. We worked for months ensuring | | | | Her clients include corporate officials from |
| the wings would perfectly compliment the | | | | Paine Webber, the Wall Street Group and Hiram |
| sculpture and be able to be fitted easily | | | | Walker. Her work is in major collections in |
| into the back of the piece. I then had to | | | | the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia |
| design a special box for the shipping of this | | | | and England and she is in the private |
| fragile part of the sculpture. The wings are | | | | collections of many celebrities including |
| made of bronze, brass, copper and sterling | | | | musicians, music producers, arrangers and |
| silver. I wanted to show the preciousness of | | | | film producers. |
| the human spirit. | | | | |
| | | | Her bronze work was featured in the Paramount |
| I also worked with a master machinist to | | | | film "Kiss the Girls" starring Morgan Freeman |
| construct the specially designed base for the | | | | and Ashley Judd. |
| piece. I needed to keep her 'flying' and not | | | | |
| add gravity with a heavy base. I think we | | | | She has been honored with awards for |
| succeeded." | | | | excellence in sculptural concept and design. |
| | | | |
| She concluded with, "This work of art | | | | All her sculptures can be commissioned in any |
| symbolizes mankind's quest for beauty, | | | | size and are unique solutions for corporate |
| perfection and freedom. Man can and must | | | | and hotel architecture. |
| rise to greater heights." | | | | |
| | | | She is also working on a new monumental |
| *** (information from first article) *** | | | | sculpture in Clearwater that will be |
| | | | installed near her southern studio in a |
| During the tour of her beautiful waterside | | | | development on the locally loved "Pinellas |
| studio in Clearwater, Florida, I asked Nina | | | | Trail", a long fought for bicycling, running |
| why she had chosen to work in bronze. She | | | | and rollerblading trail that connects many of |
| explained, " I create human emotions, hopes | | | | the nearby areas. |
| and truths and make them in bronze. I want | | | | |