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