2 Ravens Studio

See Two Ravens Studio’s most recent work of 2012. It has been a busy year!

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Holden Judson was the town’s first mayor and postmaster. He and his wife Phoebe were instrumental to the town’s development and are even credited for having named the town. Their early adventures are recorded in Phoebe’s book,”A Pioneer’s Search for an Ideal Home: A Personal Memoir.” To honor their contributions, local residents and the descendants of the Judson family commissioned artist Robert McDermott to create a memorial sculpture of the couple. Robert has created several historical figures for public art over his career. Two Ravens Studio molded and cast the bust of  Phoebe and Holden. Funds are being raised for the creation of the life size figures by the Phoebe Judson Heritage Committee. Their goal is to have the sculpture prominently displayed in a city park at a future date.

Two Ravens Studios recently cast an inverted octopus titled “Nocturne,” for artist Mark Calderon. The inspiration for this artwork evolved from a lifelong fascination with oceanic life forms and the ocean’s increasing number of endangered species. The juxtaposition of the wildly flailing arms and perfectly still head draws a perfect parallel to the delicate balance of the environment verse the impact of human manipulation of the natural world. In addition to creating this piece for a collector of his work, Mark Calderon recently created a three-foot cross to hang in the lobby of Seattle University. Two Ravens Studios was happy to help Mark complete this commissioned artwork with his signature black patina.

The single greatest threat to the survival of the polar bear is the rapid melting ice of the Arctic Ocean. Some 25,000 of these magnificent mammals can be found today across the Arctic region. However, up to 15,000 bears could be lost in the coming decades because of climate change. Artist Roy Peratrovich symbolically captures this looming fate with his depiction of a polar bear, struggling to hold onto a thinning floe of ice.Roy Peratrovich Jr. is a retired civil engineer living on Bainbridge Island, WA. Roy’s bronze sculptures can be seen in Ancestral Spirits Gallery in Port Townsend, WA, or at his website ravenworksart.com. His heritage as an Alaskan native Tlingit, as well as his engineering background is reflected in his artwork. Two Ravens Studio created the mold, the casting, and the icy blue patina.

Victoria Haven’s show Hit the North (47? 60′N) at the Greg Kucera Gallery displayed a series of works which reflected two of  her most influential life experiences, the Northwest and the punk rock music scene. “The Decline of Western Civilization (Rainy Day Project)” pays homage to her husband’s  ”NO FUN” tattoo, made from a potato stamp. Two Ravens Studio molded and cast the potato stamp in aluminum and gave it a”pewter” finish.

Artist Joseph McDonnell is known for creating dramatic, captivating, modern forms. His “Pan” represents a contemporary version of the classic Greek god yet still retains a “goat-likeness.” This six foot sculpture was enlarged from its original size and now rests comfortably in a garden estate in the Pacific Northwest.

“The Bather” was also enlarged from a small-scale version. The artist wanted to build a figure around the concept of a non-existent spherical shape. The negative triangular spaces of the arms suggests a seated figure, slightly bent over, as if it is rinsing water from its head. This four foot “Bather” is currently enjoying the Florida sunshine at a private residence. Two Ravens Studio provided the full service casting for both life size works, “Pan” and “The Bather,” in record time and back to back.

The poem, Invictus, by William Earnest Henley describes a sense of defiance in the face of adversity. Washington State artist David Varnau captured this spirit by evoking an image of a strong yet vulnerable male figure. The figure is seated rather than holding a stance of swagger or triumph. Although down on the ground and perhaps humbled, he seems to still possess a sense of inner strength and self-assurance. David’s sculptures have been exhibited at Gallery North in Edmonds WA as well as Parklane Gallery in Kirkland WA. Two Ravens Studio creates many of David’s molds and is his preferred artisan foundry for casting his one of a kind, figurative works.

There’s people walking up the walls of Pike Place Market! Artist Dan Webb received this public arts commission via the Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority. This installation was part of a remodeling project for the market’s back steps entrance. Seven male and female aluminum figures serve as functioning light fixtures. They appear to be coming out of a small aluminum door and walking around walls and  the ceiling. The light globes the figures carry are based on a larger light globe that used to be by the market’s entrance. Two Ravens Studio helped Dan take his concept from clay originals to the finished design and fabrication of the doorway.

John Hoover is widely known for his Native American artwork. “Blue Jay Man Triptych” was inspired by boyhood memories of portable, Russian Orthodox icons that traveling priests brought to the artist’s Alaskan hometown. Drawing from his own personal mythology, John created his own version of the spiritual artifact. The “jay,” is in reference to his name and is one of the “inua” or animal spirit energies connected to the woodcarving. The artist’s own facial features and signature necklace complete the iconic self-portrait.

"Blue Jay Man Feast Dish," front and back

“Blue Jay Man Feast Dish,” also combines many layers of nature, spirituality and self-reflection. The feast dish is reminiscent of traditional, functional Aleutian artwork that John admired while discovering his own style of sculpture. Two Ravens Studio was honored to mold, cast and patina these cedar art forms for the artist and his family.

A. Phimister Proctor is one of the most prolific sculptors of western themed art. Proctor excelled at public monuments, Native American portraits  as well as wildlife sculptures. Big Beaver, a Blackfoot Indian, modeled several times for Proctor on the reservation, at Proctor’s home in California, and at his studio in New York City. The artist’s grandson, Phimister Proctor “Sandy” Church, founded the A. Phimister Proctor Museum near Seattle to preserve the legacy of his grandfather’s art. Church commissioned artist Jeff Oens for the restoration of his grandfather’s plasters to be recast in bronze and patinated by Two Ravens Studio.