"For Star Wars fans, Calif's Yoda statue is a mecca"

So states the author of the Associated Press story, Mr. Garance Burke. Great story. Great coverage too. That story is running across the nation and around the world. I had no idea when I sculpted Yoda, that he would be placed on a fountain, designed, by the way, by world famous Landscape Architect, Lawrence Halprin, and then be placed in front of Lucasfilm's corporate offices, and then become a... well, a "mecca"?

The piece was done out of love of the character, and look what happened. I had just come off of a major injury, a broken leg to be specific, a thousand pound clay statue had fallen on me... it almost killed me. But that's another story. The point is that I wasn't having a lot of fun sculpting BEFORE the statue fell on me. I had been involved in the highly emotional journey of sculpting "Officer Down" and the "California Firefighters' Memorial". These had taken their toll, both mentally and physically. They were hard work. Don't get me wrong, I was honored to do them and they were Huge commissions... its' just that I needed a break, not the kind that hurts though.

After I mended, I decided to do a couple of pieces for fun... to bring back the joy I got from sculpting someone and something I loved. First, I sculpted a fountain of Joan of Arc, modeled after my wife, Elizabeth. I depicted her as the young maiden, drawing water from a well and spilling it out while receiving her vision from God, a directive to become a warrior and save France.  I know, I made Elizabeth a saint, cast her in bronze, and put her up on a pedestal...

Well, the next project just had to tap into my love for Star Wars... and Yoda. He had been my inspiration to go into sculpture to begin with... such admiration and respect for him I had. My friend, Han Park, a collector, had approached me about doing a sculpture of the Jedi Master, and I couldn't resist. We gave one to George Lucas... and, as they say, the rest is history. Be careful when you give one of the most creative people in the world a gift! He obviously had plans that eclipsed anything I could've come up with...

I honestly don't know what my life would have been, not having Master Yoda in it. His influence, charm, wisdom, presence and spirit have graced the years I've spent with him. A Friend he is... yes.

Comments

[fototaker]

just happened to see your beautyfully-detailed work yesterday! the Passion and Love shows!!!