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SOM#090, Stanley Bleifeld, Chinese Philosophers - Chinese Landscape, 1974
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From the collection of John Birks
Numbers Issued: 1,300 Bronze, 185 Silver
FROM THE ARTIST
The present political rapprochement with China causes us to reflect once more upon the wisdom of the great Chinese people as exemplified in the Chinese philosophers Lao Tze and Confucius, who are depicted on the obverse of the medal. Lao Tze, founder of Taoism and author of the Tao Teh Ching, represents the Tao (or Way of Life) in which man freed from pride can be kind, in which all laws of nature are united, all contradictions are resolved, and everything finds a proper place. Confucius, on the other hand, represents his philosophy of seeing the ultimate in a pure, rational and intellectual life centered on man and the formation of character. Together, they represent the concern of all Chinese philosophy for the eternal harmony of the "right and good” man with the inscrutability of nature and the insignificance of man in relation to nature. The lettering of the philosophers’ names, as well as my own initials on the obverse, are Latin letters disguised in what I define as "Chinese dress".
The reverse illustrates a landscape in the style of a Chinese painting, delicate and atmospheric, with a sense of scale: man in the immensity and infinity of nature. I tried to create the effect of a man as a small part of nature and as a harmonious part of the universe through the Chinese pavilion beneath the cliffs and the small boat in the bay.
Experienced as a whole, this art medal calls Western man to see, as the Chinese teach and as the historian Will Durant expresses ... "the healing peace of uncrowded mountains and spacious fields". The theme warns us of the danger inherent in forgetting our rightful relationship to nature and reminds us of our need to humble ourselves if we are to learn the true meaning of the universe.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Stanley Bleifeld was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924. He attended the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania, and earned his B.F.A. and M.F.A., as well as his B.S. in Education from the Tyler School of Art, Temple University.
Mr. Bleifeld began his art career as a painter, but a trip to Italy in 1959 exposed him to the wonders of sculpture and he has continued to explore this medium ever since, specializing in landscapes although noted for his sculptural family portraits as well. He returns each summer to the Italian town of Pietrasanta and the foundry where he supervises the casting of his year's work and gains renewal from the Italian countryside.
Mr. Bleifeld's home and studio is in Weston, Connecticut, and he also conducts classes in sculpture in a studio in Westport, Connecticut. He has exhibited his work widely in the East and in other parts of the country such as Houston, Texas, at the University of Indiana, and at the L'Agostiniana Gallery, Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. Among his many commissions is the plaster of the "prophecies of the Old Testament Prophets of the coming of the Messiah" done for the Vatican Pavilion at the New York World's Fair (1964-65).
Mr. Bleifeld's awards include the 1964 John Gregory Award, 1964 Fellow of the Tyler School of Fine Arts, the two Tiffany Fellowships in 1965 and 1967; election to membership in the National Sculpture Society and the 1970 Bronze Medal of that society.
Mr. Bleifeld affirms permanence in art, the value of the unique, single work of art and the importance of spontaneity which he acknowledges is perhaps the most difficult of sculptural achievements.
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![SOM#090, Stanley Bleifeld, Chinese Philosophers - Chinese Landscape, 1974
[b]From the collection of John Birks[/b]
[i]Numbers Issued: 1,300 Bronze, 185 Silver[/i]
[b]FROM THE ARTIST[/b]
The present political rapprochement with China causes us to reflect once more upon the wisdom of the great Chinese people as exemplified in the Chinese philosophers Lao Tze and Confucius, who are depicted on the obverse of the medal. Lao Tze, founder of Taoism and author of the [i]Tao Teh Ching[/i], represents the Tao (or Way of Life) in which man freed from pride can be kind, in which all laws of nature are united, all contradictions are resolved, and everything finds a proper place. Confucius, on the other hand, represents his philosophy of seeing the ultimate in a pure, rational and intellectual life centered on man and the formation of character. Together, they represent the concern of all Chinese philosophy for the eternal harmony of the "right and good” man with the inscrutability of nature and the insignificance of man in relation to nature. The lettering of the philosophers’ names, as well as my own initials on the obverse, are Latin letters disguised in what I define as "Chinese dress".
The reverse illustrates a landscape in the style of a Chinese painting, delicate and atmospheric, with a sense of scale: man in the immensity and infinity of nature. I tried to create the effect of a man as a small part of nature and as a harmonious part of the universe through the Chinese pavilion beneath the cliffs and the small boat in the bay.
Experienced as a whole, this art medal calls Western man to see, as the Chinese teach and as the historian Will Durant expresses ... "the healing peace of uncrowded mountains and spacious fields". The theme warns us of the danger inherent in forgetting our rightful relationship to nature and reminds us of our need to humble ourselves if we are to learn the true meaning of the universe.
[b]ABOUT THE ARTIST[/b]
Stanley Bleifeld was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924. He attended the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania, and earned his B.F.A. and M.F.A., as well as his B.S. in Education from the Tyler School of Art, Temple University.
Mr. Bleifeld began his art career as a painter, but a trip to Italy in 1959 exposed him to the wonders of sculpture and he has continued to explore this medium ever since, specializing in landscapes although noted for his sculptural family portraits as well. He returns each summer to the Italian town of Pietrasanta and the foundry where he supervises the casting of his year's work and gains renewal from the Italian countryside.
Mr. Bleifeld's home and studio is in Weston, Connecticut, and he also conducts classes in sculpture in a studio in Westport, Connecticut. He has exhibited his work widely in the East and in other parts of the country such as Houston, Texas, at the University of Indiana, and at the L'Agostiniana Gallery, Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. Among his many commissions is the plaster of the "prophecies of the Old Testament Prophets of the coming of the Messiah" done for the Vatican Pavilion at the New York World's Fair (1964-65).
Mr. Bleifeld's awards include the 1964 John Gregory Award, 1964 Fellow of the Tyler School of Fine Arts, the two Tiffany Fellowships in 1965 and 1967; election to membership in the National Sculpture Society and the 1970 Bronze Medal of that society.
Mr. Bleifeld affirms permanence in art, the value of the unique, single work of art and the importance of spontaneity which he acknowledges is perhaps the most difficult of sculptural achievements.
Keywords: sold](albums/userpics/10001/SOM%23090-combo~0.jpg "SOM#090, Stanley Bleifeld, Chinese Philosophers - Chinese Landscape, 1974
[b]From the collection of John Birks[/b]
[i]Numbers Issued: 1,300 Bronze, 185 Silver[/i]
[b]FROM THE ARTIST[/b]
The present political rapprochement with China causes us to reflect once more upon the wisdom of the great Chinese people as exemplified in the Chinese philosophers Lao Tze and Confucius, who are depicted on the obverse of the medal. Lao Tze, founder of Taoism and author of the [i]Tao Teh Ching[/i], represents the Tao (or Way of Life) in which man freed from pride can be kind, in which all laws of nature are united, all contradictions are resolved, and everything finds a proper place. Confucius, on the other hand, represents his philosophy of seeing the ultimate in a pure, rational and intellectual life centered on man and the formation of character. Together, they represent the concern of all Chinese philosophy for the eternal harmony of the \"right and good” man with the inscrutability of nature and the insignificance of man in relation to nature. The lettering of the philosophers’ names, as well as my own initials on the obverse, are Latin letters disguised in what I define as \"Chinese dress\".
The reverse illustrates a landscape in the style of a Chinese painting, delicate and atmospheric, with a sense of scale: man in the immensity and infinity of nature. I tried to create the effect of a man as a small part of nature and as a harmonious part of the universe through the Chinese pavilion beneath the cliffs and the small boat in the bay.
Experienced as a whole, this art medal calls Western man to see, as the Chinese teach and as the historian Will Durant expresses ... \"the healing peace of uncrowded mountains and spacious fields\". The theme warns us of the danger inherent in forgetting our rightful relationship to nature and reminds us of our need to humble ourselves if we are to learn the true meaning of the universe.
[b]ABOUT THE ARTIST[/b]
Stanley Bleifeld was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1924. He attended the Barnes Foundation in Merion, Pennsylvania, and earned his B.F.A. and M.F.A., as well as his B.S. in Education from the Tyler School of Art, Temple University.
Mr. Bleifeld began his art career as a painter, but a trip to Italy in 1959 exposed him to the wonders of sculpture and he has continued to explore this medium ever since, specializing in landscapes although noted for his sculptural family portraits as well. He returns each summer to the Italian town of Pietrasanta and the foundry where he supervises the casting of his year's work and gains renewal from the Italian countryside.
Mr. Bleifeld's home and studio is in Weston, Connecticut, and he also conducts classes in sculpture in a studio in Westport, Connecticut. He has exhibited his work widely in the East and in other parts of the country such as Houston, Texas, at the University of Indiana, and at the L'Agostiniana Gallery, Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. Among his many commissions is the plaster of the \"prophecies of the Old Testament Prophets of the coming of the Messiah\" done for the Vatican Pavilion at the New York World's Fair (1964-65).
Mr. Bleifeld's awards include the 1964 John Gregory Award, 1964 Fellow of the Tyler School of Fine Arts, the two Tiffany Fellowships in 1965 and 1967; election to membership in the National Sculpture Society and the 1970 Bronze Medal of that society.
Mr. Bleifeld affirms permanence in art, the value of the unique, single work of art and the importance of spontaneity which he acknowledges is perhaps the most difficult of sculptural achievements.
Keywords: sold")
