Alan Collins (sculptor)

Alan Collins

Guildford Cathedral Weather Vane, designed by Alan Collins
Born 1928
Beddington, Surrey, England
Nationality British
Education Royal College of Art
Spouse(s) Jeanne Fuegi; Aliki Snow
Awards Sir Otto Beit Medal
Website Alan Collins' website
Elected Fellow of Royal Academy

Alan Collins (born 1928) is an English-born sculptor noted for his work at Guildford Cathedral. After continuing his career in England, Collins moved to the United States and continued working there as an artist and, for more than 20 years, as a professor of art at Seventh-day Adventist universities.

Collins work has primarily focused on evocative Biblical stories told in outdoor sculptures, which has been described as "24-hour, 365-days-a-year silent sermons."[1]

Early life

Collins was born in the village of Beddington, in northeast Surrey, England. He naturally took to art as a child as a way to spend his time and a means of communication: when it was difficult to explains something he'd seen in words, he was more successful communicating in images. At the age of 16, after attending public schools, Collins entered Wimbledon School of Art. While there he earned first prize in a contest that spanned the country of England. Having won a scholarship for Royal College of Art, he studied sculpture.[1][2]

Collins developed a lifelong connection to the Adventist Church after having attended a meeting by Australian evangelist Thomas J. Bradley in Corydon, England.[2]

Career

When Collins first began carving in stone he used Malta stone, which was in great supply during and after World War II as it had been used by supply ships as ballast when the ships returned to England with otherwise empty load.[1]

His work was exhibited at the Royal Society for the Arts and the Royal Academy,[3] one of which was a Maltese stone sculpture Head of a King that Collins exhibited in 1946 at Exhibition 20 by the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society when he was a student at Wimbledon College of Art.[4] Collins was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of British Sculptors.[1][2]

In 1968 Collins moved to the United States and began a more than 20 year career teaching at Seventh-day Adventists universities, including Atlantic Union College (1968–1971) in Massachusetts, Andrews University (1971–1978) in Michigan and La Sierra University (1978–1989) in California. As a result of his years of work teaching at Adventist universities, he developed a "signature style" that is attributed to Adventist college works.[1][2]

Having retired from teaching, Collins has been working in Phoenix, Oregon on his own works made in many mediums: bronze, wood, clay, wood, concrete and stone. Collins, who has created many works for the Adventist Church, also conducts lectures and hangs his work at Adventist colleges.[1]

Works

Aside from Collins' work at Guildford Cathedral,[5] he executed other works in England before moving to the United States. Most notably he designed and carved the John F. Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede. In the United States he has created sculptures largely for religious organizations, and he has taken commissions from hospitals and private individuals.[2]

Guildford Cathedral

Collins made a number of works for Guildford Cathedral. A statue of Archangel Gabriel, made by Collins, is located at the eastern end of the Lady Chapel. He also made the sculptures of St Catherine and St Martha.[5] Collins's works includes[6]

Alan never used any models for his sculptures, they were all created using his own imagination. He was noted for being very knowledgeable of human anatomy and he always taught human anatomy to his sculpture students. This information came from his second Wife Aliki Collins and his Daughter Marianne. Guilded Angel.[8] Sitting on the cathedral's tower, Guilded Angel is made of copper and gilded with gold leaf. Although the 4.5 metre (15 foot) tall sculpture weighs about one ton, its being mounted on ball bearings allows it to turn with shifting wind directions.[7] Collins created the scale model of the angel in gold on the top of the tower[9] and the font.[10] His external works included a series of statues, such as Charity, Prudence, Courage and more.[7][11]

Biblical scenes

Contemporary religious art

Of his work, Collins wrote:
Fire is perhaps the most memorable visual form by which God has made His presence known to men. The burning bush, the guiding pillar of fire, the all-consuming fire on Mount Carmel, the tongues of fire at Pentecost and the eventual purification of the world by fire are pictures that come quite readily to mind. Being symbolic, my representation of fire became formalized, differing from the fluctuating form of fire itself. An artist may frequently attempt to make a visual analogy between differing visual forms, creating a bridge that will unite seemingly disparate qualities to form a new reality. In bringing together the two halves of my design I trapped a space that outlines the form of a wheat ear, the wheat that God will harvest when the chaff has all been burned. At the center of the design is a calm, stable form in clear plexiglass which I think of as the quiet flame of God's presence -- the still small voice at the heart of every fiery experience.[19]

Other works

The following is a partial list of Collins' other works.

England

Inscription on Runnymede Memorial for Kennedy Memorial Trust

United States

Awards and exhibitions

Personal life

After beginning his career in England, Collins moved to the United States in 1968 with his wife Jeanne and their daughter and son. They first lived in South Lancaster, Massachusetts. They moved to Michigan in 1971, where Collins taught at Andrews University (a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs.) In 1978 Collins and his family moved to California where Collins taught for 11 years at La Sierra University (another Seventh-day Adventist university that was located in Riverside.)[1]

Collins' wife suffered a long battle with cancer and in died 1992. In 1993, Collins married his second wife Aliki (Greek for English: Alice).[1][2] He has now retired from sculpting and resides in Dorset, England.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Dower, Richard. (April 2005). A Sculptor's Journey. Adventist News Network: Gleaner magazine. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Oliver, Ansel. (13 April 2004 ). World Church: Sculptor, an Adventist, Celebrates God's Creations. Adventist News Network. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Appendix section about Alan Collins. City of London, Planning. p. 1. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 Head of a King. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  5. 1 2 Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit, Guildford. British Listed Buildings. English Heritage Building ID 289097. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  6. ↑ The Right Hand of God, visible at the approach to the cathedral. Surrounded by the moon, stars and the sun, the offered hand is meant to represent an "invitation from God to be a part of the Christian Community".[7]
  7. 1 2 3 The Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit, Guildford: Sculptors and Designer. Guildford Cathedral. p. 1. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  8. ↑ Bishop Sermon: 50th Anniversary Consecration of Guildford Cathedral. Guildford Cathedral. Retrieved 17 August 2012/
  9. ↑ Guildford Cathedral, the Golden Angel on the tower. Surrey History Centre archives. Reference Number: PC 00072 ALB00300152. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  10. ↑ About Guildford Cathedral. PicturesofEngland.com Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  11. ↑ Mullions, Guildford Cathedral. Courtauld Institute of Art: Art and Architecture. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  12. 1 2 Ponder, James. (27 October 2010). "‘Who Touched Me?’ sculpture unveiled at Loma Linda University." Loma Linda University: Today. pp. 1-2. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  13. ↑ Terwillegar, Rachel. 19 April 2012. Good Samaritan sandblast sculpture unveiled. Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 J. N. Andrews Sculpture Points Students to Mission. St. Andrews University: Pioneer Memorial Church. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  15. ↑ Jesus Among Us - Celebrating Generosity in Service Walla Walla University. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  16. ↑ Jorgenson, Jennifer. Jesus Among Us. Walla Walla University. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
  17. ↑ Personal communications, CUC Advancement, 30 May 2013
  18. ↑ Joy Fehr, Alumni Weekend Dedication, June 7, 2013
  19. ↑ The Flame. Bay Knoll Seventh-day Adventist Church. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  20. ↑ Cavanagh, Terry. (December 2009). Minerva. Source is: Public Sculpture of South London; 2007, p219. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  21. ↑ Chessboard. Courtauld Institute of Art: Art and Architecture. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  22. ↑ Heraldry and Lettering: Memorial to an 18th Century Couple. Alan Collins Gallery.
  23. ↑ Meilach, Dona Z. (1970). Contemporary stone sculpture:aesthetics, methods, appreciation. Crown Publishers. p. 120.
  24. ↑ St. Nicholas' Church. Saltdean.info Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  25. ↑ Churches: All Saints' Church Collinsculptor. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  26. ↑ Bradford Cathedral. Visit Bradford. Retrieved 17 August 2012.

External links

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