Tribune Review :Tampa Sculptures-Perry Harvey Sr. Park
Tuesday, March 01, 2016 ~ http://triblive.com/aande/museums/9757234-74/simon-says-park
James Simon really gets into the head of his subjects.
His entire body can fit inside the cranium of the 16-foot concrete saxophone player he is putting the final touches on.
This sculpture is part of a commission from the city of Tampa. Included are a 16-foot female bass player cradling her instrument, two 9-foot dancers doing the twist, two 6-foot dogs and a large jukebox. They are intended to be placed at the entrance to Perry Harvey Park in Tampa.
Before the sculptures leave town, the Pittsburgh Office of Public Art will host a guided tour of Simon's Uptown studio from 7 to 8 p.m. Jan. 15.
Simon's work is well known and respected, says Renee Piechocki, director for the Office of Public Art.
"James has a distinct style," Piechocki says. "He has a very generous spirit and has an interest in the vibrancy of the entire arts community."
Simon has spent the past year bringing the sculptures to life. He is best known for his large, figurative clay sculptures, such as Liberty Avenue Musicians in the 900 block of Liberty Avenue, Downtown.
Simon was chosen for the Florida project from more than 150 applicants.
The Perry Harvey Park area of Tampa is seeing a lot of development and is undergoing a revitalization, says Robin Franklin Nigh, city of Tampa art programs division manager. The committee wanted something that was fun and celebratory, and the fact that Simon knows music gives the artwork a different feel, Nigh says.
"James has a very keen eye, and his attention to detail," Nigh says. "He was absolutely the right artist for the site and commission for a number of reasons, including his experience in violin making. The city wanted a statement artwork - an artwork that would 'set the stage' for the park and neighborhood."
The committee was looking for something that pays homage to the African-American heritage of the area and the talented musicians who spent time there, such as Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald, Nigh says.
The entire cost of the revitalization of the park is about $3.7 million, of which about $2.5 million was funded by grants. Simon's component cost about $300,000.
Simon has been documenting his progress since he began a year ago. The Stanton Heights native, who lives in Uptown, says it means a lot to him to know that people will see his sculptures.
He says he is inspired by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi, as well as Michelangelo. Simon loves to add color to his pieces and is inspired by music, which is where he honed his craft of creating violins. His love of clay and sculpture was formed as a student at Peabody High School.
The process for this commission began by making models out of armatures, which were covered in wet clay and cast in concrete. These sculptures are hollow, but they will be filled after they arrive in Florida and end up weighing a couple of thousand pounds each.
"Sculpting in clay allows me to go beyond realism to capture the fluidity of human form and the details of human expression in a way that amplifies the emotion of a piece," Simon says. "This figurative style gives my sculptures a universality and timelessness that make them relevant and relatable to viewers, qualities I value in art."
He says it's important to stay in shape with push-ups and yoga and tai chi, because his work takes stamina. He has had help on the project. Some of the challenges included having to remake the head for the male dancer and getting the arms just right, especially when they are extended away from the body which creates some reworking.
"It is exciting to know that folks will walk by and see it," Simon says. "I am interested in the excitement they generate. You have to have discipline and keep to a schedule when accepting such an undertaking.
"The trick for any artist is experience," he says. "It's like cooking - there is experimentation where you learn what works and what doesn't. And you develop your style as you go."