Visual Artist Bernard Stanley Hoyes
Sculpts Six Foot Granite Blue Fin Tuna
in China
Los Angeles, CA - When visual artist Bernard Stanley Hoyes left for Fuzhou City in the Fujian Province of China last month, he was on a life enhancing quest. His vision was to tranform a gigantic stone into a six-foot granite blue fin tuna with the help of master Chinese stonemasons. The task was was privately commissioned by an art sponsor and was to be his first granite rock sculpture
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One month later he has returned from China with not only his breath-taking finished product, but also with new skills, knowledge, memories and new friends he will cherish forever.
Jamaican born, Hoyes (www.BernardHoyes.com) is an intuitive painter best known for his masterful color designs. The three-dimensional sculpting process involved in creating the blue fin was not necessarily new to the traditional painter. But he chose Fuzhou as the location to perfect his craft for several reasons.
An ancient city with a history of more than 2,100 years, the time-honored Chinese stonemasons there are experts in the art of polishing stone. In addition the Fujian Province is home to the most beautiful blue gray granite in the world, the perfect attribute to capture the essence and splendor of the blue fin tuna.
Hoyes lived and worked at the factory with the factory manager, Zou Fu Shui and his family. "China was an amazing experience for me. The stonemasons embraced me and my work effort in a truly brotherly fashion. Even though language was a barrier at times, the spirit of the work was a unifying force that transcended all. Hopefully the blue fin tuna will serve as a symbol of collaboration and transformation to all who view it," states Hoyes.
The blue fin tuna was shipped by boat to Long Beach, CA and will be loaded and trucked to New York where it will be installed.
Oprah Winfrey, Natalie Cole, Steve Harvey, Keenan Ivory Wayans and the National Urban League are among Hoyes' collectors. Selections of Hoyes' work have been featured in several television shows including a recent episode of the Showtime hit series, "Dexter." President Barack Obama has even been photographed in front of his work.
Top Photo from left to right: Factory manager, Zou Fu Shui and Bernard Stanley Hoyes. Shui assisted with the hoisting of the fish on to the base. |
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Note to Media: Bernard Hoyes is available for interview. Contact makeda@jazzmynepr.com . Additional photos of the Blue Fin available. |
