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contact name: albert belleveau
phone: 2182432685
email: abel@paulbunyan.net
location address:
24011 hwy 89 nw
puposky MN 56667
open to public: yes
hours: call:218 368 7330 call me
Pseudonym: abell
Related Organizations:
"Rock Iron Art"
Rock Iron Art, is the syntheses of a life long love affair that sculptor Albert Belleveau has had with two of northern Minnesota’s most plentiful resources. He use's rocks and metal in sculptural form to depict humorous life forms, unique functional furniture and decorating accouterments.
The wind and wave softened stones are collected by the artist during his frequent kayaking trips on Lake Superior and are sculpted at his Puposky studio. The rocks are selected according to size and color then thrust into cherry red cages of steel, formed and tightened under enormous pressure then welded to depict the sculptural needs.
The finished sculpture is sandblasted to even the surfaces and sealed with two coats of lacquer, or allowed to weather and oxidize.
Albert Belleveau started working with metal in his fathers fabrication shop at the age of five he continues to interpret the world he experiences in metal and other natural substances. He has created large scale sculpture and ornamental structural iron projects for both public and private commissions. His smaller works have traveled the world.
He resides in Maple Ridge township of northern Minnesota with plenty of rocks and iron
Education: 1977 Graduate of Bemidji High School, majoring in metals technology.
Self taught application of metallurgy in art.
ART STATEMENT
We make art to see better.
I look at my world realizing that things are never what they seem on the surface. The art that results personifies this openness and mystery, as I attempt to record the myriad of paradox that I see as I journey through and beyond this realm of space and time. I use rocks, metal, wood, humor and found objects to portray this vision. I hope my fascination with this medium may join to awaken the quest within the hearts and minds of those who enjoy my perspective: The quest to see better.
The technology I use to reproduce my vision relies heavily on the forces that came together to produce the rock upon which we find ourselves wheeling through space.
Welding machines using electricity (the glue of life) to melt and fuse seemingly solid substance. Plasma cutter-- the power of the sun in your hand producing a stream of
charged ions capable of cutting through inches of solid metal. Torches, forge and foundry (fire) the force of destruction and creation (the dance of Shiva). Grinders, the proverbial abrasives rounding off the rough edges. All working together to aid in the cauldron of creation. I consider this work not an exploitation of nature, but rather a fusion of nature and the human spirit to form a new creation that can transcend both. From the primordial ooze of an idea. to the hands on formation of a work struggling to be born I am transported beyond myself and local to an ineffable state of odyssey: Art
To be able to share the process with others, through sculpture workshops or gallery exhibition, is the most fulfilling of my activities.
Grants:
2012 - 2013 R2AC/McKnight Career Development Fellowship - Stone Age Art
Region 2 Arts Council , Individual artist grant - 1998 & 2001
Bemidji Community, secured funding for the Bemidji Sculpture Walk - 1998 to 2002
Northwest Minnesota Foundation - Leadership Training
Contributed to : Blandin community partnership grant - 2000 to 2002
Arts across Minnesota - 1999 to 2001
COMPAS Art in Schools, BRAID - 1997 to 2000
Exhibitions:
Albert C Belleveau Artistic Resume
24011 Hwy. 89 NW. Puposky, MN. 56667
home - 218 243 - 2685 cell - 218 368 7330 em- abel@paulbunyan.net
Web site : www.mnartists/albert_belleveau www.rockironart.com
Artist, Designer, Fabricator, Millwright, Sculptor, Consultant, Teacher with
a strong emphasis on sculpture as a mode of life exploration and expression.
Dedicated to art as a community building tool. Accepting commissions,
public display, teaching opportunities.
Education: 1977 Graduate of Bemidji High School, majoring in metals "shop class"
Self taught application of metallurgy in art. The ART is in the process.
Exhibitions, Commissions: partial listing
2013 Mahnomen,MN. Stone Age Artists. McKnight Career Development Fellowship
2013 Ely, MN. Winter Carnival. Ants.
2013 Sioux Falls, SD. Sculpture Walk. Ant Venture
2013 SanFransisco, Ca. Exploratorium Museum. 4 Tool Sculpture commissions
2012 North Dakota Museum of Art Fall Auction - Expecting, Knotty Girl.purchased
2012 MN Landscape Arboretum “ Ant Venture”
2012 Sioux Falls, SD. Sculpture Walk. “ Leaf Lady” Rented U of SD 2013
2012 - 2013 R2AC/McKnight Career Development Fellowship - Stone Age Art
2011 St Peter, MN. Teigi-18.5 foot chain Giraffe. Privet commission
2011 Mankato Sculpture Walk - Blue Chain Jane purchased
2011 MaCrostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN.- Garden Art
2011 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - Stone Goddess
2010 University MN Morris Purchase - Tool Box
2010 MaCrostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN.- Landscapes
2010 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - Outcropping House
2010 North Dakota Museum of Art Fall Auction - Al’s Chair. purchased
2010 Castlegar, BC. Sculpture Walk - Blue Chain Jane
2010 Bemidji Community Art Center Member Show
2009 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - Rock Ants Roll Trio
2009 Edina, MN. Grandview Sculpture Park. - Outcropping House 3
2009 Sioux Falls, SD. Sculpture Walk - Rock Ant Roll- purchase
2008 Park Rapids, MN. 20X20 Project - " Expecting "
2008 Bemidji, MN. Sculpture Walk - " Stone Spectre of Death " Critics choice
2008 Edina, MN. Grandview Sculpture Park. - " Blue Chain Jane "
2008 Sioux City, IO. Sculpture Walk - " Outcropping House 3 "& " Red Gear Head
2008 Sioux Falls, SD. Sculpture Walk - " Stone Booth " 2nd place, purchased
2007 Willmar, MN. Ridgewatter College. Solo show
2007 St Paul.MN History Center, Vance Gellert show Real Artists.Blue Chain Jane
2007 Edina, MN. Edina Library Sculpture Park - "Red Gear Head"
2007 Breckinridge, CO. Sculpture Walk " Outcropping House 2" Peoples choice
2007 Grand Rapids, MN. New Hospital art purchase - "Beach Reach"
2007 Grand Rapids, MN. 3 person collaboration - " Thin Places"
2007 Mesa, AZ. Sculpture Walk - " Outcropping House 2"
2006 Bemidji University Technical School - percent for art purchase- "Awakening"
2006 Mesa, AZ. Sculpture Walk - "Outcropping House" - purchased
2006 Sioux Falls, SD. Sculpture Walk -"Stone Boat Bench" & "Whirling Leaves"
2006 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - "Leaf Angel" & " Gear Head"
2005 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts - 3rd place " Knotty Girl"
2005 Bemidji State University, Walnut hall. " Woodland Fairy" Percent for art com
2005 Sioux Falls, SD. Sculpture Walk. "Tool Shed" & "outcropping House"
2005 Bemidji Community Arts -Clothing Optional -2d&3d Collaboration
2005 MPLS,MN. Offbeat Gallery - "Marsh Time" " Al's Chair "
2003 - 04 Ithaca NY. Art in the Heart of the City " Marsh Reflections "&" Radiator 2004 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - " Stone Boat "
2003 Chicago Navy Pier Walk 2003 - "Tool Shed"
2003 Uptown Café show - " Al-Chemy"
2002 Bemidji Community Arts Three person fall art show - Landscapes
2002 Bemidji, MN. March & April - Fly By Night, solo show - "Rock Iron Art"
2002 Minn. DNR air tanker base, solo show
2002 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - "Tool Shed"
2002 Region 2 Arts Council News - feature artist April / May edition
2001 Bemidji Community Art Center, Art in Park - sculpture demonstrator
2001 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - "Choo Choo" - Peoples Choice Award
2001 Anchorage,AK Museum of History and Art - " Bugs " year long art exhibition
2000 Bemidji Art Center, collaboration with Monica Hansmeyer, - "Big & Little"
2000 Grand Forks, ND. Art Walk - collaboration with Mark Gross - "Fearless Frog"
2000 Minnesota Craft Counsel, St. Paul, MN - fall Fiber Metal Group Show
1999 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - "Radiator"
1999 Bemidji Community Art Center, Art in the Park - Best of Show
1998 Golden, Colorado.The North American Sculpture Exhibition, -"Rocking
Horse"
1998 Davie, Florida Broward College, art exhibition theme ( BOX ) - "Tool Box"
1998 - 2010 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show
1997 MPLS,MN. Society of Minnesota Sculptors Spring show
1996 Bemidji, MN. - Mark Evenson Memorial Arch
1995 Bemidji and surrounding area - cemetery arches
1994 Bemidji State University - "Alumni Arch"
1993 Red Lake,MN. Red Lake Elementary School sculpture - "Dedication"
School residencies--Assisting students in creating sculpture.
Teaching metal fabrication safety and techniques:
2010 - 2011 Clear Waters Community Center art workshops, Gonvic, MN lots of students and sculptures.
2007,08,09,10 - U of M Bemidji creativity festival - 1 day - 45 students, 45
sculptures
2004-5 Yaxche school, Taos, New Mexico -Sep&Oct -60 days 90 students 40
sculptures
2003 Cass Lake Elementary,Cass Lake, MN.six week enrichment cluster,garden
fence
2002 School Craft Learning Community, Bemidji, MN. - 3 day 6 sculptures
2001 Headwaters Science Center, Bemidji, MN. - 15 two hour classes 1 dinosaur
2000 Bemidji Kindergarten Center - 2 days 2 sculptures
2000 Bemidji State University Nurse training program - 1 day 1 sculpture
1999 Kelliher High school, Kelliher, MN. Two artist collaboration - 5 day
15 sculptures
1999 Bemidji Kindergarten Center - 2 days 2 sculptures
1998 Cass Lake Elementary School, Cass Lake, MN. - 5 day 5 sculptures
1998 Bemidji Kindergarten Center - 2 days 3 sculptures
1998 Bemidji State University Nurse program - 1 day 2 sculptures
1998 Northern Elementary school, Bemidji, MN. - 5 days 6 sculptures
1998 to 2013 Bemidji Middle School career day presenter for artist as a
career choice
1997 St. Marks School, Bemidji, MN. - 1 day 14 sm. sculptures
1997 COMPAS, Bemidji, MN. 5 schools,5 fifth grade classes,5 days 143 sm.
sculptures
1997 to 2002 Headwaters School of Music and the Arts - instructor
1997 Bemidji State University, 1 credit class 2 days 12 sculptures
1980 to present Privet studio teaching
Theatrical Sculptural Set Design:
2011, 2012, 2013 - many
2007 - 2010 - Mask and Rose Woman's Theater, Bemidji, MN. - sets
2006 - Mask and Rose Woman's Theater, - Proof - set
2006 - Mask And Rose Woman's Theater - Lutice and Lovage - set
2005 - Bemidji High School - Joseph - set sculpture
2004 - Paul Bunyan Play House Bemidji, MN.( PBPH ) Peter Pan - set
2003 - Bemidji Community Theater - Lill Abner - set sculpture
2003 - ( PBPH ) Why Crane Has Long Legs - set sculpture
2003 - (PBPH) Love Letters - set sculpture
2002 - (PBPH) Best Christmas Pageant Ever - set sculpture
2002 - CAGE productions - Frankenstine - laboratory set design
2002 - Bemidji High School, " Much Ado About Nothing" - Aluminum masks
2001 - ( PBPH )" Equus" - Horse heads & hooves + set
2000 - ( PBPH ) Jesus Christ Super star - metal set
2000 - Bemidji High School, West Side Story - metal set
1999 - ( PBPH ) Jesus Christ Super Star - metal set
1996 to present Individual sculptures used in plays
Technique Development:
2004 to present - Sculptural uses for weapons of the past,and future -Sticks N Stones
2002 to present - Development of light weight self contained casting crucible
2002 to present - Modified metal casting. Open faced mold, multi metal -multi media
1998 to present - Rock Iron Art. Rock+ metal amalgamation fabrication
1997 - Self contained welding demonstration unit. Sculpture welding in class rooms.
1975 to 1981 - Back twist metal forging. Blacksmithed items.
Public commissions: 1989 to present
Privet commissions: 1976 to present
Sculpture party's: 1997 - present
Celebrations of creativity and love to memorialize an important
date:birthday,anniversary ect. Guests bring metal objects ( junk ) and I
orchestrate the creation of a sculpture with guest participation. A good
time is had by all, and a sculpture too!.
1989 - 2007. many
fly by night - bemidji, mn.
Great River Gallery - Bemidji, mn.
bemidji, mn.
Country of Citizenship:
United States
Birth Place:
mpls
Birth Date:
July 3, 1959
Gender:
Male
Active Place:
puposky
Minnesota County:
Beltrami
Sculptor
Artists that interest me...
Bright Stars: Bemidji
Forms of Flight