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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

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:
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:
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 Breckanridge, CO. Sculpture Walk “ Outcropping House 2” Peoples choice award
Purchase
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”-Purchase
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 commision
2005 Sioux Falls, SD.  Sculpture Walk. “Tool Shed” & “outcropping House”- 2nd place 
2005 Bemidji Community Arts -Clothing Optional -2d&3d Collaboration ClancyEricson 
2005 MPLS,MN.  Offbeat Gallery - “Marsh Time”  “ Al’s Chair “
2005 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - “ Blue Chain Jane “
2004 Ithaca NY.  Art in the Heart of the City  “ Marsh Reflections “
2004 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - “ Stone Boat “
2003 Ithaca NY. Art in the Heart of the City  “ Radiator “
2003 Chicago Navy Pier Walk 2003 - “Tool Shed”
2003 Uptown Caffe show - “ Al-Chemy”
2003 Bemidji, MN.  Fly By Night, group show
2002 Bemidji Community Arts Three person fall art show - Landscapes
2002 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 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show
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-Purchase
2001 North Valley Arts, Grand Forks ND - garden art show
2001 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - collaboration with Suzi Rhae - "Cellular Wisdom"
2001 Bemidji State Park, solo sculpture placements
2001 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show
2001 Anchorage Museum, Alaska ? Bugs ? year long art exhibition
2000 Bemidji Art Center, collaboration with Monica Hansmeyer, ?Big & Little?
2000 Grand Forks Art Walk - collaboration with Mark Gross - ?Fearless Frog?
2000 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show
2000 Minnesota Craft Counsel, fall Fiber Metal Group Show
1999 Bemidji Sculpture Walk - ?Radiator?
1999 Bemidji Community Art Center, Art in the Park - Best of Show
1999 Bemidji Sculpture Walk , collaboration with Cindy Wildes - ?Dancing Loon?
1999 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show
1998 The North American Sculpture Exhibition, Golden Colorado - ?Rocking Horse?
1998 Bemidji Community Art Center, Art in the Park
1998 Ballard College-Florida art exhibition theme -? BOX ? - ?Tool Box?
1998 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show
1997 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show
1997 Society of Minnesota Sculptors Spring show
1997 Bemidji Community Art Center, Peoples Art Festival
1996 Bemidji Community Art Center, members show

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

http://A Singular Creation is a one of a kind art... 

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Bright Stars: Bemidji