Category

Our Artists – Sculptors

Jacqueline Carlson

Sculptor, Jeweler, Painter, Founding Artist

Jackie attended Indiana University at South Bend in the early 70s, where she took sculpture from Tuck Langland. In 1976, she joined the Army and was selected to become part of the White House Communications Agency as a communications specialist. From 1977 to 1981 she provided communications support at the White House and on three overseas and 16 stateside trips in support of the President of the United States. Upon her return to northern Indiana, she resumed studies at IUSB, and received a B.A. in Fine Arts in 1986.

She is interested in peace, justice and conservation. “We could probably have a pretty good life on this planet,” she says, “if everyone would just cooperate.”

Most recently, Jackie has concentrated efforts on icons of the civil rights movement. “I have never felt particularly courageous, and I really admire the courage of many who have been involved in civil rights.” She is planning a series of heads and figures of civil rights icons.

Jackie is also interested in endangered species and is hoping to do a series in tandem with her friends Julie and Yvonne.

Jackie has sold several of her sculptures and received a purchase award from the Midwest Museum of American Art. Jackie also does copper enameling and teaches an occasional workshop on the art form; email us if that would interest you.

Lawrence “Beau” Bilenki

Sculptor, Ceramicist, Founding Artist

Beau BilenkiBeau Bilenki, originally from London, Ontario, studied sculpture with Tuck Langland at Indiana University.

His work has been exhibited at South Bend Museum of Art, South Bend Regional Airport, Indiana University Gallery, Saugatuck and Marshall Michigan, Wisconsin, New York and Chicago at the Vance Galleries on Michigan Avenue.

Beau has studied pottery with Paul Soldner (the American father of Raku and inventor of the Soldner Wheel) well known potter, Dick Lehman, and Aldelphia Martinez (New Mexican potter Maria Martinez’s granddaughter).

“I strive for classical form with contemporary interpretation. Whatever medium I work in, I create each work to be balanced either, in symmetry or asymmetry. I have been compelled to achieve a quiet beauty.”

“A new direction of cement on steel gives me the challenge of sculpting the surface with color and texture. My form now is simple and basic. I see more involved, complicated volumes emerging in my drawings. In my search for artistic fulfillment, I study history and antiquity. My current work consists of welded steel rebar geometric forms covered with a galvanized steel lath covered with concrete. With this concept, I can be a sculptor in the mechanics of welding the frames and a painter in the application of the surface.”

“An artist is one who can tolerate a great amount of disorder” Lawrence Bilenki 1967

Beau is one of our founding artists. Fire Arts continues to be grateful for his investments of courage, time, ideas, money, and energy.

Doug Barton

Sculptor

Dr. Doug Barton was a Pediatric Dentist

I’ve always loved all sorts of art forms – color, composition, and creativity. About 3 years ago I found a home for exploring 3 dimensional Art, taking advantage of several of the Fire Arts’ teachers: Tuck Langland, Jan Dean, Joe Cera, and Doug Kile. I’ve settled into stone sculpture, under the mentoring of Dick Trench, and love it. “

Doug works in bronze, stone, metal, wood, and plaster, serious on one project and whimsical on the next.

Wayne Andrews

Wayne AndrewsWildlife Sculptor

Wayne is an avid bird watcher which has inspired and enriched his woodcarving craft. His favorite subjects are birds of prey, but he enjoys working from other birds and animals as well.

Portrait Sculptor

Wayne has also been sculpting portraits of his grandchildren in clay and casting them in bronze.

After retiring, Wayne started carving full time and attending workshops conducted by world class carvers such as Ernie Muehlmatt, Bob Guge, Phil Galatas, Chris White and Gary Eigenberger.

Upon joining Fire Arts, Wayne added working in clay, and casting in bronze using the lost wax process.

Wayne has exhibited at many sites including: Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Center, Niles, Michigan; Love Creek Nature Center, Berrien County, Michigan; and wood carving shows at Sauder Village, Archbold, Ohio; Duneland Wood Carvers Show, Portage, Indiana; The Fruit Belt Wood Carving Show, Cass County Fair Grounds, Michigan; World Championship Ward Wildfowl Carving Competition, Ocean City, Maryland; and the International Wood Carver Congress, Davenport, Iowa.