Former President George H.W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush recently celebrated the unveiling of a larger-than-life sculpture of George Bush, now on display at the George and Barbara Bush Center at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine. The solid marble statue was created by John Andelin of the Williston Ward, Bismarck Stake, in North Dakota.
Andelin was honored for his depiction of the former president in a posture suggesting optimism and vision. John and his wife, Cindy, described the entire spectacle as "overwhelming."
"As an artist, I am depicting his image, and that trust is a high honor. As with other pieces I've created, I want to convey a message," Andelin said of sculpting the first President Bush. "I personally have a great deal of respect for George and Barbara Bush; their devotion to each other, their personal integrity and dedication to family values. As a world leader, … President Bush has set a great example in that regard."
The artist also indicated that the Bushes each told him they were very pleased with the sculpture, which was unveiled Sept. 17.
"That's so gratifying to hear, because the ultimate goal of a sculptor is to produce a work that will be pleasing to the subject as well as to the public," Andelin said.
To carve a 9-foot sculpture, Andelin first acquired a 19,600-pound block of Colorado Yule marble. Initially, the stone was roughly sized with the aid of a diamond-studded hydraulic chain saw. In addition to traditional carving methods, Andelin uses computer-assisted 3-D technology for his artwork.
In 2003, he met with President Bush at his presidential library in Texas, where he obtained 3-D facial scans of the former president.
"A 3-D scan of the face is essentially a digital life mask," Andelin explained. "This is an invaluable assistance in the creation of an accurate likeness."
A self-taught sculptor specializing in realistic works, Andelin indicated that he's "always been drawn to sculpture." He began woodcarving at the age of 15. As a father of seven children and a physician, he has a busy life, which has prevented him from devoting as much time to art as he would have liked. Since 1993, Andelin has progressed from a part-time hobby to a time-consuming but satisfying personal pursuit.
Andelin's previous works include "The Dawning of a Brighter Day," a life-size marble sculpture of the young Joseph Smith, on display at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg, Idaho; "Contemplating Moroni's Promise," a woodcarving on display in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City; and a marble bust of the Savior, also displayed in the Conference Center. In 2005, he created marble reliefs depicting cultural elements of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These are currently on display at the visitors center of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. To see these sculptures, go to his Web site, www.heroicmarble.com.
Andelin says he has plans to continue to create marble sculpture, primarily with religious subjects and themes. But he is currently receiving inquiries about creating portraits of other high-profile figures. His goal continues to be, "To create works of art that will uplift and inspire, ennobling both the subject and the observer."
Karla J. Cox is Bismarck North Dakota Stake public affairs director.