Coquina Daily

the 'blog of Coquina Crossing, St. Augustine, FL

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Sunday, April 6, 2008

Brian Keith

It is easy to forget that the Coquina Daily gets read and searched by people other than residents of Coquina Crossing, people who may be across the continent or perhaps on another continent. Recently, we were contacted by a California sculptor, Brian Keith, who was doing an Internet search for articles about World War Two aviators. His search led him to one of our pages and a story about Bill Finch. Brian wrote:

I am working on a monumental sculpture depicting a WWII veteran and saw an article about a WWII Veteran William Finch. Do you know if I might be able to contact him regarding some photos to possibly use of him in reference for this piece. This man seems to be the story behind the man I am portraying.

I referred Brian to Michael for photos and historical information about Coquina WWII veterans and suggested he might also be interested in seeing Serve and Protect. Brian wrote back:

Thank you for your helpful reply Ralph. The video is a great tool I will use to help with my references to WWII Veterans.

I am working on a piece that is titled "Earning His Wings'. This particular sculpture depicts a grandpa who riding on a swan. The story line of the set of sculptures is something I came up with for the Blackhawk Plaza in Danville, CA. The initial sculpture is of a Grandpa reading to his granddaughter a story about swan rides. He is reading from a book that is coming to life with a real swan coming out of it. You can refer to the link I sent to see the picture of this clay sculpture. In front of this sculpture is a scene of kids and even the grandpa flying on swans. It is a story of the imagination, as well as one of Legacy. In this series, I want to portray the importance of the legacies that people leave.

I love the way Norman Rockwell would tells stories in such unique ways. I try to sculpt as if he were the one telling the story in bronze. This story has a grandpa who comes to the park where swans are taking people on rides. He comes often, and leaves a coin purse full of quarters next to the 'Swan Rides 25¢' Meter, so that the cost of the ride is never an issue. Anyone can ride. He is gracious, generous, and very humble. He is also full of life, with an attitude of thankfulness and cheer. He is a WWII veteran who lives life to the fullest. As he comes to the park, he wears his Flight Jacket that he has worn since serving. He wears his goggles, and scarf. Most of all, he wears a smile. One that as people view this piece, will hopefully be contagious.

So it is not just William Finch that I hope this represents, but the many(including the 30 veterans shown in the video) who have given so much, and yet still have an incredible attitude and deep character that others need to see in their legacy.

Thank you for the help in this. Please bookmark the link so that you can see the pieces as they are installed as bronze statues. And please share this with any of the vets who you think this would encourage.

and a P.S. -

[I was] just watching the video and, if possible, could you let Michael know that I am also interested in info on Harold Brandt. He has a look that is close to my grandpa that I have already sculpted on the first piece.

I had the feeling this was turning into a story the residents of Coquina Crossing would be interested in reading, so I asked Brian for more information and permission to show photographs of his work here. He kindly sent me this information about his creative process and what it was that captured his attention in Bill Finch:

As part of my preparation for working on a sculpture I spend a lot of time doing research for authenticity and a story line. Norman Rockwell would always use real people in his paintings, and as you know was a master story-teller. In this series of sculptures, I have decided that there needs to be a story behind the grandpa, so to make him represent a legacy being left. It deepens the character of the piece, knowing that there are things underneath the surface of the bronze sculpture.

I came across the Coquina Crossing and Bill Finch through a web search. I was deciding what age this grandpa should be, and decided to get some reference photos of real World War II Veterans. Your article came up on a Google search, and when I saw Bill's face, I thought saw in his eyes that there was a deep story that he had. After reading the article, I knew that this piece would depict a man such as Bill. I have seen several of the men in the video who I am pulling subtleties from. All in hopes to build the character of this bronze sculpture. I only wish that my pieces could speak. Several of the men in the video have such character in even their voices.

And yes, you have my permission to use some of the photos to accompany a story on their website. The pictures on the website show the pieces in clay form. When the first four are installed in July, the website will show them in bronze on location.

Thank you for your kindness in helping me with this next piece.

Much gratitude.
Brian

You're welcome Brian, and thank you.

See more photos of this group of sculptures here and other creations of Brian Keith here.

an illustration showing how the individual pieces will be arranged
all images copyright Brian Keith, used with permission

Lorenzo: The Flying French Man

A different kind of equestrian show.
submitted by Rita

Jokes

1. How Do You Catch a Unique Rabbit?
Unique Up On It.

2. How Do You Catch a Tame Rabbit?
Tame Way, Unique Up On It.

3. How Do Crazy People Go Through The Forest?
They Take The Psycho Path

4. How Do You Get Holy Water?
You Boil The Hell Out Of It.

5. What Do Fish Say When They Hit a Concrete Wall?
Dam!

6. What Do Eskimos Get From Sitting On The Ice too Long?
Polaroid's

7. What Do You Call a Boomerang That Doesn't work?
A Stick

8.. What Do You Call Cheese That Isn't Yours?
Nacho Cheese.

9.. What Do You Call Santa's Helpers?
Subordinate Clauses.

10. What Do You Call Four Bullfighters In Quicksand?
Quattro Sinko..

11. What Do You Get From a Pampered Cow?
Spoiled Milk.

12. What Do You Get When You Cross a Snowman With a Vampire?
Frostbite.

13. What Lies At The Bottom Of The Ocean And Twitches?
A Nervous Wreck.

14. What's The Difference Between Roast Beef And Pea Soup?
Anyone Can Roast Beef.

15. Where Do You Find a Dog With No Legs?
Right Where You Left Him.

16. Why Do Gorillas Have Big Nostrils?
Because They Have Big Fingers.

17. Why Don't Blind People Like To Sky Dive?
Because It Scares The Dog

18. What Kind Of Coffee Was Served On The Titanic?
Sanka.

19. What Is The Difference Between a Harley And a Hoover ?
The Location Of The Dirt Bag.

20. Why Did Pilgrims' Pants Always Fall Down?
Because They Wore Their Belt Buckle On Their Hat.

21. What's The Difference Between a Bad Golfer And a Bad Skydiver?
A Bad Golfer Goes, Whack, Dang!
A Bad Skydiver Goes Dang! Whack.

22. How Are a Texas Tornado And a Tennessee Divorce The Same?
Somebody's Gonna Lose A Trailer

submitted by Johanna

Coquina Vets at the Limelight

Photos of Coquina Crossing World War Two veterans to be featured on the Wall of Honor at the Limelight Theater Veterans Appreiciation Night April 10 (see below). More photos to follow - there are twenty in all.
submitted by Michael

Send us your submissions: interesting websites, news, calendars, stories, photos, items for sale – we will publish anything you would like to share with others (well, almost anything). We have plenty of web space available, so don’t hold back.

Today's Activities Schedule

1:00 Madhatters Knitting Group
5:00 BYOB Social
7:00 Clubhouse Bunco

Tomorrow's Activities Schedule

7:30 Men's Golf @ Shores
7:45 & 8:45 Aqua Aerobics
9:00 Pickle Ball
10:00 Shuffleboard/Nia
12:00 Coquina Classics
1:00 Chorus Practice
4:00 Pickle Ball
7:00 Euchre/Mah-jongg
7:00 Ladies' Poker

See the complete calendar