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Sculpture exhibit opening at the Hamlet gallery for Charles Smith and son, Zan, titled “The Spoleto Dancing and Toasting Frogs”

Friday, June 4th , 5-8 pm.

 

 

“The Spoleto Dancing and Toasting Frogs”

Established local artists, Charles Smith and son,  Zan , are presenting a new collection of human -size copper frog sculptures titled   “The Spoleto Dancing and Toasting Frogs” at the Hamlet Fine Art Gallery at 7 Broad Street, June 4^th 5-8 pm during the “Spoleto Stroll” on Broad Street.    Please meet our artists and enjoy the new whimsical sculptures in the courtyard!

The beginning of the human-size copper frog emerged in 1974 when Charles Smith, the original “frogsmith”, started making metal sculptures(following a career in science and engineering). His first subjects were clowns and dancers made with sheet copper overlaid with brass from one to two feet tall.  “Natural subject matter, coupled with the basic desire to render the life size image of the human form in metal are the forces that led to the copper frog” says Charles.  The frogs have evolved over the years, first sitting on the ground, then standing, holding a wine bottle, martini glass, reading a book, playing an instrument and other various human activities.  Sizes have varied also, large to small and back to the human-size again.  The “Spoleto Dancing” frogs in the courtyard stand around 7 feet tall and are perfectly asymmetrical.

Charles’ son, Zan, learned metal sculpture while growing up, and became  a “Frogsmith” after his father.  Zan continues to contribute in the development of the medium and collaborate on the art and craft of the human size copper frog sculptures  with his father.  Charles and Zan each have a studios in a natural setting on a small, family island in the South Carolina Lowcountry, south of Charleston.  Hamlet Fine Art Gallery is the sole dealer for the master duo in Charleston, S.C.

Each frog is made individually and has its own character in expression  and  body language.  They do not use templates, or helpers.  The artists primarily use copper, brass and stainless steel, and have developed over the years a special process for initiating the verdigris patina.  Each frog is signed, dated and copyrighted on a stainless steel plate near the foot of the frog statue.

“Aliveness” is a descriptive term often used to describe their frog sculptures.  Frank Cabot of the Garden Conservancy at Murray Bay, near Quebec in Canada has placed fifteen of the creatures in the gardens saying “they have soul”.   The Atlanta Botanical Gardens have seven of these wonderful, whimsical creatures in their collection and also the S.C. Aquarium .   “These whimsical, happy, frog creatures really make people smile when they come in our gallery” says Stephanie Shuler Hamlet of the Hamlet Fine Art Gallery.

For more information, contact the Hamlet Fine art Gallery at 843-722-1944 or www.hamletgallery.com

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