Northwest Indian Macaw

Sculpture

-

Calvin University Center Art Gallery

The image shows a vibrant, intricately designed wooden sculpture of a parrot, featuring vivid hues of orange, red, teal, and yellow in a distinctive abstract style, mounted on a simple metal stand against a plain background, highlighting its artistic craftsmanship.

The image shows a vibrant, intricately designed wooden sculpture of a parrot, featuring vivid hues of orange, red, teal, and yellow in a distinctive abstract style, mounted on a simple metal stand against a plain background, highlighting its artistic craftsmanship.

Name/Title

Northwest Indian Macaw

Entry/Object ID

1991.4.1

Description

Life-size 3d colored and patterned bird on a perch made out of wood and copper.

Type of Sculpture

Free Standing

Artwork Details

Medium

wood and copper

Category

Calvin Faculty Artist, On-Display at Calvin University, Animals

Made/Created

Artist

James Mellick

Date made

1991

Dimensions

Dimension Description

overall

Height

41 in

Width

23-1/2 in

Depth

23-1/2 in

Exhibition

Loan - Mellick @ Second Christian Reformed Church, Grand Haven, MI 5/16/12 - 8/23/2012.

General Notes

Note

Expanded Wall Label: Known for his fine craftsmanship, James Mellick’s metaphoric and decorative sculptures combine an understanding of animal behavior and anatomy with structural engineering. His dogs, birds, horses and other animals are beautifully sculpted and often found in combination with each other. In each circumstance, these pieces act as totems or social commentaries, drawing attention to the unique beauty of the animal or the importance of a personal concern. Mellick earned his MFA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville in 1973, and has continued to teach and exhibit extensively since then. From 1989-1991 he taught sculpture at Calvin College, and both this piece as well as Da Vinci’s Dog were purchased from him during that period. Around the collar of the Macaw he commemorated this piece with, “May the Spirit of Jesus be with Calvin College.”