Stone sculptor Michael Binkley had an epiphany in Italy.
He was 20 years old and floundering through life when he decided to study in the epicentre for early Italian Renaissance art.
It was in the hallowed halls of the Accademia di Belle Arti that Binkley had his premonition. He stared at Michelangelo’s four unfinished slave sculptures.
“I had this epiphany that I could see inside rock,” says Binkley. And my epiphany was I realized I could see those half finished sculptures the way that everyone else could see (Michelangelo’s) David finished.”
Binkley came home inspired from that experience and spent the summer of 1980 in a friend’s studio learning how to carve stone. He was a quick study and has since earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most successful self-represented artists.
The Lynn Valley resident’s work can be found in private collections on every continent.
“You will even find a Michael Binkley on Antarctica,” he says.
Binkley maintains his studio in Moodyville, where he works in a wide variety of stone and idiom. His collection contains figurative, abstract and wildlife works, however Binkley’s favourite subject to sculpt is the human nude.
“I can’t explain it but it’s just my favourite art form and that probably goes back to Michelangelo,” he says. “I think that the human body is one of the most beautiful things in nature.”
Over the years Binkley has begun offering stone carving workshops, including one coming up in the Seymour area in early February. Undoubtedly, the most unique environment Binkley has taught in was out at sea.
He plied his craft in the Mediterranean, in Alaska and across the Atlantic, teaching stone sculpting aboard cruise ships, including the stately Queen Mary 2. Binkley was selected to represent Canada in the $5-million onboard permanent art collection for that ship. He completed that commission at the end of 2003, when the ship was ready for unveiling and christened by Queen Elizabeth II.
Binkley strives to create sculptures which will seduce the viewer’s eye, stir the soul, and entice the viewer to touch. With his upcoming course at Maplewood House, Binkley is hoping to spark some imagination.
“To this day most workshops … they will all follow a pattern,” he says. “I would prefer to encourage creativity.”
Instead of going in with a concept, Binkley will study the rock and envision what form it should take, that’s his method.
“I would like to see students engage with a piece of stone,” he says.
In past workshops students have created everything from a lighthouse to a self-portrait of a left hand out of stone.
The Maplewood course will run three Tuesday nights and at the end of it students can go home with a piece of soapstone art.
“Because it’s so soft, participants will be able to work quickly and hopefully realize a piece from start to finish,” says Binkley.
He will teach students how to create a masterpiece from soapstone using files, rifflers and sandpaper, Tuesdays, Feb. 7-21, 7-9 p.m. at Maplewood House, 399 Seymour River Place. The course cost is $130 and includes materials. Register by Jan. 31 by calling 604-988-6844 or emailing [email protected].
