The Art and Life of Peter Weil – $36

Peter Weil created well over 500 works of art in wood, stone, and metal. This book forms a catalogue of the sculptures found in the artist’s private collection. Weil’s mentorship of Jesse Salisbury, the founder of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, was instrumental in establishing Salisbury’s life long passion for sculpture.

Description

Peter Weil (1933–2019) created sculptures for over fifty years before retiring his welding gloves, hammers and chisels, choosing to focus on the beautiful scenery around their charming and rustic home in Steuben, Maine. Peter and his wife, Jane Weil moved to Maine in 1971 and fell in love with the area. Passionate art enthusiasts with a strong belief in mentorship, community and civic duty, their impact in the state of Maine has been significant. Through their support of the grassroots effort behind the Maine Sculpture Trail and Weil’s mentorship of Jesse Salisbury, its founder, as well as many other local and state projects, they have become a lasting part of the cultural heritage of Downeast Maine. Weil’s sculptures are understated masterpieces, whimsical reminders that our humanity is both exquisite and humorous at the same time.

This book features over 90 color images, with studio photos of Weil’s private collection of sculptures in wood, stone, and metal. Foreword by Bolek Peplowski and an essay by Jesse Salisbury.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have grown up near Peter and Jane. Seeing his work as a small child sparked my interest in sculpture. Studying with him from a young age gave me a chance to begin an early exploration of direct carving in hard materials.”    – Jesse Salisbury

“Weil’s wit lies on the surface, and the sagacity is just below.”     – Bolek Peplowski

Weight: 1.7lbs, Dimensions: 11 x 5 x 9″, 116 pages.

Creating the Maine Sculpture Trail: Legacy of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium – $30

The Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium brought together artists and communities from 2007 to 2014 to create an extensive stone sculpture collection throughout Downeast Maine. Made up of thirty-four unique works of public art, the Maine Sculpture Trail spans over 270 miles from Bucksport to Calais, gracing rural, urban and seaside landscapes. The story and inspiration behind the trail is told in the book Creating The Maine Sculpture Trail: Legacy of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium published in 2017. For more information, details on each sculpture and an online interactive map, please visit mainesculpture.org.

Description

The 160 page book chronicles this unique public art project through many voices and photos. It is dedicated to the volunteers who gave so much of their time to this project, to the artists and assistants, and to the many residents of the participating communities, who are now the great stewards of this trail.

As Steuben sculptor and founder, Jesse Salisbury, writes in the foreword: “This is a story of community accomplishment. Beyond the stunning photography showcasing each of the 34 sculptures created during the ten-year run of the Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium, this book also showcases the international community of artists who created these enduring works of public art. It reflects the tireless efforts of hundreds of volunteers who worked for over a decade to transform a dream into a hugely impactful and sustaining reality. The words and photos offer insight into what this 10-year project accomplished and why, in hindsight, it was worth the considerable efforts invested by those who made it happen. As important, this book offers encouragement to other regions and communities that, with the blessings, experience, insights and advice of all involved in the SISS phenomenon in Downeast Maine, might consider pursuing a similar undertaking.”

Read the review of this book is in the 2018 Feb-Mar issue of Working Waterfront.

Weight: 1.9lbs., Dimensions: 11 x 1 x 8.5″, 150 pages.