L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2014 www.italoamericano.com 6 Sculptor Still Going Strong Professional sculptor and for- mer chef, Giorgio Atzori per- fected his first sculpting lessons working alongside his grandfa- ther who managed a quarry in the late 1950s. Since that early beginning, Atzori has been pro- ducing creative and unique sculptures for more than 35 years, as well as dabbling in painting. He is very modest and humble about his work, attribut- ing much of his success to men- tors, teachers, and his grandfa- ther. "I was very lucky," says Atzori. "I got to work with many outstanding mentors and teachers who have helped me along the way. I owe much to their teach- ings. I was born in Rome, Italy in 1951, and worked in the quarry until urbanization began to slow- ly take over and encroach on the quarry's property until it was no more." The quarry was situated near the first Roman highway which went from Rome to the sea port coastal town of Brindisi. A part of that road still exists today and on it has been built the Park of the Appia Antica, which includes the first 16 Km of the ancient consular road. "As soon as I came to The United States I enrolled in the National Academy of Arts," explains Atzori. He recalls attending the duCret School of the Arts in New Jersey where he was mentored by Furman Finck, its former Dean, as well as Boris Blei, a former student of famous French sculptor, Auguste Rodin. Finck was a painting teacher at the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. and his paint- ing also influenced Atzori. "I majored in contemporary art with an exploration of the modern concept," says Atzori, adding that he trained as a classi- cal sculptor interested in both liturgical themes and the human figure. His formal training also includes work at the Istituto dell'Arte di Deruta (The Insitute of Art) in Deruta, Italy. The RobeRt Gallo sculptor also remarked that his training as a classical sculptor continued under the mentorship and tutoring of Donald Lu, a teacher who worked for the Kennedy family and sculpted many pieces representing Normandy Beach. Lu also taught Atzori how to add painting to his repertoire of creative skills and achievements. In addition to being an accomplished artist, Atzori is also an expert mold maker and was commissioned to create the original molds for the 2002 Memoria Project, in Highlands, New Jersey. This project was a marble and granite monument created to pay national tribute to the victims and survivors of the terrorists' attacks of September 11, 2001. It consists of two mar- ble pillars, one female with tremendous weight bearing down on her; the other, a male stretches toward freedom. "We are especially drawn to the sensitive and meditative connection between the magnifi- cent Crucified Lord by Giorgio Atzori dominating the sanctuary, and the exquisite , strong ark- like tabernacle positioned also in the sanctuary, behind the cruci- fix," writes Mary Donohue of the church's newsletter. "I enjoyed doing that piece, says Atzori, "liturgical sculp- tures are part of my background and interest." The sculptor is currently working on a private religious commission, one of several he has been asked to do relating to his muse in religion motifs. "May 21st was the celebra- tion of the birth of Rome," said Atzori, who is working on a per- sonal sculpture of Rome's Romulus and Remus, the twin brothers and central characters of Rome's foundation myth. Several of his sculptures can be viewed in San Diego's Little Italy, the location of Sogno di Vino, where Atorzi still works in the kitchen. These are predomi- nantly displayed on the restau- rant's bar, amongst wine bottles and in a corner niche. Giorgio Atzori modeling of a human figure in clay Unfinished Commissioned Liturgical Sculpture

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