The Torch Bearers by Anna Hyatt Huntington / aluminum

One of the castings sold for $315000.

I am one of the torch bearers. My strange ironic life made me this way. Here’s a story about me.

I grew up in a family where the adults didn’t talk much. It might sound bad but I thought I was lucky because no one was paying attention so I did what I wanted to do, and if I didn’t want to go to school I didn’t go. Maybe I was a little naughty. Still lucky for me, York Academy of Art accepted anyone who would pay. It turned out to be a crash course in traditional art which isn’t taught in art schools much these days. I’m one of the few in the world with the real old school academic art background and even though I’m swimming against the current with it, I’m not part of the ruin that is modern art because I’m carrying the torch of the Academy.

In York I shared a house with other girls who were art students. Our next door neighbors were Dick and Mai Clayman. They always invited me over to eat. Mai was very kind and Dick was an artist, genius and a gentleman. Dick loved to talk and he was worldly and wise. We stayed friends till he died. His talk was like college classes about his favorite subjects. ( art, history, politics, religion, the Civil War, the opera) I liked listening to him. I should have taken notes. Dick tried to impart his wisdom to me.

Now I want to share what I remember. But here’s another thing:

Two guys I know had the same dream about me. They both told me they dreamed it was pitch black and they saw me walking in the dark carrying a light. What does it mean about me? Was it a flashlight a tiki torch or a camping lantern? I don’t know, but if I ever do a self portrait I might try to draw myself carrying a light on a dark background.

Don Quixote by Anna Hyatt Huntington

aluminum 1947

She’s one of my favorite artists. Not only did she master human anatomy but she mastered horse anatomy too! This is one of the many great sculptures by Huntington at Brookgreen Gardens, south of Myrtle Beach SC.

This sculpture shows Don Quixote on his horse Rocinante after jousting with windmills. To me it looks like a testament to the spirit of the horse that he’s still on his feet and didn’t die there.

Don Quixote by Cervantes is one of my favorite books. I’d like to read it again and hear that song “To Dream the Impossible Dream”.

Sancho Panza by Carl Paul Jennewein

aluminum 1971

Jennewein – 1860 to 1978

Anna Hyatt Huntington commissioned this sculpture to go with her Don Quixote. She waited over 20 years for it because she knew he would do a good job with it. He researched the style of dress and gesture for historical accuracy.

It can be found at Brookgreen Gardens in S.C. on Rt.17 between Murrells Inlet and Pawleys Island.