Pinole Artisans

I went out on a limb and spent what to me was a lot of money on a piece of art.  Archie Held sent me an email several months ago and said that he would offer some of his water feature metal sculptures at a deep discount.  One could surmise that this well-known local artist is not immune to a suffering economy, and needed to move some of his inventory fast to raise some operating expenses in his foundry in Richmond.  Archie has sculptures all over the world and some very big named clients. He also happens to be a very nice person.  And that never hurts an artist when they’re trying to sell their art.

I met Archie when Pinole Artisans selected him to install “The Wave” as the public art element at the Pinole Shores Business Park.  You can see this beautiful water sculpture as you drive down San Pablo Avenue in Pinole, next door to Sugar City.  Archie graciously agreed to let us design the base with bay wildlife, and he sculpted and welded the metal.  How exciting it was to see it installed!  “There’s my sea lion, and there’s Michael’s whale.”  I don’t remember who drew the other animals, but I do remember Semion explaining in detail how the bubbles and waves would be depicted.  How do you make a circle cut into metal look like something as delicate as a bubble?  Somehow, they did it, and it’s very gratifying to be a part of a large permanent art installation that’s out there for the world to enjoy.  I also remember fondly the many meetings and work parties our committee held to see the project to completion.

And now in my very own backyard, I have a smaller version of Archie’s art.  It’s a beautiful water sculpture, six feet tall, that both excites and calms me in the same breath. Yes, it was painful parting with the money, but I don’t regret it one bit.  I love the piece.  It’s going to be with me forever.  It is my belief that this is the only reason to buy art.  Because you love it.  I don’t know if it will increase in value in years to come.  I don’t care.  It sings to me as the water glides down the sides of the steel and brass with just the softest whooshing sound.   I call it “My Archie.”  And it inspires me.