News and Events James Muir Bronze Sculptor | Bronze Sculpture by James Muir Bronze Sculptor | Allegorical Sculpture & Monuments in Bronze

Crimson Shadows Gallery located at Hozho Plaza is a new and additional Working Studio and Gallery for local artists – Painter, M.L.Coleman, and Sculptor, James N. Muir. This is a second Studio location for both artists, along with their other studios located in the Village of Oak Creek. Muir opened his original one at Tequa Marketplace in 2006 and Coleman’s (by appointment) is located on Sunset Pass. This opportunity allows art collectors to visit either one of the studios, whether they are in the Village of Oak Creek or in Sedona. Depending on the projects they are working on, you will be able to catch either, or both, artists “at work” in the Sedona Hozho location generally every day of the week.

Their work compliments each other beautifully as they seem to have a lot in common: Both artists’ professional careers began in Sedona nearly 30 years ago, both received the normal college degrees, both served in the military, and both discovered they neither fit nor enjoyed “normal” careers – they both discovered they loved Art and were good at it, in fact so good they both became successful artists in their own genre through dedication and commitment to the quality of their work.

Muir, who describes his sculptures as “Allegorical” and Coleman, his paintings as “Expressionistic”, make a good balance in the art world. As Coleman, having fun, says “you take the floors and I’ll take the walls”! The combination of personalities and creative styles, ranging from Coleman’s beautiful and dramatic landscapes to Muir’s historical and contemporary subjects, should be an interesting and exciting experience for collectors when they visit.

Coleman and Muir have each received numerous awards, major commissions, and significant recognition over their careers. Recently, Muir has been selected as a “2009 Arizona Governors Art Award Nominee” and Coleman included in the “Who’s Who in America.” Their year is already off to a good start!

This all makes for a great combination and they “are enthusiastic about joining forces with each other to offer a unique visual experience at our working studio.” The public is invited to visit the new studio location at Hozho, daily. There is also an evening reception the 1st Friday of every month 5-7 p.m. Call for more info: 284-5803 or 284-3123.

Arizona sculptor, Allegorical Artist James N. Muir was selected as a "Nominee for the Arizona Governor’s Art Award 2009". Muir states "It is truly an honor, I deeply appreciate the recognition for my body of work these last 29 years, and to be placed in the company of such noteworthy and qualified individuals".

Muir is collected nationally and internationally, with over 20 lifesize/monumental sculptures in Arizona alone. Several of those pieces are located in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area and include: Maricopa County Sheriff’s Memorial "They Serve Well" in downtown Phoenix; Scottsdale Healthcare Hospitals "Caduceus" at Shea and Osborn locations; "The Newsboy" in downtown Mesa; and "Quo Vadis" at All Saints Episcopal on Central Avenue. Other Arizona locations with his lifesize and monumental are: Sedona, Prescott, Flagstaff, and Greer. James Muir’s career began in Sedona, Arizona some 30 years ago and while he has established a major presence with his monuments in public areas throughout Arizona, he is as widely collected in other parts of the country. New installations in other parts of the country include: New York-West Point Jefferson Library "Thomas Jefferson 1802", Louisville, Kentucky-Sons of The American Revolution Headquarters "Sons of Liberty-1775", Chicago-"The American Pieta", and Dallas, Texas "Walk With Me" (20 ft. high), along with "Colonel Travis-The Line" for the Bush Presidential Library.

James Muir believes we are all given a path of service to humanity and considers his talents as his own way for him to contribute in a meaningful way. In addition to his sculpture, Muir wrote a book "Lanterns Along The Path" that was selected for the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award in the Inspirational Category. Another long-term goal which Muir has finally realized, is in creating the non-profit organization The Human Liberty Foundation, which among other activities, provides scholarships to art students and annually recognizes people serving the cause of freedom in their own way.

The Human Liberty Foundation sponsored a table at the 2009Arizona Governor’s Art Award held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort April 14, 2009 that was a grand affair with over 700 people in attendance.

Allegorical Artist/Author James N Muir has recently made it full circle back to the inspiring red rocks of Arizona ,where he is opening a new working studio at the stunning pueblo-style Tequa Festival Marketplace in the Village of Oak Creek.

Muir first arrived in Sedona over 27 years ago. His love for the West became the catalyst for a new-found sculpting career----a talent that could have been forever lost had he not followed his passion.

He left Sedona in 1988 and returned in 1990, then left a second time in 1995. Always seeking to expand his personal and artistic growth, his journey has finally brought him back again to Sedona, the "home" where his heart has always been.

Sedona is Muir’s inspiration for some of his finest sculptures, as well as his book - Lanterns Along The Path: The Allegorical Art of James N. Muir, which received the 2004 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, he was especially pleased that it was in the "Inspirational Category". Muir states, "Far from being simply an ‘Art Book,’ Lanterns Along The Path is actually a guidebook for fellow Travelers on our individual and collective journey through life. An inspiration for the never-ending quest for Truth, it is dedicated to all who have passed this way before and left their lanterns for us." Muir says many individuals have left a lantern "light" for him and he hopes to leave his own lanterns behind for others. His book is available nationally at Barnes & Noble, or directly, at www.jamesmuir.com.

A question often asked is "why do you call yourself an Allegorical Artist"? James quickly responds, "I have never wanted to be limited to one specific genre or style, I describe my art as being "Allegorical", filled with symbolism focusing on the higher attributes of mankind. That way I can use whatever subject matter fits what I am inspired to sculpt, be it historical or contemporary. Looking forward to continued growth as an artist and with a sincere desire to impact society, Muir says "I am back again where it all began in order to continue the Journey".

Studio opening October 2006 located at the Tequa Tower in the Village of Oak Creek, Sedona, Arizona…For information visit www.jamesmuir.com or call 928./284.3123

A ghostly figure wrapped in cloths secured with packing tape offered a mystery to visitors of the newly opened Jefferson Hall.

A brow and nose could be detected through the blanket draped over the figure’s head. Bronze legs and a pair of shoes were visible, too, from where the figure stood in front of the building.

The commotion about who was standing seemingly bound and gagged in front of the new library, officially open less than a week at the time, moved inside, where the mystery began to be solved.

A granite pedestal awaited in the library’s rotunda. Perhaps those legs and shoes were meant to rest upon the pedestal.

Sure enough, a team of movers hoisted the massive, puzzling figure onto the pedestal and promptly removed the protective wraps.

A familiar face smiled to the crowd.

The group of cadets, staff members and other on-lookers was greeted by the third president of the United States.

The statue portrays in detail – from the writing on a document to the design of a pinky ring – how Thomas Jefferson likely looked March 16, 1802, when he signed the law that established the U.S. Military Academy.

The rotunda in which Jefferson’s statue rests is a gift from the class of 1968. The class’ fundraising goal of $2.5 million to build the rotunda was exceeded, so the class spent the extra money on the statue and some other aesthetic details and commemorative plaques to come, Dutch Hostler, class vice president and chairman of the class gift committee, said.
Jefferson was chosen for the statue because the building bears his name, and the signing of the law that brought the academy into existence seemed to be the most fitting act of Jefferson’s to be portrayed in West Point’s library, Hostler said.

James Nathan Muir, former class of 1968, was commissioned to sculpt the statue. Researching and sculpting the statue took two years, Muir’s wife, Linda, said. Muir enlisted the help of a Jefferson re-enactor from Colonial Williamsburg, Va., to model and offer historical perspective.

"Nothing is by accident," Linda Muir said about the statue’s designs. "He has on the right kind of clothing. Everything down to how the shoes are tied is historically accurate."

The Muirs came from Arizona to supervise the statue’s installation. And while they had a rather uneventful trip to West Point, their bronze guest did not. The statue, which travelled separately by truck, was "tested by fire, just like the real Thomas Jefferson was tested by fire," Hostler said, referring to Jefferson’s library burning down. The truck carrying the statue caught on fire in Indiana, and Jefferson was singed. But, cleaning restored the statue to pre-fire condition. Seeing the as-good-as-new statue installed in its resting place was a good feeling for the artist, who considers the statue his gift to his former class and the academy. The academy "cemented in me a code of honor and a never-flinching quest for and adherence to the Truth, with a capital T, in all things," Muir said. Having such a noted figure and honored philosopher keeping watch over the library’s entrance adds to the building’s academic experience, Brig. Gen. Patrick Finnegan, the academy’s dean, said.
"This building is the centerpiece of our academic program, and as you can see, cadets are already attracted to (the statue)," Finnegan said. "This building is for cadets and about cadets. (The statue) is going to help attract them here."
For now, though, Jefferson’s statue has been recovered and will remain so until a dedication scheduled for 11 a.m. Sept. 5 during the class’ 40th reunion. The class also will be able to see quotes in large letters from Jefferson adorning the circular wall around the the rotunda’s ceiling and commemorative plaques hung on the wall honoring 20 classmates killed in action during the Vietnam War and particularly generous donors.

Does the current art market demand that artists avoid controversy and depict only popular or trendy subject matter in order to make a living?

Can an artist who paints polluted landscapes, for instance, actually sell them?

And aside from commercial considerations, do artists who consciously relay social or psychological messages in their work really make a change in the world?

At some level, artists face questions like these every day in their work. The answers they find and the messages they care about vary as much as the art itself.

THE USE OF SYMBOL

"Art, historically, has had as one of its primary purposes to make people aware of higher aspects of themselves, of humanity, individually and collectively." say Sedona sculptor James Muir.

"But art has fallen victim to the comercialism and the materialism of our age so that all too often, making social commentary through art is not financially viable. Often it is avoided."

Muir, who became popular as an artist depicting the Civil War era and cavalry subjects of the American frontier, chose to move from the financially secure world of historical art to include imagery that has a message beyond the surface. Success, he says, is about filling the primary purpose each of us is here for, to make a difference in whatever way we can with our particular talent. Success is not necessarily about the gains that follow.

Symbols fill Muir's work, challenging the viewer to search for more meaning than meets the eye. Muir's pieces have three levels of awareness. First, the art much be technically good, because poorly rendered art with allegorical message do not capture attention long enough to relate deeper meanings. The second level of understanding usually reveals higher traits in human values, such as courage or duty. The third level of awareness is always spiritual.

"There is nothing in this world that is not spiritual, but often this level has to be explained," he maintains.
Muir created the bronze, "Liberte'", because he felt that human liberty has been eroded until it is but a mask of its former glory. In "Liberte'", the head and neck of the Statue of Liberty are posed with a tear on the cheek of the lady as she looks to make sure that Freedom's Torch is still lit. Five rays remain on her crown, the sixty ray of responsibility lies like a dagger of truth behind her while the seventh ray of spirituality is entirely missing. She is balanced upon a tablet symbolizing the Declaration of Independence which has been chipped away to become a broken covenant.

"I'm not out for shock value or to make anyone uncomfortable," he says. "What I do is produce awareness. Today our entertainment media is geared towards avoidance of dealing with what life is about. They provide constant distractions so that we don't have to deal with the meatier issues of life. Some people may be a little disturbed at the messages in my work but not turned off by them. I have yet to have anyone say, "Yes, we are concerned but we don't want to think about it."

Not Very Long Ago Most of the Art Created in Western Culture was made for and paid for by the Church . . . Is Anyone Out There Still Doing It?
Is It Still Religious?