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Life Studies Sculpture by Avard T. FairbanksThe Fairbanks family has sculptures or molds for these specific pieces, and we welcome inquiries about availability. |
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The Nursing Mother
In Florence Italy, during a fellowship in 1927 Avard was inspired to model an expression of beauty and affinity between a mother and her infant. A statuette and life-size figures were modeled in clay, cast in plaster, and then carved in marble. With high tariffs and WWII looming, Avard was only able to send home the smaller statuette. The life-size marble was stored. After WWII Avard returned to Italy and sought the marble figure. He found it under some soiled fabric in a basement. It was retrieved, cleaned, crated and shipped to the United States. It was purchased for the Springville Museum of Art in Utah, where it remains on permanent exhibit. Subsequent copies were carved in marble. |
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A Child's Fantasy
When Avard was 14, studying in New York, he became acquainted with Mrs. Rutherford Stuyvesent Pierrepont, who was also studying art. They worked together on some projects and he helped her with some castings. En route to Europe in 1913 to study in the Paris art schools, Avard Fairbanks stopped in New York City to renew the acquaintance. Mrs. Pierrepont commissioned Avard to create this charming miniature of her daughter looking at pictures in a book of fairy tales. It is one the finest examples of his early sculpture. He exhibited it in the Grand Salon in Paris, spring 1914. It won first prize. He was 17 years old at that time. A plaster copy had been in storage and was discovered after the sculptor's death. It has now been cast in bronze and made available to the public. The piece is also known as Pierrepont Baby. |
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Learning to Ride: Child on Kiddie Car
Avard was teaching sculpture at the University of Oregon when this miniature of a toddler was made in the early 1920s. Love and appreciation of children is often portrayed through Fairbanks' artwork. Many of his pieces are of children. This piece was cast in plaster and displayed at an annual art exhibit at the University of Oregon, then stored, only to be discovered again after the sculptor's death. It was then cast in bronze and made available to art collectors. Also known as Child on a Kiddie Car. |
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God Bless Our Home
This piece is also known as The Eternal Family, and is a companion piece to Youth and New Frontiers. |
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Youth and New Frontiers
Youth and New Frontiers, the companion piece to Tragedy at Winter Quarters, in contrast portrays hope for the future. The piece depicts life, health, abundance, and learning through diligence, work and education. The father portrays courage and confidence, the mother purity and insight, the son enthusiasm and progress. This now stands in the Conference Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah. |
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Puppy Love
In 1930, three Boston Bull puppies were loaned to the Fairbanks family until they could choose one they liked. Dr. Fairbanks was impressed with the various attitudes and relaxed positions assumed by the resting puppies. He wished to capture their moods in clay. Having studied under some of the best American animal sculptors at the Art Student League, Avard had a keen sense of appreciation of animal form. At the young age of 14 he had gone to the Bronx Zoological Park and modeled many of the wild animals there. This piece has been cast in bronze from the original plaster cast. This is a companion piece to A Little Put Out. |
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A Little Put Out
In 1930, three Boston Bull puppies were loaned to the Fairbanks family until they could choose one they liked. Dr. Fairbanks was impressed with the various attitudes and relaxed positions assumed by the resting puppies. This piece has been cast in bronze from the original plaster cast. This is a companion piece to Puppy Love. |