Rollie
Grandbois
artist statement
“I am a sculptor who carves stone from quarries around the world. I also create bronze castings from my exceptional stone originals. Many of my themes incorporate the stylized eagle which I believe is important to so many cultures. My eagles are carved with their mouths open, singing a song of freedom or carrying our prayer to our Creator. The mother and child themes represent renewal of life and continuation of out culture.”
I consider myself a teacher of stone sculpture. My family, stone sculpture and teaching it are the three most important things in my life. My children Kody and Shayna Rose amaze me and inspire me everyday with their creativity. They are both outstanding sculptors.
I recently had the good fortune to work, carve stone and lived with the “Shona Stone Sculptors” in Zimbabwe. To me, it was like coming home. There were over 200 stone sculptors in a village of 500 people – it felt as as if we were all family. They told me that I was the first Native American sculptor to work with them and the offered me a home for as long as I wanted. The Shona sculptors live in a beautiful place and they are beautiful people. This cultural exchange was very powerful and it will change the rest of my life.
cultural exchange
studio
The Jemez Mountains is home to Rollie where his studio, gallery and home are situated between two giant mesas, overlooking the village of Jemez Springs. Studio tours are available and demonstrations are gladly arranged with advance notice. In 2001, the Ministrie of Culture for the country of Luxembourg sponsored a one-man exhibition for Rollie at the Mertert-Wasserbillig Commune Gallery grand opening event. While there, Rollie carved a monumental sculpture at a nearby ancient castle and conducted stone carving workshops. Rollie is the founder of the Southwest Stone Carving Symposium, which takes place every September and welcomes artists with all levels of experience. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Southwest Association of Indian Arts (SWAIA 1985-88).
publications
Southwest Art- Rollie Grandbois - A Chippewa Stone Sculptor Finds Solace in Hits Art - And in Teaching His Successors, By Dottie Indyke, November 2005 pp/ 54-55.
People, Land & Water - American Indian Sculptor Garden Opened, by Gail Chehak, U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, D.C., November 2002.
Cowboys & Indians- Talking With Stone, by Charlotte Berney, Dallas, TX, October 2002, pp. 82 - 85
Indian Country Today - American Indian Sculptor Garden Open, Oneida, NY, October 23,2002
Turtle Mountain Star - Turtle Mountain Community College Cultural Center Exhibition, Rolla, NM, July 2002.
Sante Fe New Mexican – 2000 Indian Market Supplement, August 2000, front cover.
New Mexico Magazine - Native Gallery: A Work in Progress, Santa Fe, New Mexico, September 1996, p. 16
Japan Times- Native American Art Usher in ‘Indian Summer,’ Tokyo, Japan, July 29, 1992.
Daily Yomiuri- American Indian Sculptor Carving Niche in Nagoya, Japan, October 8, 1990.
Beyond Traditions - Contemporary Indian Art and Its Evolution by Jerry and Louis Jacka, Northland Publication Company, Flagstaff, AZ, 1989; title page and p. 156.
Turtle Mountain Star - The Struggle Continues, by R. Bailey, Rolla, North Dakota, September 18, 1989.
Indian Market Magazine - Tradition & Innovation, by Suzanne Deats, August 1989, p. 33 & 48.
Albuquerque Journal North – Market Combines Business & Pleasure for Artist by Anne Hillerman, Albuquerque Publishing Company, New Mexico, August 22, 1987. P.5.
Western Art Digest- Rollie Grandbois- Young Chippewa- Cree Sculptor… Strives for Universal Figures, Artists of the Rockies and the Golden West, Inc. Colorado Springs, Colorado July/ August 1986, pp. 88-91.
founder
1995 thru 2007 Southwest Stone Carving Symposium & Exhibition --Jemez Springs, New Mexico. A six-day annual event held at the Hu1n1ninghird Music Camp, provides workshops for stone carving techniques, offered to beginner and professional sculptors. A non-profit organization, providing scholarships for stone carving.
collections
2007 Harare, Zimbabwe - National Gallery of Art, Permanent Collection.
2001 Luxembourg Ministrie of Culture - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg; Mertert - Wasserbillig Commune Gallery Collection, Wasserbillig, Luxembourg.
1995 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Collection" - Hiroshima, Japan, "Mother Earth's Messenger", Steatite, 6 feet high.
1995 Hummingbird Music Camp - Jamez Springs, New Mexico, "The Dove", Marble & Steel, 8 feet high.
2005 Village of Jemez Springs, New Mexico, Time Capsule Bench, Texas Limestone, 10' L, 4'W, 2.5 H
1999 Private Commission for Ray & Christine Phillips Collection - Hilo, Hawaii , "Prayer for the, Future" Texas Limestone, 8.5 feet high on a 10" base
1998 Viejas Casino & Outlet Center - Alpine, California, "Sacred Blessing" Texas Limestone, 12 feet
1997 La Costa Golf Resort & Spa - Carlsbad, California "Sensuous Flight" Texas Limestone, 10.5 feet
commissions
publications
1986 thru 2011 - Annual Santa Fe Indian Market, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2007 Tengenenge, Zimbabwe - Stone Sculpture Workshop
2004 Heard Museum - Phoenix, Arizona, Best of Division, Stone Sculpture
2002 Ziebwing Indigenous People's Art Show - Saginaw Chppewa Tribe's Soaring Eagle Casino, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. Best of Classification and First Place Sculpture Division.
2001 Embassy of Luxembourg - Special Invitation Exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Culture. Commissioned sculpture carved at Bourglinster Castle, Luxembourg.
2000 & 2001 Indian Art Northwest - Portland, Oregon
1995 Artistry & Accents Home Show - Albuquerque, NM
1995 Peace Art Show Traveling Exhibit - Los Alamos, Santa Fe & Albuquerque, NM
1993 Tribal Expressions - Arlington Heights, Illinois
1993 American Indian Art Festival - Houston, TX
1993 Indians in Medicine Art Show - Fargo, North Dakota
1992 "Indian Summer" at Studio Edusu - Nagoya, Japan
1992 American Indian Arts Council - Dallas, TX
1991 Intertribal Arts Exp;erience - Dayton, Ohio
1991 Indian Art Market - Minneapolis, Minnesota
1990 Patina Gallery - Nagoya, Japan
1990 Turquoise Tortoise - Sedona, AZ
1989 & 1990 Grand National Art Show for the American Endangered Species Foundation - Denver, Colorado
1990 Tribal Expeditions - Naples, Florida
1989 Colorado Indian Market - Denver, Colorado
1989 Beyond Traditions Book Signing Receptions - Heard Museum - Pheonix, AZ; Galleria Capistrano - San Juan Capistrano, California; & Wheelwright Museum - Santa Fe, NM
1989 Institute of American Indian Arts Alumni Show, Santa Fe, NM
1989 United Tribes Art Exposition - Bismarck, North Dakota
1988 & 1989 Northern Plains Tribal Arts - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
1988 Byrne Getz Gallery - Aspen Colorado
1988 Turquoise Tortoise - Sedona, AZ