'Tis The Season

Wishing You Happy Holidays
'Tis The Season
To Reflect On The Year
Which Gives Me Reason
To Be Poetic & Bend Your Ear

'The Year Of The Mobius' It Was
Sander & Clara Heard The Buzz
Sculptures Were Creatively Carved
From Stone Blocks In My Yard

Melinda Supports Me & My Work
Lori Markets Me; Optimism Is Her Quirk
My Galleries Graciously Represent Me
Exhibiting My Art For You To See

My Reception Schedule Is Full
The Studio Has No Set Rules
I Use Chainsaws & Tools That Are Pneumatic
Always Striving For The Dramatic

So With Much Holiday Spirit
I Start To End This Poetic Lyric
Thank You For Your Interest In My Sculpture
I Wish You Health, Love & Culture
                                T Barny

Last Weekend for ARTrails - See You Soon!

Join Me for ARTrails - October 20-21 from 10am-5pm

You can find me on the ARTrails map as Studio #159 in the beautiful Alexander Valley. artrails.org 
Great crowd last weekend! People came to 'pound rock', find out where I get my stone and see the gallery and sculpture gardens. They were also tasting award winning Mobius Wines, getting a dragon tattoo and seeing what their Mobius Fortune Cookie has in store for them. Don't miss all the fun. This next weekend is the last weekend for ARTrails. I look forward to seeing you!

ARTrails October 13-14 & 20-21 See You Soon!

Join Me for ARTrails - October 13-14 & 20-21 from 10am-5pm

I'm Studio #159 this year. You can find me on the map at: sonomaarts.com/artrails 2012 is The Year Of The Mobius for the T Barny Gallery & Sculpture Gardens. Come celebrate the intrigue of the Mobius and why it drives me to carve stone. The ARTrails set-up will be similar to the event we had in August so stop by and enjoy. Free Tattoos. Fortune Cookies. Carving Demonstrations. Make your own Mobius Strips. See you soon!

The Year Of The Mobius is TODAY

TODAY is the Day!!! I hope to see all of you at The Year Of The Mobius here at the T Barny Gallery & Sculpture Gardens. I'm very excited and pleased with the show set-up. It looks amazing when you walk in and there's so much going on! We have a special guest...August Ferdinand Mobius will be here today. We have a Fortune Teller, there's Mobius Wines, Chinese Beer, Live Music and even Dragon Tattoos! So join me as I celebrate "The Year Of The Mobius". See you between 4pm-7pm here in the beautiful Alexander Valley.

#1 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Sander & Clara are supervising the set-up for "The Year Of The Mobius". I've been displaying my work by sections of the yard. All Mobius and Trefoil sculptures have their own designated area. Then there's the Gallery, Sculpture Gardens and the Bronze area. There is plenty to do today. Lori just made me title tags and Melinda just picked up the Chinese Beer and Rentals. Ok, I gotta get back to my list...the countdown ticks away...24 hours 'til the event!

#2 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

We're all working feverishly on the event set-up. The show is in 2 days! I've been moving pedestals, setting up walls and lots more. You should see my list. Lori is doing extra large poster signs, parking signs and set-up materials. And, Melinda is working on Mobius Fun Facts and wall displays. Her goal was to do 5 two minute videos and she just finished the 5th one - Yippee!! All of the video's will be on display during the event. See you Saturday between 4-7pm.

#3 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

MOIRAE, Carrara Marble  T BARNY 1982

My 'signature form' - The MOBIUS. When I look back through the years, I realized that the first one came about just 2 years after I graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. MOIRAE (pictured above) was the first true mobius that I had made in 1982. THISBE was also carved in 1982 and later became the first bronze casting. THISBE is a classic Mobius and I feel it represents a classic 'T Barny' for 30+ years now. Melinda has another video for you tomorrow of my journey of amazing Mobius sculptures. Come to The Year Of The Mobius on Saturday to see the latest and greatest Mobius and Trefoils.

#4 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

UNLIN, Italian Alabaster  T BARNY 1986

When I look back at my career as a sculptor, I'm amazed to discover that I have created 35 trefoils prior to The Year Of The Mobius. "UNLIN" (pictured above) was the very first one; I did this in 1986. It is a true classic trefoil and was the inspiration for the "Bronze Series" which came later. On August 18 at The Year Of The Mobius I will be unveiling 2 new trefoils! Last night I looked over these past 35 images. I realized that while the form is universal, making trefoils is remarkable and it is extremely rare to have 2 in one show. 

#5 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Only 5 days 'til the Event!

Hey Folks - It's "Marvelous Monday" here in the studio. Last week to finish things up before the big show this weekend. Let's do something FUN...Want to meet me in the Plaza tomorrow night? I'm going to finish up in the studio and head down to "Tuesdays in the Plaza" to hear the country tunes of Patsy & The Bobcats. Join Me at 6pm on Tuesday, August 14 at the Healdsburg Plaza. My Team and I are going to be there in Dragon Logo T Shirts so look for us. We have a lucky fortune for you!

#6 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Museum Hours: Open Saturday, August 18, 2012 from 4-7pm

There's new inventory at the Museum Store for The Year Of The Mobius! I'm proud to present my newest Portfolio Book. It has expanded to 64 pages and is in full color. Also available will be my coffee table book titled "T30: Three Decades of Excellence" and Dragon Logo T Shirts, Pet Bowls and Mobius Earrings! The Countdown Continues.....

#7 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

T Barny Trefoil Mobius carved from Utah Calcite

Ok, so it's time for a few Mobius antedotes. Here you go....Why did the chicken cross the Mobius Strip? To get to the other...um...er...wait...that's not it...uh...the same side?  Or - think about this - An ant and his friends decided to make their trail by going 'round and 'round and 'round. Finally they decided this is quite a path. All we've found is that the other side just isn't there. And, did you know that Augustus Ferdinand Mobius inspired many to have the same name? There's Mobius Wines from Healdsburg, CA which we will be serving here on 8-18-2012. MOBIUS is also the name of a Poetry Magazine and an Acrobatic Stunt called The Mobius Flip. Just things to think about this weekend. Enjoy! 

#8 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Lori, T Barny, Melinda = The T Barny Team

T     A lot of people ask me, "What does the T stand for?" I like to say Terrific! I also say Touch because where words fail, sculpture touches. But I also need to say Team. The T Barny Team consists of Lori Mole, my Marketing Director - Me - and my lovely wife Dr. Melinda Barnard. We bounce ideas back and forth, we vote and compromise on things we want included in these events. Lori has been part of the picture for 7 years now. We definitely make a Terrific Team!

#9 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Charles Sepos, KRCB

Charles Sepos, KRCB Radio, will be interviewing me in Friday's segment called "Curtain Call". He interviews performing, visual, and literary artists. Recent guests include Jeffrey Kahane, David Grisman and Me! I invite you to tune into 91 FM tomorrow between 12 noon and 1pm when he interviews me. We will be giving away one of my books titled "T30: Three Decades of Excellence". And, you'll hear the inside scoop about The Year Of The Mobius.

Presenting My Book - T30 'Three Decades of Excellence'

 

#10 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Today's My Birthday! I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than to have a show of my work this month. Pretty cool to have my birthday in August when the Mobius Mathematician's name is also August. (August Ferdinand Mobius) This is the ad that came out today in the Marin Independent Journal. Watch for it also tomorrow in the Healdsburg Tribune, Sebastopol Times & Windsor Times. I've been hearing that people are enjoying seeing the blog every day. Just enter your email to the right and you'll see the rest of the countdown as you have your coffee in the morning.

#11 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Melinda did it again! Here's her 4th video showing the steps of how I do what I do. The true Celtic Knot and my logo shape are known as a TREFOIL. My curvilinear sculptures are designed to be a MOBIUS. The Year Of The Mobius will be educational and entertaining! We are receiving all of our "Museum Store" items: T30 Books, Portfolio Books, T Shirts, Earrings and Pet Bowls. You are going to be blown away with how clever we've gotten this year. Lori, Melinda & I are doing another walk through this afternoon to make sure we have everything in place. It's all happening in 11 Days!

#12 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

8-18-2012 Open for Tattoos!!

I like to open my studio to the public. I like to keep it fun. I love what I do and I'm excited to see people react to my sculptures and have a great time. Lori, Melinda & I brainstorm up ideas typically 10 months in advance for these themed annual events. One of my ideas this year is to have Tattoos. Of course, they are temporary but colorful and FUN. On Saturday, August 18, come get your tattoo on!

#13 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Late Hours in the Studio

Ok - so time marches on. My calendar countdown has me down to less than 2 weeks. I'm working on this Trefoil that is really testing my concentration and strength. There's also 4 other pieces that I'm working on at the same time that I would love to be part of the show. My days are getting hotter and longer in the studio but I can say that this is going to be one of the most incredible shows I've ever had! 

#14 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Personalized Fortune Cookies for 8-18-2012

We just got an email that the fortune cookies we ordered are on their way. We found a company in Maryland that makes the cookies and creates personalized messages. They are designed with special Mobius wishes. For the past 2 months, we've had a running list of fun, creative messages. Then we narrowed it down to 3 winning messages. At the event, you can see what they are but here are a couple of examples. These didn't make the cut but as you can see, we had fun with it! "May your life be filled with never ending Mobius surprises." "May you find yourself 'Stone in Love'."

#15 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

The Year Of The Mobius Dragon Logo by Joey Manfre

As you know, 2012 celebrates the Chinese New Year with "The Year of the Dragon". Well, Melinda talked to Joey about our theme idea for this year's event and the next day we magically saw my logo transformed into this dragon. This amazing, local graphic artist is Joey Manfre. He also put together my Portfolio Books and my T30 Book both of which will be For Sale at the event. Check out his website at: joeyink.com

#16 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Sander & Clara - My Studio Dogs

Sander and Clara had to put in their 2 cents at our last Event Planning Meeting. We did a walk through the yard with Lori's newest map of plans. After all these years, Melinda can calculate how many hours I have in the studio to get done what I want to get done. We write the countdown days on the calendar. I have 16 days until the event and the pressure is here to finish what I want to finish for the show. I think you'll be amazed! 

#17 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Making the Cut - Literally!

You're Invited! I just posted a FACEBOOK event announcing "The Year Of The Mobius". It's Open To The Public, there's no RSVP but I would love to know if you're coming! It's going to be quite a show. It's easy to get this blog streamed to your phones daily. Just enter your email in the upper right bar so that you don't miss out on all the great event news. And confirm your attendance on FACEBOOK. You will be amazed with the magical, mathematical tricks that Augustus Mobius will perform on August 18th.

#18 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

 

Hey folks - here's Melinda's most recent video. She caught me explaining what I see when I look at a block of stone. From a square or rectangle to a circle to the mystery and intrique of a MOBIUS. Today's blog is #18 - There's 18 days until the Big Event. I've added a quick and easy way for you to see the Daily Blog Countdown. Across from this post, you can just add your email address and daily you will catch the latest on the Event News. I look forward to seeing you all on August 18th and enjoy today's video. Feel free to share it! 

#19 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

A Mobius Strip Diagram

Many collector's comment on the intersection between my sculpture and science. I have always been fascinated with geology, physics, and of course, biology (just kidding there!). I drive my wife crazy watching every television special on rocks or space. I feel such a strong bond with the origins of the stone that I carve and the shapes that I create. I find inspirations in the patterns of nature. Instead of using them to create man made shapes, I work to capture the authentic natural form itself. I discovered the Mobius Strip and the geometric formula it derives from one sunny morning when I was in the 3rd Grade. I remember it so clearly. I was awed that the shape in nature inspired a mathematician by the name of Mobius to attempt to capture the formula which creates the shape. Stone is the oldest material. I honor that by creating the marvelous shapes that nature provides us. 

#20 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

August Ferdinand Mobius (1790-1868)

Melinda and I were in London in 2003. We went to visit Melinda's childhood favorite; The Science Museum. We wandered around and suddenly we saw an exhibit in the "Math" room dedicated to Augustus Mobius! I could not tear myself away. Here were the various equations and models used by Augustus Mobius to plot his concept in three dimensional space. He was born in 1790 and has many mathematical concepts named after him, including the Mobius Transformations, important in projective geometry, and the Mobius Transform of number theory. He has a crater on the moon named after him as well as an asteroid. Mobius is also the name of a cartoon and video game character, a band and a song!!! As you know, we are serving Mobius Wines at The Year Of The Mobius event on August 18. And guess what? Augustus Mobius will be here for a special appearance!

#21 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Making a Trefoil  I love making the trefoil sculptures. But, they require every ounce of my creativity, skill and concentration!!! The moment when I carve out the final struts holding the trefoil in place is breathtaking. Suddenly this sculpture that I have given birth to is almost floating in space. I always feel as if I have created something truly unique and magical. If I am feeling up to it, I usually make one trefoil a year. Typically these pieces are only available by commission and they require a 14-16 month advance notice to fit in around my shows. When the theme for this year's show came up, I really wanted to make several trefoils. But, I had to consider the impact on me physically. Making these pieces for "The Year Of The Mobius" is a true challenge. Sometimes I wonder how many more I have left in me to make!!!

#22 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Making a Mobius: The Challenge Of One Edge After this many years, when I look at a block of stone, I can see the general Mobius shape that it contains. It is really tough though keeping my focus on the one edge as I begin to carve the stone. I can draw the outside lines on the raw block. The edge curves in and out of the block so that at some point I have to imagine the path of the line. When I use the chainsaw to produce the shape, I have to concentrate on the danger of using this piece of machinery AND at the same time continue to keep the design of one edge in the front on my mind. That can be quite a challenge when I am working for several hours on the same piece. I also get interrupted in my studio by deliveries and my "Studio Dogs" Sander and Clara. I can't believe that I haven't broken more pieces in my career!!!

#23 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

CATENA, 'Chain of Connected Ideas'

Mobius vs. Trefoil Some of you may be wondering about the difference between a Mobius and a Trefoil. I use to call all of my one edge/one side sculptures "Mobius" but my true signature pieces with three loops and one edge are really called "Trefoils". The trefoil knot is named after the three leaf clover or trefoil plant. The trefoil knot is impossible to 'untie' in three dimensions without cutting it. It is also invertible; there's no distinction between a counter clockwise-oriented trefoil and a clockwise-oriented trefoil. Just the words make your head spin. The "Mobius Strip" is an object with only one side and one edge. My Mobius Sculptures often appear to have several sides and edges because of the openings I carve into them. Trust me though, if you follow the edge you would come back to where you began.

#24 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Here's "Video #2". Every year we hold a themed event that evolves around where my art is going that year. One year it was Italian after my carving trip to Italy; another year it was a celebration of the World of Stone. Check out this video which captures past events. You might see yourself in it!

#25 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Postcard Invite (back) complete with QR code for the new web page

P.O.A. You need a 'Plan Of Action' to pull off an event of this size that's why I have Melinda and Lori as my Marketing Team. We all brainstorm, think outside of the "block" and build on ideas to formulate an annual event. It takes all 3 of us to bounce the ideas back and forth, proof postcards and stick to a theme. This is what you'll see on the back of the postcard invite. I hope you're on my mailing address! If not, email Lori your snail mail: lori@tbarny.com

#26 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

I had heard something about Mobius Wine and come to find out, he had heard about me and my Mobius Sculptures. We were at the Hotel Healdsburg when we first saw the label. Mike Kuimelis, Winemaker and Proprietor, came out for a wine tasting. I'm proud to announce that they will be pouring their wines at The Year Of The Mobius. hotelhealdsburg.com  mobiuswines.com

Chardonnay, Cabernet, Pinot Noir & Zinfandel for 8-18-2012

#27 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

The Room With A View ... of Sculpture

My website is constantly being updated with new pieces. But there is something NEW on the website...the Event Page for The Year Of The Mobius. On the Home Page are 2 badges: one for the event and one for my book. Check it out: www.tbarny.com/TheYearOfTheMobius

#28 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

My wife, Melinda, loves to capture me on video while I carve. This year she is making 5 two minute videos about me and "The Year Of The Mobius". This is the first one!!! I love how you can see what I do from a rough block to a finished sculpture. I hope you like it.

#29 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

"The Year Of The Dragon"  2012

This year in San Francisco, the Chinese New Year parade was January 23, 2012. It is the year to celebrate "The Year Of The Dragon". My "Marketing Team", Melinda and Lori, thought it is my year to devote my studio time to "The Mobius". I'm set for the challenge and ready to tackle those blocks of stone.   

#30 of 30 Countdown to 8-18-2012

Some of the many Stone Blocks in my yard.

Back in January, my wife Melinda and I were walking around our property. She asked, "What do you want to do this year?" I pointed out that I see Mobius Sculptures in all of my stone blocks. We then discussed that these are very physically demanding on me and could I create a whole show centered around the MOBIUS. Is this my year for such a challenge? Watch as we countdown to 8-18-2012.

THE YEAR OF THE MOBIUS

It's Official - The 30 DAY COUNTDOWN to the annual T Barny Gallery and Sculpture Garden event begins July 19, 2012.

Have you ever seen something so beautiful that it still remains in your mind? You meant to go back and see it again. You meant to find out more about where it came from, who made it and how. Years later you have to know the answers but the artist has moved onto a new style of work. It is no longer available. What do you desire? Timeless elegance? Save The Date 8-18-2012. Rare Pieces Available. 

WHO: Sculptor T Barny presents his unique tribute to "The Mobius"
WHAT: The Celebration is a FREE, One Day, Open to the Public Event
WHERE: T Barny Gallery and Sculpture Gardens  4370 Pine Flat Road in Healdsburg, CA
WHEN: Saturday, August 18, 2012 from 4-7pm
WHY: Discover what Augustus Ferdinand Mobius, T Barny Sculpture and The Year Of The Dragon have in common. 
HOW: The MOBIUS has been a source of intrique and mystery to many. It is the visual manifestation of the geometric formula which describes an object with one side and one surface. T Barny continually conquers the challenge of creating the MOBIUS out of stone in his rare and unusual sculptures.
Celebrate The Year Of The Mobius 8-18-2012! 

SAVE THE DATE 8-18-2012

Enjoy The Journey: 8-18-2012

Celebrate The Year Of The Mobius at T Barny's Gallery and Sculpture Gardens in Healdsburg, CA. 
Check out my 30 Day Blog Countdown starting July 18 to catch the latest news about this rare event.