Thoughts

Veteran's Monument

2009-11-08T19:21:00.003-05:00

We couldn't have asked for more as a packed house filled the Makefield-Highlands golf course Saturday night for our first big fundraiser on the monument project. I was really overwhelmed with the generosity of the people who attended, both with their financial support and their kind encouragement. My parents were both there as well as friends and neighbors and lots of people I hadn't met before. Leading up to the live auction of a limited edition print I donated, I gave this little speech to a raucous crowd:

Anyone who knows me, knows I have a great passion for the idea of 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.' It is my belief that the single greatest development in human history was when our government was founded with this concept at its core. This 'idea'; however, is just words without those men and women who willingly put their lives in harms way to defend this concept. The clay I used to sculpt the memorial piece for Engine 6 is the same exact clay I am using for the Veteran's Monument. When the firefighters ran into the burning towers in an attempt to rescue perfect strangers, they too, were defending this idea. The clay I am using is the same exact clay that came to me from my mentor, Laszlo Ispanky, who escaped from communist Hungary with nothing. He went on to use this clay to create pieces that circle the globe. Pieces that celebrate the human experience and the quest for freedom. I am honored to be able to contribute to this project and to donate a work to help make this a reality.

As the bidding started, it was rather thrilling to see so many people waving their numbers as the dollars ran up, even if one of the bidders was my mother and father :) Thank you to everyone, and thank you to Brad and Linda for being so generous in the final purchase of the print. Thank you also to Robin and Eric, Amy and Steve, Ed and Grace, Marty and Cindy, George and Maryanne for your generosity and support.

For more on the project please see: Veteran's Monument

Three Stories - Worth Your Time

2009-11-04T20:05:00.001-05:00

Wheat Field Bound

2009-11-02T19:52:00.001-05:00

Mixed Media - Wheat, Barbed Wire, Fifty Coat

3' x 6'

August, 2009

Whatever You Can See & Believe You Can Achieve

2009-10-14T22:40:00.001-04:00

Veteran's Monument Event

2009-10-12T23:55:00.002-04:00

Hello!

In case you haven’t heard or just need a reminder, there is a Live and Silent Auction on Sat., Nov. 7th at the Makefield Highlands Golf Course, 1418 Woodside Rd. from 7 to 10:30 pm to raise funds for the veterans monument at Veterans Square Park on the corner of Edgewood and Heacock Roads.

It will be hosted by PHS Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach and all-around good guy Frank Sciolla. Tickets are only $35 and include appetizers, desserts, music, and games. Cash Bar.

· Our Vision: To create a timeless monument to honor veterans of the past, present and future in a peaceful, community park setting

· We hope to educate our children about the sacrifices of our servicemen and women in an uplifting environment

· We have a design team donating their talents to create this monument

· We are a nonprofit and have the support of our board of supervisors and many respected local businesses and individuals

There are over 120 items to bid on across the spectrum – across all price points – truly something for everyone. Here’s a sampling…

Do you have a special birthday or anniversary to celebrate, or want to throw a party?

· How would you like Chef Eben of the Yardley Inn to come to your home, prepare a 5-course meal for 6 people, each course paired with an extraordinary wine? You help select the menu; all preparation and clean-up taken care of.

· Or how about visiting the gorgeous grounds and private party room at Crossings Vineyard and Winery – a VIP party for 8 with 8 to 9 wine selections and appetizers, music and more.

· Extended family coming for the holidays? How about a moonlight wagon ride through Shady Brook Farm’s 15th Holiday Light Show followed by a party for 20 in a heated tent featuring wine, cheese, fruit, hot cider and cookies – appropriate for the whole family and hosted by Shady Brook’s Director of Fun!

· Adults Only: Local band “Run to Sandy” will entertain at your home, with a margarita machine at your disposal. You just need the chips and salsa!

· House Party featuring “SixString” Acoustic Duo, playing classic hits from the 1970’s on, accompanied by pizza and/or BBQ

Collectible Art:

· Veterans Square Sculptor Robert Girandola is donating a framed, signed limited edition print of the sculpture he created for NYC Engine Co. 6 which lost 4 firefighters on 9-11

· Viet Nam Pilot Sanford Kaplan is donating 2 one-of-a-kind collectible Viet Nam-era model planes, with 6 and 8 ft. wing spans

· Art from renowned local artist Colleen Attara, who creates beautiful, collectible one-of-a-kind pieces of art from recycled products

· Many pieces of pottery, art pottery, blown glass, framed art, jewelry, and tickets to local attractions, theaters, and museums

For the Sports Enthusiast: Tickets to the Flyers, Sixers, Phillies, signed Sports Memorabilia, a ski package, yoga lessons, a brand new bike, and a chance to coach a Pennsbury High School Boys Varsity Basketball Game!

For the Foody: Many restaurant certificates and gourmet food, coffee, tea, and baskets of good cheer! Wine-a-month from Rose Bank Winery. Magnum of wine from Truchard Vineyards of California which hosted a wine-and-food-pairing dinner at the Yardley Inn

For Kids: 6 months of Karate, many summer camps including basketball, tennis, horseback riding, acting, piano lessons, dance classes, birthday parties and camps at the NAC. A quart of Ice-cream-a-month at Uncle Dave’s of Shady Brook; a tour of the LMT police station with Chief Coluzzi, a ride in a patrol car, photo and finger prints; a tour of the fire station

Getaways:
· Weekend in the DC area, special passes to gallery floor of the US House of Representatives, and photo op with US Rep and Veteran Patrick Murphy

· Visit to Harrisburg and lunch with PA State Rep. Steve Santarsiero and a trip to Hershey

· A weekend in a lovely 5 bedroom, 3 bath Ocean City home

· A weekend at the elegant Princeton Hyatt, two dinners, and tickets to the McCarter Theater

· A getaway to the lovely Inn at Stoney Hill in New Hope and dinner at Marsha Brown’s

Many lovely items for the home, and a home energy audit and Sensaphone Security System; professional services including interior design, computer consulting, photography, photo transfer to a DVD, teeth whitening, framing services and landscape/lawn services

Don’t forget to pamper yourself with several enticing spa and salon opportunities, plus much more!

How can you resist? Come for an evening of fun, meet some new people and support a great community effort to honor those who serve!!

For tickets: visit our website www.lmtmemorial.org or contact John via email at jfiduccia@gmail.com or via phone - 267-566-2056. Hurry, tickets are going fast! Tickets are also available from members, and from McCaffreys, Shady Brook, and Crossing Vineyards.

Veterans Memorial Project

2009-09-30T07:27:00.002-04:00

For Immediate Release
September 30, 2009

Robert Girandola Presents His Lower Makefield Township Veterans Memorial Sculpture

LOWER MAKEFIELD TOWNSHIP – Pennsylvania artist Robert Girandola, working as the sculptor with the Omnia Group, is presenting his Veterans Memorial sculpture for township approval today in Lower Makefield.

Since December 19th, 2007, the Lower Makefield Veterans Committee has been working to bring a veterans memorial to Lower Makefield. The presentation of the proposed monument will take place at the Yardley-Makefield Library at 7:30PM on Wednesday, September 30th.

Mr. Girandola’s contribution, a sculpture of an eagle taking flight, is intended to honor the veterans who lost their lives defending the United States of America. Along with its surrounding architecture it will create a space for reflection and peace.

“For me, the eagle itself has come to symbolize the human spirit taking flight. I do think it is a universal and timeless symbol open to anyone who wants to live free,” said Girandola. He feels the memorial will further distinguish Lower Makefield as its own community with its own sense of pride. “Years ago there was a local veteran's plaque located in the town but it disappeared over the years. There are scores of veterans and I can tell it's very important to them.”

Mr. Girandola has been chosen twice to participate in the prestigious “Art of the Northeast” show in New Canaan, Connecticut. He was named Yardley News Artist of the Year in 2006 for his Engine 6 memorial “We Draw Strength From Each Other,” a piece in bronze honoring four firefighters who had lost their lives on 9/11. The piece is now on permanent display near the World Trade Center.

The small-scale model being presented today is made from clay and wire and measures approximately 24” wide and 15” high.

Contact:
Robert Girandola
info@robertgirandola.com
http://www.robertgirandola.com

Engine 6 Memorial

2009-09-11T21:00:00.000-04:00

2009-09-10T21:39:00.001-04:00

We Draw Strength From Each Other

Engine 6 Memorial

September 11, 2001

We Draw Strength From Each Other

2009-09-10T21:37:00.001-04:00

I gave this speech on October 15, 2006 at a dedication ceremony in NYC - honoring four firefighters from Engine 6 who died in the North Tower on 9/11.

A person is what they do, no more and no less

A person can become what they admire.

I was at work on that day, I heard the towers had collapsed

and I ran home.

I was eighty miles away from the danger, and I ran home.

I put on the television. I watched as my head swam.

Fear, confusion, anger, frustration and sadness.

I waited impatiently for my family to come home.

And when they did, we hugged, cried.

And we watched the television to see if other, braver men and women would make things right in the world again.

We're here to honor four such men.

Lt. Thomas O'Hagan

FF William Johnston

FF Thomas Holohan

FF Paul Beyer

All of the 343 active duty firefighters who lost their lives that day. And all of the men and women who chose to put fear aside and CHOSE to make things right again. I deeply admire you.

In order to create this piece, I listened to the stories of the men of Engine 6. I read the letters their loved ones wrote. I watched that day unfold again, and again.

Amidst the cloud of pulverized concrete and glass, an image emerged.

I saw fallen heroes and the walking wounded.

I saw men and women who spent their days hoping and praying, digging, searching, thinking, tearing, praying and more hoping, praying.

I saw lives ruined and families rocked and whole communities wracked with sorrow.

And I saw men and women who CHOSE to do something about it.

I asked Billy Green, the only man from Engine 6 to have made it out of the the North Tower, "What were you most proud of that day?" and he said -

"We stood fast."

In the face of overwhelming destruction

when a nation sat in dumbstruck fear,

these men stood fast, and then,

proceeded up those stairs,

to put out "that fire."

Over thirty flights of stairs,

Turnout coats,

Soaring temperatures,

Tools

Roll-ups

I asked Billy, "How did you guys go on?" and he said,

"Well, we kind of drew strength from each other."

These men may not have been perfect, but they became perfect at that moment and in that hour. And it was this strength that transcended the darkness and the evil that was transpiring above them. I have read of firefighters despairing that they themselves did not save enough, or very little. To you, my brothers, I must say, your mere presence brought comfort to those in the final moments of their lives. You inspire in the minds and hearts in those around you an idea. The idea that you might not be perfect, but you will try to be. That you may not be able to save, but you will try to save. For in the end, all of the men and women who CHOSE to save.

And these four men.

Lt. Tom O'Hagan

FF Billy Johnston

FF Tommy Holohan

FF Paulie Beyer

You bring the promise of hope.

You draw strength from each other.

May we draw on that strength,

so that we might have the courage to do

what we should do

in the hour

of our calling.

Ringing Rocks

2009-08-02T18:56:00.002-04:00

More Sculpting -

2009-07-26T21:47:00.003-04:00

How Can I Inspire Thee?

2009-07-12T23:13:00.004-04:00

How can I inspire thee?
Let me count the ways.

The bird that chirps,
the flower that blooms,
the quiet morning.

Can I do it with these?

A child’s laugh,
a lover’s breath,
the flash of a smile on a strangers face.

How can I inspire thee?
Let me count the ways.

In all these ways,
but none.
For to drink from life’s great promise,
you must awaken to a higher truth.
You are not the things in your life –
You are not the pain in your body –
You are not the torment in your soul –
You are but observer of these things.

Perhaps thou protesteth!
You’ve met with frustration,
loss,
pain.
How can I inspire thee?

Let me count the ways.

Reading these words,
or hearing them,
as a loved one reads them to you.
Behind the illusion of happiness and strength,
you know when the party stops,
and you find yourself behind the barricades,
you are alone,
and scared.

How can I inspire thee?
Let me count the ways.

Perhaps you’ve been to the depths of despair,
and think not,
I can inspire thee.

Quiet your soul,
open your heart,
and let these thoughts break in:

If there is design,
it is this –

Every moment has but one purpose,
for you to come awake to yourself.

If you take this into your soul completely,
the next bird you hear
will be your soul taking to the air.
The next time you hear the sound of a child’s laugh,
will be the stream of life rippling through you.
The next sunrise seen,
will be realized as a miracle.

Bring into your soul.
Inspiritus –
All that was,
all that will ever be.

How can I inspire thee?
Let me count the ways.

By, Robert Girandola

An Artist's Life

2009-07-12T23:12:00.000-04:00

Daydream

2009-07-02T01:16:00.002-04:00

Center of the Universe

2009-06-28T21:42:00.004-04:00

Father's Day Special

2009-06-21T11:20:00.004-04:00

I got a wonderful gift from my son this morning - A story he wrote me for Father's Day - I was so touched and moved by it, I want to share it. It fits in with the theme of my art and blog so nicely, I couldn't help it -

My First Corner Kick - by Harry

When I first did a corner kick, I was at Maccles field. The defender kicked the ball out of bounds. When the ball went out and then coach signaled me, I was about to pee my pants.

The ref put the size 4 Euro cup ball on the ground for me to kick. Then, he blew his freezing silver whistle to signal for me to kick the ball. I lined up to it and was ready to face one of my biggest fears. My dad was yelling saying you can do it Harry!! Come on, I know you can! After I heard that, I could've gone and hid in a corner. I started thinking I should just walk away now and let someone else take it. I started running, my unconfident legs feeling all noodley. I could barely run it was so uncomfortable. Then, my leg hit the ball! It vibrated a bit. I thought I did a terrible job but I looked and saw it went up and over all the heads. Someone on our team leapt in and hit it in the back of the net like a rocket! The ref congratulated me and said good job. I felt like Del Piero scoring a goal in soccer. I was so proud I couldn't trade it for all the trophies in the world.

My coach was yelling in excitement. From then on, I took all the corners on both sides. I never had any problem about corner kicks again. My dad treated me to a brand new video game because he was so proud of how I faced my fears.

I had no idea he had written this, or how he felt that day as he never told me - there are few things in life more inspiring to me than to hear stories of people who acknowledge their fear and then chose to follow their passion anyway. Thank you my son for this beautiful gift on Father's Day.

Sublime

2009-06-13T00:25:00.000-04:00

Man on Wire - Review

2009-05-31T22:03:00.003-04:00

'Man on Wire' was a birthday gift to me from my wife. I really appreciate the documentary and dedicate this post to her.

What is it that I loved about 'Man on Wire?' It summarizes in one place all that I try to imagine, write about and pursue. It is difficult, like the word 'beauty', to define and summarize what is an 'ideal' life, an 'ideal' state of mind - but I believe there is one. I also believe it's important to constantly define what that 'ideal' is and keep striving towards it.

The film 'Man on Wire' touches all of the most powerful ideas I have learned over the years. The main character, Phillippe Petite, is a man of passion. He is a dreamer, really. When he first realized he wanted to walk across the Twin Towers, they were not yet built. He saw them in a photograph as a teenager and his first instinct was to draw a line between the two and imagine himself lying between them.

Lesson 1 of an ideal life: When dreaming, do not limit yourself by the how or the why - just dream.

Phillippe grabbed the picture of the Twin Towers and ran out and down the street, spending the next many years preparing himself for his feat - including LEARNING HOW TO WALK A TIGHTROPE!!

Lesson 2 of an ideal life: After defining your dream, pursue it with abandon. Dreaming with out acting is the creation of a nightmare.

Phillippe's passion attracted to him people who began to believe in him and his 'cause'. He 'attracted' people of different talents and was unafraid to ask them to help him. His friends worked tirelessly and took great risks to help him achieve his goal. There were moments of 'conflict' between him and his friends - and when and if some of them could not continue to help him because of their fear, he smiled and loved them anyway and confidently continued to pursue his dream.

Lesson 3 of an ideal life: Your passion, if it is true, will attract to you the people you need to achieve your goal. Let them help you until they cannot, and love them completely.

Finally, the wire was set between the two buildings. As day broke, after exhausting hours of preparing the wire in secret - Phillippe walked out onto them. Obviously one small mis-step meant death.

Lesson 4 of an ideal life: Find your passion and put your life on the line for it. News flash - we all will die - how better to realize this and spend your precious moments pursuing your passion.

He proceeded to the center of the wire and those fortunate enough to see him first hand reported a look on his face that was radiant. When he was finished, people around the world were inspired. He changed people's perception of limits.

Lesson 5 of an ideal life: Your goal must be your goal - it does not have to be about saving the planet, or the rain forest, or the monetary system. If you pursue your passion and achieve your goal(s) you will change the world for the better guaranteed.

I am honored my wife thought to give me this for my birthday, that she knows my view on life and has allowed me to walk out on my wire. I love you.

Man On Wire

2009-05-31T22:01:00.000-04:00

Dreaming and Awakening

2009-05-13T00:01:00.001-04:00

Notes on Abundance

2009-05-02T11:48:00.001-04:00

WSJ – Thursday April 30 2009

Ben Casselman

Caddo Parish, LA

A massive natural-gas discovery here in northern Louisiana heralds a big shift in the nation’s energy landscape. After an era of declining production, the US is now swimming in natural gas.
Even conservative estimates suggest the Louisian discovery – known as the Haynesville Shale, for the dense rock formation that contains the gas – could hold some 200 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. That’s the equivalent of 33 billion barrels of oil, or 18 years’ worth of current US oil production.

Huge new fields also have been found in Texas, Arkansas and Pennsylvania. One industry-backed study estimates the US has more than 2,200 trillion cubic feet of gas waiting to be pumped, enough to satisfy nearly 100 years of current US natural-gas demand.

The difficulty having an 'abundant' mindset is grasping the sheer magnitude of it all -

The Ultimate Battle

2009-04-23T22:04:00.003-04:00

On the heels of 'Oddity of the Mind,' I would like to turn back to discuss 'Black Gold, Texas Tea.' People who are familiar with this painting know it as a black square, high gloss, about four foot square. There is a large drip in the lower, center of the painting. In real life the entire surface is actually very sensual. I painted it by pouring black oil on a square canvas. When viewed in real life, at the right angle, two figures can be seen underneath. Why did I make this painting? How does it relate to my latest piece, 'Wheat Field Bound' and the essay, 'Oddity of the Mind' ? It is my constant search for dual symbols that challenge the ego. How and why? At the root of consciousness, the visceral, emotional response to the world around us is either fear or creativity. Broken down into its most basic form, fear is a belief, conscious or unconscious, that we won't have what we need to survive. Many people have aptly described this the 'survival' mindset. The survival mind looks at the world around it and sees it as 'fixed.' That is, what exists must be fought for, held tightly, protected, and once consumed is gone forever. Creativity is seeing 'abundance' - not in what is, but what is possible.

'Black Gold, Texas Tea' functions on many levels for me. As an artist, it is an act of complete abandonment to pour black paint onto a canvas and then hang it in a museum for everyone to see. To critique it is almost child's play. It is almost nothing. Many people would argue it is insulting. As an artist who has drawn since my first waking memory, I can tell you that much of my ego is 'invested' in the art of drawing and painting. To put all of that aside to follow an idea is a direct challenge to my ego. That is one level on which this painting functions, the process level. On another level, it is symbolic of oil. The whole world is consumed by its quest for oil. It is considered something that must be fought for, protected and many, many can't even begin to consider a world without it. We are so consumed with the idea that one day we won't have it, that today we live in fear and aggression towards others over it. Here begins the 'double' symbol - but inverted. I give up my drawing to create a black square to symbolize something that we cannot conceive of giving up. Becoming free is paradoxically an internal process of giving up our grip on that which we fear losing. The 'ultimate battle' is not exterior. It is not on some continent fighting for some arid bit of land. The 'ultimate battle' is interior. It is an awakening to the 'creative' mind that looks at the world around it, seeing infinite potential. The awakened, creative mind knows no scarcity. The fear-ridden survival mind, asleep to itself, knows only scarcity.

Oddity of the Mind

2009-04-18T06:44:00.004-04:00

I want to take a moment to divert from talking about actual pieces to jot down some thoughts about the mind. Risking 'unsubscribe' from my readers I will warn you, this may get freaky. I talk a lot about 'becoming' fearless, 'being' fearless. The intent of my art is actually a form of self exploration - an effort at coming in touch with my own form of consciousness and its relationship to the world. Here is an interesting analogy - for my visual artist subscribers and friends, you may relate to this immediately, for others, try this someday. When you 'look' out at the world around you, your mind actually makes a lot of 'assumptions' about what it 'sees'. For the most part, the mind/brain for all its computing power is very, very busy and wastes little on visual processing. It 'sees' stuff, and fills in the blanks with enough detail for 'recognition' to take place. This is why painting and drawing can be so difficult. One has to actually get beyond the process of 'seeing' and actually see. OK, that's kind of freaky - what does it mean. The process of 'seeing' is a brain / mind interaction. When an artist sits down and observes and begins to draw, the more they can remove their 'assumptions' about what they are viewing they begin to notice that strange shapes, colors and lines emerge and the world is not their original assumption. So, this is true of all of life. Our mind, for the most part, creates a story and then we go along for the ride. We create a story about how successful we allow ourselves to be - although for many of us we don't use the word 'allow' because that ruins our 'story.' We create a story for who likes us, who hates us, what troubles us, what thrills us. For me, becoming 'fearless' is the process of recognizing we are walking through a house of horror of our own making. If you have children, and you've ever taken them to a scary house - unless you are seriously disconnected - you don't walk through the house being as scared as the child. Why? Because you 'know' that a bunch of adults got together to create the 'experience' known as 'scary.' It's fun. When it comes to our own life, though, we don't recognize the exact same thing is taking place. It can be difficult to step back and observe that our understanding of what it means to know what we have identified as our 'life' is a cocoon really. An envelope in which things come into and out of our consciousness to create experience and identity. So, I hope you're enjoying me as part of your 'story' - if not, the unsubscribe button is at the bottom of this e-mail - *smile* *smile* *hug* *hug* :)

Wheat Field Bound

2009-04-13T22:45:00.002-04:00

This piece is 3' x 6' and is composed of wheat, barbed wire and coated in an expoxy resin. People who have seen it already have described it in fascinating ways. Some see abundance, kept at bay by our own lack of feeling worthy of it. Others see imagry of sacrifice. I continue to play with symbols that suggest both abundance and scarcity. Are we bound by our needs in a way that creates fear and uncertainty? Or are the things of this world unlimited, provided we use our mind in a continually evolving, fearless and creative way? I often wonder, especially in these times - are we bound by our fear of an unsustainable future because we see it only through the prism of our current knowledge? I love Einstein's quote - 'We cannot solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.' What would this world look like if we, each one of us, awakened to our true creative power? What would happen if we decided that we would no longer allow fear to dictate our actions? These are some of the thoughts I had while making this piece.

If The Stars Align

2009-04-10T18:15:00.000-04:00