by Kevin Freitas

“In a piece of wood I look for a pelican, and may find an eagle. I keep a wood stash. Some days you feel like a duck and sometimes you don’t. You have to be in the mood. If you don’t have the juices flowing, it won’t work. When it does work, it’s priceless. You can’t buy that feeling, having designs bear fruit, and it can disappear in a heartbeat.”

Some of you may know that other than keeping Art as Authority running, I work for a gallery in Coronado. It is far removed from the contemporary art scene I'm used to and primarily deals in wildlife art. One of our artists, Glenn Dobrusky, was accidentally killed this past Tuesday doing what he loved to do most - sculpt. He was 58 years old.

Glenn lived in Gold Beach, Oregon. He led a reclusive life with no phone or internet access, obliged to descend from his mountain top to make a call or send an email from the public library. Glenn would scour the beaches and forest for driftwood and fallen trunks and branches. The blustery winters would reward him plentifully with madronna, port orford cedar, myrtle, maple, oak and alder woods. All it took from Glenn at that point was "to be in the mood" - which was never very difficult for him.

Glenn was an excellent sculptor, at the top of his craft, producing some of his best work in years. He was dedicated, passionate, genuine and one helluva nice guy. He put to shame all those chainsaw happy, grizzly bear carving faux sculptors pandering their wares from Tucson to Utah. I will miss his candor, his gruff voice on the telephone, and unpacking his treasures freshly delivered to the gallery's doorstep. I will miss the man, I will miss his art. Farewell my friend, I hope the Good Lord has a place for a pelican or two. The full story can be read here.