5th generation Atkinson in the USA, still building with earth and stone.
Excerpts from Maine newspapers.
"It is hard to pin a label on Bo Atkinson because his life, his work, his philosophies are so integrated." . . . . . . (His) "Shelves are full of manufacturers' parts catalogs and trade magazines. It is the intelectual workshop of a Renaissance man.". . . . . From an article by Heidi Brugger,writing for The Republican Journal in Maine, USA.. . Describing his home she wrote: "...as a melding of a Zen garden, a French provincial homestead and Roman or even Etruscan ruins."
Richard Grant, writing about some of Bo's work , (land sculpture), for The Maine Times, (Garden Supplement): "The Garden is full of secrets, shaded alcoves and hidden ponds, and you are always catching glimpses of new sights, further surprises, where the mown pathways twist around corners, and passages." ... And about my stone sculpture he wrote:."...figures... that stand here and there in shady bowers, seeming to preside over tiny private fairylands..."
Bo's many pages on structural concepts and innovative designs.
"To build a symbol, hire a sculptor"."Tastefully imperfect, naturally harmonious" Are some cheerful trademarks which I adopted long ago. Human imperfection and a need for balance seem to me important to remeber as a contrast to the boastfulness of commercialism. At this point in life I am looking for projects which are especially creative. I began intensive work with CAD (computer aided design) in 1992. My mastery in many areas of building, environmental issues, materials science and electronic physics are balanced with creative philosophy and sculptural gardening.
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I, Bo Atkinson have worked in varied constructive trades to earn a living, but artistic expression has always been at my core. I am a fifth generation Atkinson, in the USA, working with earth and stone. I have also volunteered in public service with my local volunteer fire department (10 years) and other civic groups like The Conservation Commision. My dad's uncle, Guy F Atkinson was a highly successful construction contractor. After his passing in the 70's his company actually continued growing to become one of the top ten construction contractors in the USA, during the 1990's, (building large government projects internationally). Guy F's older brother, Lynn, was my grandfather, who unfortunately died as a result of a construction accident, back in the 30's. (These notes are to the best of my recollection. Correction suggestions are invited from anyone with better information). My dad's half brother named Lynn, also passed through a successful construction period, but lost it all in the great depression. I was fortunate to meet my uncle Lynn briefly in the 50's, along with a few other fine Atkinson relatives. They were all like promised land hero's to me as a child. My dad told me grandfather fell in a large construction ditch and developed a severe hernia, which was fatally treated in those days. My grandfather's company, was bought by Guy F just before the period of large government funded projects were started in the 1930s. Granddad missed out on all the huge contracts but dad said he was the first contractor to make Saturday a regular day off. Was my grandfather the first to institute the American weekend? (As first notable employer to do so?) My dad became perhaps the first American Atkinson who turned towards the arts. Dad was a writer who never quite published. (He wrote about his WWII experience, but his publishers wanted the book to be sexy and dad was really a journalist by training, not a novelist). I grew up in Rome, Italy, where dad had served in WWII. I always loved construction as dad taught me a few things about building when i was very young. I would have applied to work for Guy F in California, except that the Vietnam war was ragging on my 18th birthday. I knew too much about wars generally as my dad had served in the Military Police, somehow positioned under world famous Harold Macmillan, during the liberation of Rome, Italy during WWII. Dad saw plenty of improper action, even in that "good war". He did not joke about it . He remained well appreciated according to Macmillan's war diaries. For better or worse, i never came to know other Atkinson's who were very independently-minded Republicans, proud not to sup together (according to my uncle Lynn). I was brought up, an American child, in a country ruled by "Christian Democrats" as the leading party chose it's official name. I was imbued with wide viewpoints of the world and many of it's flaws. I was both inspired and awed by the crumbling might of the great and ancient empires, Italian art, architecture and globalism as it developed. I have worked hard my whole life, with genetic inheritance alone, which is a heritage to inspire one's soul.
Read about Bo's sandmolding methods, click here.
More information on my sand casting technique was published in a 2007 book. This 2007 book documents my sand casting and my ring reinforcement method. Many high resolution color photos show multiple steps of forming 5 easy to make pieces. Minor errata and further details by Bo.
(Publisher Link)~~ISBN: 9780764328671~~(Retailer Links)
Please call for appointment, my availability varies depending on projects.
Sping or summer is best for visits.
