Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page
Search the Web

Bronze Sculptures

Captain at the Helm
The captain of a Great Lakes sailing vessel stands at the wheel on a pitched deck. The captain is a one and a quarter life size bronze sculpture, the deck, a granite clad base. Including a few steps, its total height is approximately 10 feet. It was commissioned by the International Shipmasters Association and will be installed at Chicago's Navy Pier in May of 2000.
A Learning Moment
President Abraham Lincoln dictates to John Hay, his personal secretary, who is seated a few feet from where Lincoln stands. Lincoln pauses to tell the future Secretary of State a story and perhaps pass along insights from an elder statesman. With the figure of Lincoln standing nine and half feet tall, this bronze sculpture demonstrates the Carthage philosophy of personal connection in education. This, and Hay being a graduate of the midwest liberal arts college, is why this heroic sized bronze was installed on its Kenosha, Wisconsin campus in 1997.
Heron
Done as a private commission for Ms. Marge Reinhart's lake home in Shell Lake, Wisconsin in 1998, its curved, blue green sheets of bronze create negative volumes and shadows. You will recognize the large, graceful silouette of this symbol of America's wetlands and perhaps understand the miracle of the survival of this species, almost unchanged from the first birds. The blue heron's grace, majesty, and will to live resonate through this six foot tall abstract.
Fledgling
All of us feel, or have felt, the awful and wonderful growth of this pre-teen skateboarder. Small wings on his back, he wants to fly yet is not ready to soar. Is he slouching to defy, to define himself, or to bear the weight of wings getting larger every day? Installed in downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin, this life size standing bronze figure reminds us young citizens need community support.

Other public installations

  • Life size bronze figure for Westmoor Golf Course, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Carved wood sculptures for St. Odilia Catholic Church, Shoreview, Minnesota
  • Plaster life size figures for St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, Holmen, Wisconsin
  • Plastic foam 44' long figure for Irish Fest, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Drawings of infants for St. Francis Hospital-Infant ICU, La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • Painting, 5' by15' acrylic on canvas for Monroe County Historical Society, Sparta, Wisconsin

Private installations

  • Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dahl, Viroqua, Wisconsin
  • Rev. Ronald Crewe, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Ms. Gloria Gabriel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Dr. Lynn Martin, La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • Rev. Joseph Perry, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • Ms. Sharon Kerkov, La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • Dr. and Mrs. James Baumgaertner, La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • Dr.Dennis Costokas, La Crosse, Wisconsin

Public service

  • 1992 Artist in residence at Hintgen Elementary School, La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • 1998 Artist in residence at Viking Middle School, La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • 1998 Artist in residence at Spence Elementary School, La Crosse, Wisconsin
  • 1999 Artist in residence at Onalaska Middle School, La Crosse, Wisconsin

Michael Martino was born in 1955 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. While attending Holy Rosary Grade school, his father, Palmer, a commercial artist, taught him to draw and encouraged his sculpting. He graduated from Bradford High School in 1973 and went on to receive a BFA in Sculpture from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1977. He and his wife Phyllis, a talented illustrative watercolorist, were married in 1988. They have two sons, Tony born in 1990 and, Nick in 1992.

Michael shares his love of sculpture with children in various artist in residence programs and presentations in the schools. He also shares his experiences as a snow sculptor. Michael has traveled and sculpted snow with teamates Tom Queoff and Michael J. Sponholtz for 15 years. They won a bronze medal in the 1998 Winter Olympic Arts Festival in Iiyama, Japan and recently took third place in the World Snow Sculpture Championship in Kiruna, Sweden.

Contact Michael for an appointment to view his pieces available for purchase. Michael will create works of art for clients with a theme of their own within their budget and schedule.

Michael Martino
1640 Redfield
La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601
608-785-7096
phylnmike@prodigy.net