Sean S. McGraw Sculpts History At Gettysburg

Originally published September 2016 · p. 12

GETTYSBURG, Pa.—Throughout 2016’s National Park Service Centennial Summer, the National Parks Arts Foundation (NPAF), through the generous support of The Gettysburg Foundation, and with the cooperation of the National Park Service is bringing innovative artists to the nation’s premier battlefield park to work and interact with visitors. Each Artist will be featured during Gettysburg’s “First Friday” events at the historic Gettysburg Lincoln Railroad Station and give other presentations to the public during their residency. The latest artist, Sean S. McGraw, will also present a lecture dealing with sculptors of the park memorials, and a two-weekend workshop on the methods of figurative sculpture. The July/August Artist-in-Residence, Sean S. McGraw, a sculptor based in NYC, and currently part of the Studio Intensive program at the National Academy of Design, is originally from Jupiter, Fla. His sculpture is powerful, having the detail of historical presence, that comes out of research at historic archives and collections like the ones at Gettysburg and the Eisenhower Home. Also, McGraw is an expert on the historic methods of sculpture and casting, and is excited to spend his month surrounded by the nearly 1,000 monuments located at the Gettysburg National Military Park. McGraw holds a BFA in painting from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and a Masters degree from the Florida Atlantic University. He has been an art educator at various schools to students of all ages. Like many of the NPAF Artists who come to Gettysburg, McGraw is passionate about how cultures memorialize their history at the deepest level. He looks to the past in many ways to find new expressions of timeless themes in gesture, articulation and embodiment. Says McGraw: “I am a real proponent of reviving classical art practices. I am passionate about bringing back great representational American Sculpture. We all are so influenced by our own American history and the many important sculptural works done by artists like, Daniel Chester French,

Frederick MacMonnies, Henry Shrady and the like, who have left a constant and permanent reminder which inspires and instills passion in our nationality and culture.” McGraw will be using park resources to research at the park, and also work on a series of figurative works that represent many facets of the battle; from drummer boys at ease to worried Generals. Having visited and studied at a variety of Civil War historical sites throughout the south, McGraw is excited about working on site at Gettysburg. He had relatives who fought on both sides of the battle, so the park has a particular appeal to him as an artist and history buff. “I feel like a kid in a candy store. I have ancestors who fought on both sides, so it is personally a humbling experience for me. Also, with the abundance of first account research along with all of the examples of articles, art and clothing original and reproduced in the surrounding area, it makes my job as a sculptor much easier in terms of accuracy of costume and environment.” Like many, McGraw feels that there is something unique about the aura and spirit of Gettysburg, something that he can chase and adapt for his work. He says, “I look forward to fully immersing myself in the presence and humbling power that is Gettysburg.

Sculptor Sean S. McGraw standing in front of one of his latest works.