Interviewsand Articles
Gale Wagner and the Pacific Rim Sculptors Group
by Richard Whittaker, Aug 18, 2000
Gale Wagner is one of the founders of the Pacific Rim Sculptors Group. His many large steel sculptures, such as the potted plant outside his Oakland studio, are familiar to many Bay Area residents.
I took this photo in 1992 when I did an interview - missing here - with Gale and Luigi Testa. Luigi and Gale were there before it became an official group.
As Luigi said about the Pacific Rim Sculptors Group, "Gale was an embryonic force behind it."
Gale explained, "About three years ago we had that East Bay metal sculptors tour though the San Francisco Museum thanks to Margie Boyd. At the conclusion of the day, after all these people by the busload had visited our different studios, we had a wonderful dinner at Lou's [Luigi]. We had a great evening and after that, we just continued getting together every few weeks. That's how it began."
Luigi added, "From the beginning there was sharing. We all worked at each other's studios helping each other. If we could do this as a group, it just seemed to make sense. Why not put this forth together?"
Wagner's studio on the Oakland Embarcadero with one of
his large steel sculptures.
About the Author
Richard Whittaker founded The Secret Alameda, which evolved into works & conversations. He's also the West Coast editor of Parabola magazine
SUBSCRIBE NOW
TO OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
A Man Impossible to Classify photo: r. whittaker One of my first experiences in San Francisco ... Read More 751448 views
The Dumpster “We can’t use these. They look like ... Read More 163957 views
Say Grace I am deeply delighted to live on a planet that is so big and varied that I can ... Read More 14207 views
Cotton and Silk Vorbeck quilt, detail I’m working on the last panel of a pair of ... Read More 15520 views
A Conversation with Silas Hagerty photo: r. whittaker I met Silas, a young man in his twenties ... Read More 88132 views
READ MORE >>
A Man Impossible to Classify photo: r. whittaker One of my first experiences in San Francisco ... Read More 751448 views
Interview with Bill Douglass - Jimbo's Bop City and Other Tales At the time I'd first gotten to know the widely respected ... Read More 372582 views
Greeting the Light It was thanks to artist Walter Gabrielson that I was able to get ... Read More 338732 views
Interview: Gail Needleman Gail Needleman taught music at Holy Names University in Oakland, ... Read More 197988 views
The Dumpster “We can’t use these. They look like ... Read More 163957 views
READ MORE >>
FOLLOW US
Share Your Comments and Reflections on this Conversation:
On Aug 19, 2012 Roy Culver wrote:
I am Gale's ancient mariner and I have taken him by the hand. We are blood brothers and I have slain the albatross for him and Rolf Westphal and all our KCAI ahipmates which is why I could take Paul Slepak out of his strapped-in prison and set him free! Just keep in mind, buddy in our gunsights out of old My Lai, we are all, each everlasting one of us forever spermatozoa in the genomic truth of the microbiome!On Jan 20, 2010 George Allen Durkee wrote:
Friend from way back. Contact me! Geo