Paul Wegner Midnight Til Dawn Bronze Sculpture Signed Edition of 175

Artist: Paul Wegner
Title: Midnight Til Dawn
Medium: Cold Painted Bronze Sculpture
Size: 30" x 32" x 18"
Year: circa 1995
Signed: Etched Signed with Edition Number by the Artist
Edition: 1/175
Documentation: Gallery Certificate of authenticity

Paul Wegner is widely recognized for his ingenious manipulation of negative space, a technique evident in his bronze sculptures that appear to challenge the laws of gravity. Coined as "fragmentation" during an interview with a Virginia newspaper reporter early in his career, this method has become synonymous with Wegner's artistic prowess. Focusing on his preferred theme of music, Wegner infuses his compositions with a vibrant energy that resonates throughout his sculptures.

The 1995 creation "Midnight Til Dawn" intricately weaves together musical instruments, forming a supportive backdrop for two meticulously detailed band members. At the base of the sculpture is a uniquely rounded piano. This work not only highlights Wegner's technical precision and meticulous attention to detail but also showcases his expertise in both the sculpting process and the subsequent hand-painted finish. Numbered 1/175 and bearing the artist's signature, "Midnight Til Dawn" is a cold-painted bronze sculpture measuring 30" x 32" x 18" The acquisition of this artwork includes a gallery certificate of authenticity from Modern Artifact, ensuring its provenance and confirming its status as a genuine Wegner creation.

About Paul Wegner

National Geographic Society
Soon after graduating college and becoming a professional sculptor Wegner was given his first large commission by the National Geographic Society in 1976. The project required Wegner to create 9 life size figures of primitive man for their new museum exhibit in Washington D.C. Wegner had meetings with archeologists from the Smithsonian, including Mary Leaky, Dr. Dale Stewart, as well as the creative staff at National Geographic. Research for this project led Wegner to the works of painter Norman Rockwell, sculptor Rodin, and most importantly, Rodin's protege, Malvina Hoffman. What sparked Wegner's interest, aside from their great approach to depicting human anatomy and expression was infusing emotion into the faces of their work, something that National Geographic people stressed: "Give our ancestors feelings!" That was the order of the day.

Fragmentation
The term "fragmentation", now used to define Wegner's style, came about when a newspaper reporter in Virginia interviewed him early in his career while working on the "Primitive Man" project and developing this new approach.

Wegner Goes to New York
Wegner began showing the new ideas, now cast in bronze, up and down the eastern seaboard. The very first large convention center art shows were beginning in New York and Los Angeles and soon after his first exhibit in 1981, Wegner was offered his first publishing contract in New York City. Although he featured a wide range of subject matter in his work, his musical themed sculptures were the most popular, leading to the creation of his Blues and Jazz series, now in its 25th year. The unveiling was at the Dyansen Gallery in SOHO, 1984. Lionel Hampton and his band played their music in the gallery on opening night and the music was broadcast live over 450 jazz stations across the United States.

W.C. Handy & Memphis
Another of Wegner's greatest thrills as a sculptor was in 1988, when he was presented a Blues Award in Memphis by B.B. King and Carl Perkins. Wegner created a sculpture of W.C. Handy for the First Heritage Museum in Memphis, which was used on stage for the Blues Awards program and created as part Handy's childhood home dedication. That house was brought to Beale Street. in Memphis, restored and turned into a museum. Later the sculpture was used in an important scene in the Academy Award winning film "The Firm". Wegner won another "Keeping the Blues Alive Award" the following year and was made an honorary board member.

New Orleans
In 1989, Paul Wegner was awarder the "Key to the City" of New Orleans by the Mayor and made an "Honorary Citizen" in appreciation for all his sculptural works related to New Orleans Jazz. Annually, the Hilton Hotel in New Orleans dedicates 8 plaques designed by Wegner to be placed in cement at the Walk of Fame site. The names represent those who have influenced the state of Louisiana in a positive way. Pete Fountain invited Wegner to help lead Mardi-Gras with him in 1995. The theme that year was "Beauty and the Beast". Wegner chose the beast.

US Naval Academy
His largest design, to date, which took nearly two years to complete, was permanently installed at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland in October of 2000. The monument honors the more than 50 submarines lost at sea in the last century and the 3500 men who gave their lives serving in the submarine forces. During this project, Wegner was taken on a 2-day cruise off the coast of San Diego, California in a nuclear submarine, the USS Houston. This was the same sub used in the movie "The Hunt for Red October". They actually performed the "blow" maneuver while Wegner was onboard which was rising out of the water at full speed. This was to allow Wegner the experience of that he was about to portray in bronze. It was yet another one of those, "once in a lifetime" opportunities.

The Jazz & Blues Series
Over the years Wegner has had many opportunities to discuss and learn about these music forms from a wide range of original music icons in jazz, blues and rock-and-roll, with musicians such as Pete Fountain, Lionel Hampton, John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana. They were the inspiration behind the series of sculptures that Wegner has developed and created in bronze for more than 2 decades. The free-floating style evokes an almost musical feel to the design itself, allowing the figures to roll with the instruments in a wave of upbeat, visual enjoyment. As many have seen, just turn on the music and the design seems to come alive.