For Albert Nelson, stone carving
is more than just art - it forms his life's philosophy.
A sculptor since 1972, he began by carving wood.
Later, Nelson became interested in working with stone
when he realized he could create beauty and express his
feelings with a material that had been on earth for millions
of years.
As he carves, Nelson develops a very close relationship
with the stone.
And for Albert Nelson, relationships are intensely important.
The subject matter of his work is often the family, depicting
mothers and children rising almost angelically from the
stone. His work has been described as spiritual, accessible,
quiet, and peaceful, with an immediate appeal. This appeal
does not go unnoticed. Nelson's work has received praise
from local and regional press, colleagues, and art lovers,
winning many awards.
Nelson's work emphasizes the tenderness of the human spirit
in such a way that even a hard, cold piece of stone appears
soft and warm. His art is a clear representation
of his ideology that stone, like life, must be approached
with both determination and reverence.
His work ranges in size from
the small to the very large. In 1998, he co-created
a fielder's mitt, the world's largest stone baseball glove, from
a 30-ton boulder of solid Kentucky limestone for the Louisville
Slugger Museum. Commissioned by the Kentucky Crushed
Stone Association, "Let's Play Ball" has attracted
enormous attention in the Louisville area and nationwide.
Other projects include: a carving for the Women's Imaging
Unit of Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
"Hearts In Harmony" a 10' tall sculpture for Louisville's
downtown YMCA and a Viking Ship for the Olmstead Conservancy
at Cherokee Park's Christensen Fountain.
Nelson continues to create pieces for art shows, public
commissions and private art collectors.
