ANTHONY
HOLAND
Raised in Washington State, Anthony Holand recognized his passion
for metal sculpting early in life. While harvesting wheat and
barley on his family farm, Anthony found himself drawn to the
metal that a working farm produces as a means of artistic expression.
Early work in stainless steel and found objects developed into
lost-wax bronze casting throughout college and a desire to develop
his love for metal sculpting further.
A trip to Martha’s Vineyard the summer of 1996 held a surprise
opportunity. Celebrity sculptor Travis Tuck was seeking an apprentice
and Anthony’s experience and natural ability made him the
logical choice.
As an integral part of the Travis Tuck studio, Anthony had worked
on over 50 custom weathervanes. His input and sculpting was an
important part of the studio completion of the largest full-bodied
weathervane in the world: the Nittany Lion weathervane commissioned
for Penn State’s Beaver Stadium. "Anthony did the Lion's
Share" said Tuck
In 2002 Travis proudly announced the formation of a new enterprise:
Tuck & Holand Metal Sculptors, in recognition of his former
protégé’s level of accomplishment and in the
hopes that Anthony’s talented hands would guide the studio
into the next generation.
"My work begins with a flat sheet of copper and ends with
an heirloom-quality piece of art built to last for centuries,
all accomplished completely by hand." says Anthony Holand.
"This is especially satisfying with the custom weathervanes,
where I bring to life a design that has real significance for
the family, individual or business we are working with."
Using the traditional copper repousse technique to create unique
designs, Anthony has realized his artistic and personal vision.
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TRAVIS
TUCK 1943-2002
Travis Tuck was born in New York City and would learn his craft
there 25 years later. After a stint in the Army, studies at NYU
and a summer working on Martha’s Vineyard, he took a part-time
job with noted Dutch artisan, Hans Van De Bovenkamp, an internationally
recognized metal sculptor. He spent four years developing his
skills sculpting alongside Van De Bovenkamp on huge architectural
metal pieces and managing the production schedule for the busy
studio, before leaving to realize his own artistic vision in a
small studio on 28th street. A year later, he was still thinking
of his experiences on the Vineyard and moved there to live and
work in 1970.
Travis continued to sculpt, and he and his wife were instrumental
in forming the Martha’s Vineyard Artworker’s Guild.
The Guild was a seventies-style artist’s collective, located
in an old building on State Road owned by James Taylor and Carly
Simon. Travis produced sculptures in copper and wrought iron,
but had never built a weathervane until 1974 when he obtained
the commission to create a shark to top Quint’s shack for
the film "Jaws".
This weathervane changed the course of his career and today his
weathervanes grace public buildings and private homes on Martha’s
Vineyard and around the world. He is considered the world’s
premier weathervane artist and in this regard is generally credited
with reviving the copper repoussé technique.
"Most weathervanes are fashioned by hammering sheets of
copper into molds made from an original wooden carving. My technique
is entirely freehand, there is never a mold. This makes every
one of my weathervanes an entirely new sculpture. Each hammer
blow is part of the creative process."
Travis Tuck died on November 18, 2002 at his studio/home in Vineyard
Haven of mesophelioma.
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