Andrew Clemens

Andrew Clemens (c. January 29, 1852 or 1857-ca. May 14, 1894) was a sand artist from the U.S. state of Iowa. Clemens created sand bottles, using a type of sandpainting to complete his pieces.

Early life

Andrew Clemens was born in Dubuque, Iowa, but sources differ on his year of birth, at least one source asserted his date of birth as January 25, 1852; other sources cited 1857 as his year of birth.Cowan, Wes and Richmond, Andrew. " [http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/cowans_corner0905.htm Andrew Clemens ­"Painter Without a Brush" Creativity and a Little Sand Equals Great Folk Art] ," "Southeastern Antiquing and Collecting Magazine", September 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2007.] Clemens later lived in the McGregor, Iowa area and at a young age he was stricken with illness and rendered deaf.Heim, Michael. " [http://books.google.com/books?id=g-MIKIZwWtgC&pg=PA98&ots=HWVVMmglB1&dq=Andrew+Clemens+sand+McGregor&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=je3UG82C6cmWk6QsYnmF0GlhlDk Exploring Iowa Highways: Trip Trivia] " (Google Books), Exploring America's Highway: 2007, p. 98, (ISBN 0974435856)] At the age of 13 Clemens was entered into the State School for the Deaf and Dumb in Council Bluffs, Iowa.Langel, Richard J. " [http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/gsi/gb70/clemens.htm Andrew Clemens Sand Art] ," from: Anderson, R.R. (ed.), 2000, "The Natural History of Pikes Peak State Park", Clayton County, Iowa: Geological Society of Iowa Guidebook 70, p. 33, "Iowa Department of Natural Resources". Retrieved 11 August 2007.]

Art

Clemens' sand art career blossomed during his summer vacations from the State School, when he would spend time honing his craft. He would collect naturally colored grains of sand from an area in Pikes Peak State Park known as Pictured Rocks. At Pictured Rocks, the basal portion of the sandstone near Sand Cave is naturally colored by iron stains." [http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/gsi/gb70/stop-05.htm Stop 5: Bridal Veil Falls] , Discussion of Andrew Clemens Sand Art, "Geological Society of Iowa". Retrieved 11 August 2007.] Clemens separated the sand grains into piles, by color, and used them to form the basis for his art.

To create his art he inserted the presorted grains of sand into small glass drug bottles using a fish hook. His process utilized no glue and pressure from the other sand grains alone held the artwork together. When Clemens completed a sand bottle he sealed the bottle with a stopper and wax. At first, Clemens' work was simple and geometric in nature, diamond shaped patterns against an ivory white background was a regular motif in his earliest work.

His technique improved gradually and eventually people wanted to buy his work, which now included overtones, shading and complex designs such as landscapes. He created most of his work between 1880-1886 and is acknowledged as the inventor and possibly the sole practitioner of his art form.Dewey, Susan. " [http://web.indstate.edu/community/vchs/ht/ht091999.htm Scenic sandscapes merit close inspection] ," Historical Treasures Article, 19 September 1999, "Vigo County Historical Society"; "Indiana State University". Retrieved 11 August 2007.] During his lifetime, it is thought that Clemens produced hundreds of his sand bottles but few survive today. The more complex subjects of Clemens' work ranged from boats, to flowers to flags and he often created custom bottles with scenes of his client's choosing. The most complex of his designs could take up to a year to complete.

At the age of 19, following a fire at the State School, Clemens began to sell his creations in a grocery store in McGregor." [http://members.tripod.com/clipclop/andrew/dox/sandartist.html McGregor Sand Artist] ," originally published: "The Palimpsest" May 1945 Vol. XXVI, No. 5, Republished 1996 Iowa State Historical Dept., Division of the State Historical Society: 1996, ( [http://books.google.com/books?id=p2IRAAAAIAAJ&q=Andrew+Clemens+sand&dq=Andrew+Clemens+sand&pgis=1 Google Books link] ). Both retrieved 11 August 2007.] His artwork sold for $5-7 at the time.Kovel, Ralph and Terry. " [http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060521/news_1hs21kovels.html Sand pictures in a bottle a form of artwork] ," "San Diego Union-Tribune", 21 May 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2007.] Today, his bottles can sell for more than US$10,000. In 2004, a Clemens' sand art glass bottle sold for $12,075 at auction. At a more recent auction, a pair of his bottles were estimated to sell for $25,000-$35,000 but failed to sell.Cowan, Wes. " [http://www.cincinnati.com/homestyle/071704/treasures.html A collectors 'Top 10'] ," 17 July 2004, "Cincinnati Enquirer". Retrieved 11 August 2007.]

Late life

A funeral notice was circulated around McGregor when Clemens died, it stated, in part, that his funeral would be held on May 14, 1894 when Clemens was either 37 or 42 years old.

ee also

*Sand art and play

Notes

External links

*Images of Clemens' sand bottles: [http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/cowan0905b.gif] , [http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/cowan0905a.gif] , [http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/gsi/gb70/b&b.htm] , [http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/gsi/gb70/george.htm] , [http://www.igsb.uiowa.edu/gsi/gb70/state.htm]

Persondata
NAME = Clemens, Andrew
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = 19th century American folk artist
DATE OF BIRTH = January 29, 1852 or 1857
PLACE OF BIRTH = Dubuque, Iowa, United States
DATE OF DEATH = ca. May 14, 1894
PLACE OF DEATH =