“Passage of Wind and Water” is the largest privately funded public art project in the country. It’s being created at Rapid City’s Main Street Square in an accessible environment where people can actually talk to the artist about his work as he’s sculpting.
And though it’s always exciting to communicate with an artist regardless of the medium, having the opportunity to speak to a world-renowned sculptor when you’re a novice in the same field of art can be a thrill.
Imagine, for example, that you’re an aspiring blues guitarist, you’re walking down the street and you see B.B. King sitting on the corner playing his classic “The Thrill Is Gone”.
Then B.B. stops playing and invites you to sit down with him to talk blues, guitars and technique. And he lets you hold “Lucille” – his guitar.
You’re right - it’s pretty unlikely.
But that scenario did take place for at least one aspiring Rapid City sculptor who happened by Main Street Square when Masayuki Nagase was offering informal talks about his Passage of Wind and Water sculpture project.
Paul Wagner says it’s a big deal for him to be able to talk to Nagase.
“Oh, absolutely,” Wagner comments. “Absolutely. It’s like somebody who has the talent, the ability to do his kind of work….you learn from…from people that are better than you are.”
Wagner was one of a small group that visited with Yuki Nagase at Main Street Square to discuss the sculptor’s massive art project with the artist.
He’s been sculpting for some time but is new to using granite – the material Yuki is sculpting. Wagner says one thing he learned from Yuki that gave him confidence is that they both use similar tools.
“The kinds of tools he’s using aren’t that different,” Wagner observes. “Like I was telling him…I was thinking to approach granite I was gonna’ have to completely re-tool. Not the case…not the case.”
Yuki Nagase says he enjoys visiting with fellow artists, even if they’re new to sculpting. Yuki recalls being anxious to learn from experienced sculptors when he was just starting out.
“You know, watching all the people who are working…many years…I understand that feeling and I want to share that also,” Nagase explains. “Totally, I understand.”
Masayuki Nagase has a long-range goal to hold workshops in the area in order to share his knowledge with fellow and aspiring sculptors.
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