ARTIST STATEMENT

 

My first sculpting experience was with my late father when I was thirteen years old.  I received the Boy Scout merit badge for sculpting with his help.  My father was not a sculptor, but a great father who helped two sons achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.   In 1989, twenty-eight years after my first and only sculpting session with my father, I decided to try the impossible and surprise him with a bronze bust for his 69th birthday.  His doctors had said he had less than a year to live.  I wanted to honor him and come to terms with his passing.  As I proceeded with the project, I felt a long suppressed desire unfolding and developing.  After his death ten months later, I understood that his parting gift to me was the realization that I could sculpt.   Realistic figurative and portrait sculptures would give me the greatest pleasure in expressing my creativity and remembering my father.   

The inspiration for completing my father’s bust came from a father and son team of sculptors from Virginia, Bill and David Turner.  They are not only excellent sculptors, but also artists in human kindness.   

In December 1990, I had a private visit with sculptor Walker Hancock at his studio in Lanesville, Massachusetts.  That first meeting developed into a friendship that inspired me to strive for the quality and realism that Walker symbolized through his work and teachings.                          

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

 

I took a graduate class on-line through the Academy of Art University, San Francisco, California, working toward a MFA/Sculpture. I have a MBA from East Carolina University and a business degree from Wake Forest University, where my next encounter with art on a formal basis, occurred.  I took three years of painting classes under Professor Ray Prohaska. My sculpting training began with Marc Mellon’s portrait sculpture class held at Montoya’s in West Palm Beach, Florida and Dr. Wilfred Stedman’s Anatomy for Artist held at the Scottsdale Artist School in Arizona.  I have also taken a class under George Lundeen in March 1991.  While at the Loveland Sculpture in the Park event in August 1991, I attended Patrick Kipper’s patination class.  In January 1992, I attended Bruno Lucchesi’s class at Scottsdale.  In October 1995, I completed studies at the 1995 Portrait Arts Festival sponsored by the American Society of Portrait Artists. I attended Veryl Goodnight’s “Sculpting the Horse” in Santa Fe, New Mexico in January 1996.  In February 1996, I took the Betty Pat Gatliff class on Forensic Art: Facial Reconstruction on the Skull for Identification,    sponsored    by    the    Traffic   Institute   of   Northwestern University.  I completed a master’s workshop at Richard MacDonald’s Studio in California on July 11-15, 2005, and attended Philippe Faraut’s portrait workshop in Georgia, September 23-25, 2005.   I attended the gross anatomy course at Florida State University, College of Medicine during the summer of 2006.  Attended Louise Peterson’s “Sculpting the Dog” course held at Brookgreen Garden, South Carolina September 14-17, 2011.

PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

 

I completed my first public commission of Dr. William John Bailey for a medical library named in his honor at Naples Community Hospital on October 10, 1990.   Other public commissions have included: “Bud” Dixon, the Mayor of Morehead City, North Carolina for placement in city hall; Dr. V.W. McEver, Jr. of Warner-Robins, Georgia commissioned by Houston Medical Center; Roland Wetherbee of Albany, Georgia by Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital; Russ Sullivan from Melbourne, Florida for Holmes Regional Medical Center; a half-body, life-size statue of Mikie Wolff of Tifton, Georgia for placement in Tift General Hospital; Mel Lockard of Mattoon, Illinois commissioned by Sara Bush Lincoln Medical Center Foundation; Damon King of Macon, Georgia by Medical Center of Central Georgia; Gene Sarazen of Marco Island and D. Graham Copeland of Naples both commissioned by Naples Community Hospital; Speaker of the House of Representatives of Georgia, Tom Murphy; Speaker of the House and President of the Senate for the State of Florida, Mallory Horne; the Late Governor, Lawton Chiles of Florida; and the Mississippi State University Mascot, an English Bulldog; a one-and-one-half life-size statue of Dr. Clarence Butler for St. Francis Hospital in Columbus, Georgia; and a bust of sculptor, Ralph Hurst, Tallahassee, Florida.  I have completed the following bas-reliefs: Dr. Jackson L. Thatcher from West Palm Beach for St. Mary’s Hospital; Mr. Byron L. Southwell of Tifton, Georgia for Tift General Hospital; Jim Hall for the Florida Health Care Association; Jacob Manousakis’ memorial; Roseanne Bowers of Tampa; and Kyla Jernigan my granddaughter.  The dual busts of Robert and Doris Klabzuba were unveiled December 1, 2005 for the Harris Methodist Health Foundation, Fort Worth, Texas; in April, 2007 a life-size seated figure of George Monardo, San Francisco, California; in November 2007, a bust of John Partipilo, Dynamic Manufacturing, Inc., Melrose Park, Illinois; in February 2009, “The Educator” of Herman Sorin and his daughter, Janice, for the Public Library in Ocean City, MD; on March 9^th, 2009, in Tallahassee, the “Officer Down” memorial at the Florida State Capitol; and in 2009, Bishop James A. Griffin for Ohio Dominican University.   In 2010, I was embedded with our military in Iraq and Afghanistan and am currently completing 21 portrait busts of military for an exhibit which will tour around the US in 2017-2018 (www.honoringthetroops.com). In 2014, completed and donated a bust of retired Sergeant At Arms, Earnest Sumner to the Florida House of Representatives.  On March 10^th, 2015, completion of a memorial statue of Lindsay Lewis, daughter of Justice Fred and Judy Lewis of Tallahassee was dedicated at Miami Children’s Hospital.  November 2015, completed and donated a bust of retiring Sergeant At Arms, Donald Severance, Florida State Senate, Tallahassee, Florida.  May 16, 2018, Tampa, Florida, completed relief sculpture of Senator Arthenia L. Joyner for Hillsborough County Library dedicated in her name.  Currently, working on a Firefighter Memorial for the State Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida representing three figures, Structural, Wildland, and EMT Firefighters.  Dedication to be April 2019.

   

AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS

In May 1994, I received an Honorable Mention in the American Society of Portrait Artist’s Portrait Arts Festival Competition in Alabama.    The Tallahassee Area Chamber of Commerce accepted Portrait Sculptures by Jernigan as a 1999 Nominee for the Small Business of the Year Award.  In 2004-2005, I received the Artist Enhancement Grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs and the South Florida Cultural Consortium.  I was selected as one of six finalists for the University of Southern California’s Galen Center brick panel sculpture projects.  In 2007, I received an additional State of Florida Artist Enhancement Grants.  In 2016 I received a grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs & Citizens for Florida Arts, Inc. for its Diversity & Inclusion Awards.  In 2017 received the Florida Artist League Professional Development Award.

I am an associate member of the National Sculpture Society; a professional member of the Portrait Society of America; a member of the Florida State University Artist’s League; and the American Numismatic Association . I was a member of The American Society of Classical Realism; an associate member of the Allied Artists of America; a member of the American Society of Portrait Artists; a member of Federation Internationale de la Medaille; a member of Medallic Art Society of Canada; a member of the American Medallic Sculpture Association; Gadsden Arts; and the LeMoyne Center for the Visual Arts.   I have served as a Member of the Board for the New World School of the Arts in Miami, Florida from 1998 to 2001.  

 

 

PUBLICATIONS, MEDIA, PRESENTATIONS

“Local Sculptor Honors Military” The Flagship, http://www.norfolknavyflagship.com/news/top_stories/local-sculptor-honors-military/collection_b27fae8c-cffe-11e5-8214-fff962f9f33e.html.  February 2016.

“Sculpture News-Sculptor News,” the National Sculpture Society Newsletter, (Sergeant At Arms, Donald Severance at Florida State Capitol), November 2, 2015.   

            “Sculpture News-Sculptor News,” the National Sculpture Society Newsletter, (Lindsay Lewis Statue                          at Miami Children’s Hospital), June 15, 2015.   

“Michael Jernigan sculpts a head of Sergeant at Arms Donald Severance,” Tallahassee Democrat, page 1, June 2, 2015.

“Veterans Affairs-Honoring the Troops,” Article by Chief William Carl, USCG, Business Currents, The Naples Chamber of Commerce, Naples, Florida, Volume 9, Number 11, November 2014. 

“Honoring the Troops”, Artists’ League Presentation, at Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, October 7, 2014.

“One Man on a Mission…Honoring the Troops,” Article by Chief William Carl, USCG, the Quarterdeck Log, Volume 28, Number 3, Fall 2013.

           “Sculptor, Michael Jernigan to Speak at the February 21, 2013 Meeting,” The Tallahassee AFA                                  Flyer, Volume 35, Issue 1, January 2013.

“Sculptor Michael Jernigan to speak at Gadsden Arts Center - Artist Gallery Talk,” Tallahassee Democrat-Chronicle, 2E, December 13, 2012.

“Sculpting The Troops,” Tallahassee Magazine, page 115, November-December 2012.

“Jernigan’s art is about soldiers,” by Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat, page 1, November 17, 2012.

“Faces of Valor,” by Cheri Harris, The Gadsden County Times, page 1,  November 15, 2012.

“71^st Annual North Florida Fair,” 3-D Judge, Tallahassee, Florida, November 1-12, 2012.

“As a follow up,” Killearn Kloverleaf,  Killearn Estates Community Magazine, Tallahassee, Florida, July 2012.

“Tallahassee’s On-line Sculpture Directory.”  Interview about Officer Down Memorial at the Capitol,  WCOT-TV, aired June 2012.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0q7V1vkzJ8&list=UUmWwxcTi1xtq5xeic4DbZzA&index=3&feature=plcp

“Florida hosts its own Capitol sculptor,” Tom Flanigan, Community Relations Director for News, WFSU, Tallahassee, Florida, March 9, 2012.   http://news.wfsu.org/post/florida-hosts-its-own-capitol-sculptor

“Sculptor Uses the Capitol As His Studio, Honor Troops,” Deneige Broom, Anchor/Reporter,” WCTV Eyewitness News, Tallahassee, Florida, January 25, 2012.

http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/Sculptor_Uses_the_Capitol_As_His_Studio_Honors_Troops_138085163.html

“Capitol Update,” Interviewed at the Florida Legislature,  The Florida Channel, Tallahassee, Florida, January 13, 2012. http://thefloridachannel.org/video/program-201205/

“Honoring the Troops Exhibit,” by Gavin W. Boone, Killearn Kloverleaf,  Tallahassee, Florida, page 16, December 2011.

“70^th  Annual North Florida Fair,” 3-D Judge, Tallahassee, Florida, November 3-13, 2011.

“Goshen’s Keystone RV loans Outback unit to aid a Florida sculptor’s cause,” by John Kline, Goshen News, August 1, 2011.   http://goshennews.com/local/x1073356830/Goshen-s-Keystone-RV-loans-Outback-unit-to-aid-a-Florida-sculptor-s-cause.

“Keystone loans sculptor an RV for work honoring troops,” by Sara Alvarez, eTruth, July 30, 2011. http://www.etruth.com/know/news/story.aspx?ID=546055.

“Sculptor honors military,” by Amanda Nalley, Tallahassee Democrat, May 5, 2011, Page 1 of Local & Capital.

“Capitol Update---Sculptor Michael Jernigan,” The Florida         Channel, April 20, 2011.

“Man sculpting veterans on tour,” Fox28.com, July 29, 2011.  http://www.fox28.com/story/15176901/man-sculpting-veterans-on-tour.

“Keystone’s Gesture Boosts Sculptor’s U.S. Tour,” RV Business, July 27, 2011.  http://www.rvbusiness.com/2011/07/sculptor-uses-outback-trailer-as-mobile-studio/.

“Sculptor to preview project at Westminster Oaks,” by Gary Franck, The Chronicle, Tallahassee Democrat, April 14, 2011.

“Community Conversations,” WFLA-FM, Host: Preston Scott, September 26, 2010.

            “Tallahassee artist on the frontline,” Tallahassee Examiner, by Nicole Perkins, (on line                                              www.examiner.com), August 5, 2009.

“The Educator,” Associate News, News Bulletin, National Sculpture Society, July/August 2009, Vol              75 #4.

“Art in the Rotunda,” St. Pete Times, by Scott Keeler, May 1, 2009.

           “Officer Down Memorial Dedicated At Capitol,” The Broward Centurion, Broward County PBA,                            Volume 12, Issue 4, April 2009.

“Eunice Sorin Donation,” Spotlight, Ocean City Development Corporation Newsletter, Volume No.                           9, Issue No. 1, 2009

           “OCDC dedicates sculpture at library,” Shore Progress, March 14, 2009.

           “Memorial dedicated to fallen law-enforcement officers,” by Bill Cotterell, FloridaToday, March                               10, 2009.

           “Officer Down Memorial,” Tampa Bay’s Online News Leader, 10Connects.com, March 10, 2009.

“Memorial dedicated to fallen law-enforcement officers,”  by Bill Cotterell, Tallahassee Democrat, March 10, 2009, Pages A1 & A2.

“Officer Down Memorial Unveiled,” ABC News, Channel 27, March 9, 2009.

“Officer Down Memorial Unveiled,” Capitol Update, FSU Television, Channel 4, March 9, 2009.

“Police officer memorial unveiled in Tallahassee,” by Jennifer Lebovich, Miami Herald, March 9, 2009.

           “People in Society 2-27”, Photo Gallery, Maryland Coast Dispatch, February 27, 2009.

           “The Educator’ Unveiled,” Ocean City Today, February 27, 2009.

           “Update on Memorial,” by Florida Police Benevolent Association,  ROLL CALL, February 2009,                              Volume 37, Issue 1.

          “Bronze Statue to Honor LEO’s in State Capitol Courtyard,” by Florida Police Benevolent                                          Association, ROLL CALL, June 2008, Volume 36, Issue 2.    

          "Bronze Statue to Honor LEO’s in State Capitol Courtyard,” by Georgianne Cox, Editor, HEAT,                                  May 2008.

“Art in Public Places,” Capitol New Services, aired in April 2008.

“Memorial will be thought-provoking addition to plaza,” by Gerald Ensley, Tallahassee Democrat, April 30, 2008, page B1.

           “Statue will honor fallen officers in Florida Capitol courtyard,” by Bill Cotterell, Tallahassee                                     Democrat, April 22, 2008, page A1.

“You Decide 2008,” Capitol Update, FSU Television, Channel 4, March 31, 2008.

“Honoring Our Past,” California Pacific Medical Center – Davies Campus Annual Report, 2007.

            “George D. Monardo,” News Bulletin, National Sculpture Society, September/October 2007, Vol.                              73 #5.

            “Dare to Stare in the Face of Art,” Florida’s CapitalAIR, Tallahassee Regional Airport, January-                                 March 2007, page 4.

            “Angel” by Michael Jernigan, News Bulletin, National Sculpture Society, March/April 2007, Vol.                                 73 #2, page 11.

            “Mikie Wolff”, Art in Public Places Calendar, Council on Culture & Arts, March 2007.

            “Democratic and Republican Trophies” Limelight, Tallahassee Democrat, March 2, 2007, page 34.

“Gene Sarazen – The Squire”, Golf in American Art, Exhibit Catalog, The von Liebig Art Center,                               Naples, Fl. Jan. 20, 2007.

“Robert and Doris Klabzuba,” News Bulletin, National Sculpture Society,  March/April 2006, Vol.       2 #2.

           “Mike Sells, Kent Buys!” Artists’ League Monthly Meeting Presentation, Florida State University,                                  Tallahassee, Florida, January 4, 2005.

“Mike Sells, Kent Buys!” WCTV-6, Tallahassee, Florida.  Interview  by Valerie Lacey, January 3,        2005.

Ball, David.  “A Legacy Carved from Stone.”  The Tallahassee Magazine November/December 2003.

“Dr. Clarence Butler.”  Columbus Ledger-Enquirer 28 June 2003. 

“Florida’s Harried Lawmakers Living with ‘Angina Pectoris.’”  The Tampa Tribune 20 March 2002.

Rankin, Florence.  “Eisenhower bust unveiled.”  The Tifton Gazette  17 October 2001.

“Emu.”  Tallahassee Democrat 9 May 2001, p. 6D.

“Relevant Topic.”  Orlando Sentinel 26 April 2001, p. D5.

“Inspired by a butterfly.”  Tallahassee Democrat, 26 April 2001.

“Casting the Ballot.” Tampa Tribune 26 April 2001: p. 3/Metro.

“A Head for Art.”  Gulfshore Life April 2001, Vol. 31, No. 4.

“Memorial to Chiles.”  Tampa Tribune 1 May 1999.

“Governor’s Honor.”  Florida News Times, 1 May 1999.

“Expresso Touch.”  The Herald, 4 March 1998, p. 18A.

"A model president." Owens, Sherri M. The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 1998.

“Sculptures mirror legislators.”  Sun-Sentinel, 4 March 1998.

“Golf Legend Sculpted by Tallahassee Sculptor.”  State Capital News, December 1997, Vol. 22, No. 12.

“Sculptor Michael Jernigan, Head Hunting Again.”  State Capitol News, October 1997, Vol. 22, No. 10.

“AHP Member Sculpts Golf Legend.”  Developments, Region IV, Newsletter, Winter 1997.

“AHP Member Sculpts Golf Legend.”  Developments, Region IV, Newsletter, Winter 1997.

“Long Live the King.”  Developments Region IV Newsletter, Fall 1997.

“Walborsky.”  Tallahassee Democrat, 12 September 1997, p. 34D.

“Turning Heads.”  Aero/Flight Newsletter, Tallahassee, Florida.  May/June 1997.

“The Art of Making Laws.”  Tallahassee Democrat, 17 April 1997.

“Sine Die ---Waiting for the real thing.”  Tallahassee Democrat, 6 May 1996.

“These power brokers have clay feet.” Mark Hinson,  Tallahassee Democrat, 7 April 1996.