BLIND FAITH
The box that he stands on represents the world. The balls are “all the facets of life” that he has to juggle, and he is blindfolded, because he never knows what is going to happen. There’s an element of courage in the tenuous balancing on one foot.

“Art transcends all human boundaries. It is a gift of almost inexplicable, magical energy. When our hearts, through our senses, are touched by art, our lives are enhanced.”

~Richard MacDonald, Artist

Richard MacDonald is world-renowned for sculptures that reveal a profound understanding of the human body and celebrate the power of the human spirit. He hopes his art will bring joy and happiness and even change the lives of people all around the world.

Working with Cirque du Soleil, MacDonald’s work focuses on the spectrum of performing life, capturing a fleeting moment in time and immortalizing the grace, strength, joy and discipline of acrobats and dancers. His works share the creativity and imagination that fuels Cirque du Soleil and conveys MacDonald’s sense of energy and passion. The relationship between Guy Laliberté, founder of Cirque, and Richard MacDonald is born out of “similar lifelong creative goals,” says MacDonald. Using performers as models from the Cirque du Soleil “O” show, instead of photographs, he catches their bodies in extreme positions. “I’m one of the few artists who is allowed to create within my own mind the inspirations that I see,” he said. “I get inside the theater, inside the themes of the characters. The artwork comes alive. I can actually feel the presence of the character, as I’m involved.” MacDonald’s long association with Cirque du Soleil resulted in a gallery partnership at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and now at CityCenter. Over one million people have experienced the “O” Gallery.

Crystals Place at CityCenter is the home of The Art of Richard MacDonald Fine Art Gallery. It is the newest gallery presented by Cirque du Soleil to showcase MacDonald’s sculptures and art. The gallery showcases over 50 of his spectacular bronze sculptures, including 10 heroic-size works. There is a 40-foot water wall within the gallery that is the backdrop for the piece titled “The Three Graces”. At 3,600 square feet, the gallery presents one of the world’s premier sculpture spaces.

When you browse through The Art of Richard MacDonald Fine Art Gallery, you’ll be awestruck and inspired by MacDonald’s fascination with the human figure in motion. His fascination with the human figure and human emotions has led MacDonald to focus on sculpting figures of mimes, dancers and athletes, each of which pays tribute to the beauty of the human form. His sculptures capture the potential of the human figure.

Richard MacDonald, one of the greatest living sculptors, is both passionately devoted to his art and possesses a rare talent for creating sensitive images that touch the heart of the viewer. He practically explodes with enthusiasm and pride as he explains to us the stories behind some of his pieces.

SLV: What made you decide to concentrate on Cirque du Soleil?
MACDONALD: Actually, I was doing some of the Cirque Mime things before Cirque was Cirque. I did a national tour sponsored by Lincoln-Mercury with Cirque, not myself, but my artwork. Lincoln Automotive bought a piece in every city and then it was my idea to donate the money to “Free Arts For Abused Children”. The owner of Cirque and I met and we decided to do something together, so we built this gallery and the one at the Bellagio.
SLV: Were you already doing pieces showing all the musculature before?
MACDONALD: Oh, yes.
SLV: Does every piece have a meaning?
MACDONALD: Yes and no. There’s something special about each piece. This one, for example, is named “Orpheus Ascending”. It’s a Greek mythological story of love. Orpheus challenged all the women he loved. In this particular case, she’s blindfolded, which means she’s trusting.
SLV: These are all bronze?
MACDONALD: Yes. This is good for 2000 years. See the original in the booth? I go from a small one, to a large, to Nureyev, that is heroic.
SLV: Richard, what did you take Nureyev from?
MACDONALD: For this one of Nureyev, I was studying him and caught him in a video in a very intimate moment. The video only came to here (pointing to his waist) and I only saw his back. I hired a ballet model and I recreated an idea. I loved this dancer who was a historical point in history, and I decided to capture him in this quiet, intimate moment, versus him dancing. This takes nine years to get this piece. Any of these large pieces take a minimum of five years.
SLV: How old were you when you did your first piece?
MACDONALD: I did a bronze when I was twenty-eight. Then I did monuments from 1983-1986. Then I started my whole career over when I was 42. So everything in this building…and my entire career worldwide started on October 4, 1998.
SLV: Back up to early youth and teen years…were you doing art then?
MACDONALD: No. Nothing.
SLV: Did you go to school to learn how to sculpt?
MACDONALD: No, I’m self-taught.
SLV: Incredible. What a blessing!
MACDONALD: Yes, it is!

Born and raised in California, Richard MacDonald was educated at the prestigious Art Center College of Design and received a Bachelor of Professional Arts, Cum Laude in 1971. He was formally trained in drawing and painting, but taught himself to be a sculptor.

The inspiration behind MacDonald’s 1996 tour de force, “The Flair,” a 26-foot gymnast caught in the execution of a maneuver, actually emerged from a painting he created for the 1984 Olympics. “The Flair’s” essence lies more in the struggle, determination and hours of training. “The Gymnast”, a monument for the 1996 Olympics, was created when athletes from around the world gathered in Atlanta. MacDonald’s mission was to celebrate all that is best in humanity through his art. The 21-foot heroic bronze, “The Gymnast”, epitomizes that “The essence lies not in the victory, but in the struggle.” MacDonald went on to create, among other masterworks, “Momentum”, a 15-foot, 15-ton sculpture, created in celebration of the 100th playing of the U.S. Open golf championship at Pebble Beach. His work has been acquired for the permanent collections of corporations such as AT&T, IBM, and Anheuser-Busch, and has been collected by such people as former U.S. President Bill Clinton, Leanne Rimes and opera legend Luciano Pavarotti.

When not creating art, he travels on behalf of it, extensively and internationally, forging relationships with other countries and other creators. He works tirelessly to increase the appreciation and understanding of figurative art. His commitment to imparting his knowledge and technique, his experience and his lessons through master classes on location at his own 25,000 square foot studio, is amazing. As he passes the torch, he ensures his legacy. MacDonald’s international reach has now captivated Shanghai, China, which recently recognized his accomplishments with a prestigious award and invited him to install his life-sized sculpture “Three Graces” in Central Green Park, a 1,500-acre expanse that softens Shanghai’s new cosmopolitan financial center of Pudong. “China is important to the world, in that they are a force and on the move,” MacDonald said. “Exposing them to figurative art opens up a potential for artistic expression far greater than anyone would ever have dreamed possible until today. It is this very spirit of the struggle and determination to triumph that inspires creative expression. This is the message, I think, that will endure through my work.” SLV

“The art of Richard MacDonald reveals
the infinite beauty of the human body.
The characters he creates are playing
forever in the Theatre of life.”

~Guy Laliberté, Founder & CEO -Cirque du Soleil

Issue 46 featuring: Jeska Vardinski, Jana Cova & the "Happy" Feature