Lindsay Daen
Encyclopedia
Lindsay Daen was a New Zealand
sculptor and artist who worked and resided in Puerto Rico
. Daen created landmark sculptures in Puerto Rico, Australia and the United States. He was a member of the Royal Art Society in Sydney, whose art work was exhibited worldwide.
, where he became a Sydney
newspaper reporter at age 16.
During World War II
he served in the Australian Army
. From 1945 to 1948 Daen was trained at the Art School in Sydney and the School of Arts in Adelaide
, South Australia
, where he concentrated in sculpture. His early sculptures were influenced by the aboriginal drawings and Melanesian carvings exhibited at the Sydney Art Museum
. At the age of 25, he was elected into the Royal Art Society in Sydney. In late 1949, Daen, accompanied by his first wife, sailed for the United States
, becoming permanent residents in 1951.
In 1953, Daen moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
, and settled into the French Quarter
. There his career flourished with shows at the New Orleans Museum of Art
, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and the Whitney Museum of American Art
in New York City
.
Following the exhibition of his work at the Whitney, he accepted an invitation by the Puerto Rican Government in 1955 to bring the first major show of sculpture to the island. For the next 40 years, he resided in Old San Juan. He cast primarily in bronze at Codina Art Foundry in Madrid
. Major works include La Rogativa (San Juan), The Journeyer (Philadelphia), Queen Adelaide (Adelaide), and Jemmy Morril and the Brolgas (Brisbane). His late works and installations are located in prominent public spaces and include Juan Bobo and the Basket, Joven con Pajaros (both located in San Juan) and The Lovers installed in the main plaza in the town of Isabela, Puerto Rico
. During the last 17 years of his life, Daen collaborated and worked with his third wife Laura Ross Daen.
La Rogativa, 1971, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Major public sculptures and monuments include:
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
sculptor and artist who worked and resided in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Daen created landmark sculptures in Puerto Rico, Australia and the United States. He was a member of the Royal Art Society in Sydney, whose art work was exhibited worldwide.
Biography
Lindsay Daen was born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1923, and raised in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, where he became a Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
newspaper reporter at age 16.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served in the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. From 1945 to 1948 Daen was trained at the Art School in Sydney and the School of Arts in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, where he concentrated in sculpture. His early sculptures were influenced by the aboriginal drawings and Melanesian carvings exhibited at the Sydney Art Museum
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
. At the age of 25, he was elected into the Royal Art Society in Sydney. In late 1949, Daen, accompanied by his first wife, sailed for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, becoming permanent residents in 1951.
In 1953, Daen moved to New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, and settled into the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
. There his career flourished with shows at the New Orleans Museum of Art
New Orleans Museum of Art
The New Orleans Museum of Art is the oldest fine arts museum in the city of New Orleans. It is situated within City Park, a short distance from the intersection of Carrollton Avenue and Esplanade Avenue, and near the terminus of the "Canal Street - City Park" streetcar line...
, the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and the Whitney Museum of American Art
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, often referred to simply as "the Whitney", is an art museum with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century American art. Located at 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street in New York City, the Whitney's permanent collection contains more than 18,000 works in a wide variety of...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Following the exhibition of his work at the Whitney, he accepted an invitation by the Puerto Rican Government in 1955 to bring the first major show of sculpture to the island. For the next 40 years, he resided in Old San Juan. He cast primarily in bronze at Codina Art Foundry in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. Major works include La Rogativa (San Juan), The Journeyer (Philadelphia), Queen Adelaide (Adelaide), and Jemmy Morril and the Brolgas (Brisbane). His late works and installations are located in prominent public spaces and include Juan Bobo and the Basket, Joven con Pajaros (both located in San Juan) and The Lovers installed in the main plaza in the town of Isabela, Puerto Rico
Isabela, Puerto Rico
Isabela is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the north-western region of the island, north of San Sebastián; west of Quebradillas; and east of Aguadilla and Moca. Isabela is spread over 13 wards and Isabela Pueblo...
. During the last 17 years of his life, Daen collaborated and worked with his third wife Laura Ross Daen.
Major works
Major public sculptures and monuments include:
- La Rogativa (1971) - bronze sculpture in Old San Juan, Puerto RicoOld San Juan, Puerto RicoOld San Juan is the oldest settlement within Puerto Rico and it is the historic colonial section of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Location:...
- The Journeyer (1975) - bronze sculpture in West Fairmont Park in Philadelphia, commissioned by the U.S. Bicentennial CommissionUnited States BicentennialThe United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...
- Queen Adelaide (1980) - bronze sculpture in AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
's Town Hall - Jemmy Morrill and the Brolgas (1983)- bronze sculpture in BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
's Botanical Gardens - Juan Bobo and the Basket/Juan Bobo y la Canasta (1998) - bronze sculpture and fountain at the Antonia Quiñones Park in the El Condado district of San Juan.