M.L. Snowden
American sculptor (born 1952)

M.L. Snowden
A woman with long dark hair looks thoughtfully at a sculpture she is working on
Snowden in 2008
Born
Mary Louise Snowden

(1952-03-15) March 15, 1952 (age 73)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
EducationLoyola Marymount University (BFA, 1974)
Known forSculpture
Notable workAngels at Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
Parents
A woman working on a clay sculpture of a face attached to a metal framework, focusing intently as she refines the details with a sculpting tool
Snowden in 2009

Mary Louise Snowden (born March 15, 1952) is an American sculptor.

Early life and education

Snowden was born in Hollywood, California, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, to sculptor George Holburn Snowden[1] and stage and film actress Louise Adel Snowden (née Weider), professionally known as Louise Illington.[2] Her mother also pursued advanced work as a doctor of biochemistry, developing natural skincare and consumer products.[3] Snowden had one brother, George, who was a financial investor, advisor, and humanitarian philanthropist.

Snowden was raised and trained in the sculpture studios of her father,[4] whose national landmark sculpture commissions fueled her early aspiration to become a professional sculptor.[5][6][7] She took her first sculpture lessons from her father as he was sculpting the main altar and exterior statuary for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.[8]

After becoming one of the first women to enroll at Loyola Marymount University in 1970, she studied with Macdonald-Wright's protégé Pauline Khuri-Majoli and was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in painting and sculpture in 1974.[9][10][8]

Career

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Snowden sculpted several works for the $200 million Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels that opened in Los Angeles's downtown Civic Center in 2002. She sculpted four 30-inch angels that wrap around the base of the Rosso Laguna marble main altar.[11][12][13]

The cathedral's visitors center displays Snowden's "The Los Angeles Angelic Frieze," an 11-foot-tall, 4-inch-deep, 1-ton bronze bas-relief pane that was sculpted as a preliminary study for her altar angels. From left to right, the composition features Archangels Michael, Raphael, Ariel, and Gabriel. It was sculpted with Rodin's tool #8.[14][15][16][17]

A bronze free-standing screen bas-relief wall panel, "Creation's Gate," was debuted in the cathedral's Chapel 5.[18][19][20]

Other work

  • "Lunas," "Lightspire," "Photon," and "Solaris." Grand Reading Room, Ellis Library, University of Missouri[21]
  • "Cataclasis Study." Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles
  • Albert Gersten Memorial (1981). Gersten Pavilion at Loyola Marymount University
  • Glendale California's Civic Monument, also known as the "Shield." Civic Plaza, Glendale, California[22]
  • CV: M.L. Snowden
  • Snowden Family Art Trust
  • Promotional websites: mlsnowdenart.com and mlsnowden.com
  • Promotional videos:
    • "ML Snowden's Humanitarian Bronzes at the Williston, Canada"
    • "The Gates of Heaven by Sculptor ML Snowden"
    • "The Works of M.L. Snowden"

References

  1. ^ Falk, Peter H.; Lewis, Audrey M. (1999). "George H. Snowden". Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America. Madison, Connecticut: Sound View Press.
  2. ^ "Louise Illington". IMDb. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  3. ^ "Dr. Louise Weider Illington". Jaree Hage. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  4. ^ "M.L. Snowden". Issuu. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  5. ^ Gurney, George (1985). "George H. Snowden". Sculpture and the Federal Triangle. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  6. ^ "George H. Snowden". Lehman College, City University of New York. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ Gobrecht, Larry E. (March 1983). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Bronx County Courthouse". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012.
  8. ^ a b "M.L. Snowden '74". Loyola Marymount University. June 12, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  9. ^ Paquette, Russell (Summer 1993). "M.L. Snowden: Anything but One Dimensional". Vistas Magazine. Loyola Marymount University.
  10. ^ "M.L. Snowden Wins Awards/Distinguished Achievement in Studio Arts". Westchester Journal Newswire. June 26, 1974.
  11. ^ Mecoy, Laura (September 2, 2002). "LA Cathedral: A Gift of Faith". The Sacramento Bee. p. A3. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  12. ^ "Gold Angels Swirl Along the Base Designed by M.L. Snowden: Mahony Shares His Delight at a Dream Made Manifest". Los Angeles Times (Orange County ed.). August 28, 2002. pp. 9, A-12.
  13. ^ "Hallowed Be the Art". The Los Angeles Times. February 11, 2001. p. 91. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  14. ^ Lacayo, Richard (September 2, 2002). "To the Lighthouse". Time Magazine. p. 64.
  15. ^ Ramirez, Margaret (December 21, 2000). "Cathedral Wants Altar Installed". Los Angeles Times. p. B.
  16. ^ "M.L. (Mary Louise) Snowden/Frieze". The Los Angeles Times. February 11, 2001. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  17. ^ "Sacred Creations". The Los Angeles Times. August 4, 2002.
  18. ^ "Commissioned Artists of OLA Cathedral Year of Art/Exhibition of 2007". Retrieved September 14, 2023.
  19. ^ Sulio, Di. "M.L. Snowden's Bronze Is the Architecture of Aspiration". mlsnowdenart.com.
  20. ^ "Gate of Heaven/Creation's Gate". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Cary, Shannon (September 3, 2021). "Gift of Art Provides Inspiration and Beauty to Grand Reading Room at Ellis Library". Library News. University of Missouri. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  22. ^ "Police Memorial 'Shield' Takes Shape". Glendale News-Press. February 8, 2003. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  • Media related to M.L. Snowden at Wikimedia Commons
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