Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it. ~Michelangelo
A sculptor wields The chisel, and the stricken marble grows To beauty. ~William Cullen Bryant
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” ~Michelangelo
Recently I had the privilege of meeting in person a sculptor/artist in the mountain town of Santa Ysabel in East San Diego County. I first ‘met’ Ted Berryman on Facebook where he goes by the name “Sum Guy.” At that time, I was asked to record in pictures the opening reception of his gallery-I was unfortunately out of the country then.
Back in April 2023 out of curiosity, I decided to visit his gallery in Santa Ysabel, California. I have previously driven past his gallery dozens of times, mostly in the late evenings on my way to Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I hardly ever saw his gallery being open. But having friended him on FB, I decided I should pay a visit. My curiosity was piqued.
| Ted at work one afternoon of August, 2023, working on his most recent piece-a big block of marble imported from Italy. Watching him at work was just fascinating. Such control in every stroke he used and the placement of the delicate chisel. I could see that he required complete attention to what he was doing. One wrong move, and the whole piece would have fallen apart. Such precision and concentration. I felt like I was invading his space to photograph him while he worked. But he was oblivious to me, I think. Ted tells me that he has completed this piece and I can’t wait to see it. It has perhaps taken him almost eight weeks or longer of long hours of work each day. |
The first time I dropped by his gallery, Ted wasn’t there in person. I just saw his fascinating works of art. I decided to pay a visit to his gallery again, this time with hopes of meeting the artist in person.
Soon after, Ted was kind enough to come meet me at the gallery, escort my friend and I around, and talk about his pieces. I had a ton of questions about the thought-provoking artwork which he patiently answered.
On my next visit to the gallery several weeks later, I noticed Ted’s hands. They were truly the hands of a sculptor. I wondered how many “beatings” they must have taken over the years, with chisels, hammers, and other tools while he carved his creations one “stroke” at a time in a precise movement. I’m sure there are no allowances for errors. A painter can go over with a brush to get the desired effect if she/he is not totally satisfied. I’m sure it’s not the same for sculpture. Sculpting must take much concentration and patience-methodically chiseling away bits and pieces. It still baffles and amazes me how he brings his concept to life in wood, stone, metal, etc., which he carves and shapes and makes them come ‘alive.’
I was most fascinated with a few of Ted’s pieces I saw…one that has “moving” parts to it and is put together like a jig-saw puzzle. Each piece of the large sculpture is a work of art in itself. He encourages his visitors to touch and interact with them-remove the pieces held together by wood dowels chiseled to resemble large screws. Such a unique concept and so clever! In my opinion, it is the center piece of his gallery and I hear that it has great sentimental value to him.
Coming back to his hands, he showed me one of his latest creations, a very tall piece of wood that’s shaped like the letter ‘Y.’ Carved and painted in it are hands, many hands, one of them rather large, and to me, resembles Ted’s hands-a sculptor’s hands.
He told me he has plans to add musical strings to it, creating something like a harp. Would be sweet to see a skilled musician bring the ‘harp’ to life and make it ‘sing.’
Also on this last visit, I saw among some other new pieces, a large wooden table carved in the shape of a butterfly with inlays of glass that are skillfully lit from the bottom. The dark glossy finish on the wood is just so beautiful. It is such an unique piece and would make a “useable” work of art in any home.
Here are a few more pieces of his work. It is difficult to depict the scale of the artwork in images. They are a ‘must-see’ in person kind of art-sculpted and painted. I don’t think my images do justice to his masterful work.
Besides being a wonderful artist, I think there is a lot more to Ted than what meets the eye. I am hoping one day to hear his story and be able to write about it. The glimpses I have had of him from Facebook, makes me think that he is a fascinating man with many stories to tell. He also appears to be quite the philosopher and poet. His writings provoke thought and some are easy to relate to. I believe he is in the process of compiling his written words into a book. Ted also worked on the restoration of the historic Santa Ysabel Store located across from the famous Julian Pie Company and Dudley’s Bakery. He is also a skilled carpenter.
Ted Berryman’s Gallery is a stand-alone gallery called Garage Gallery and stands at the junction of Highways 78 and 79 in Santa Ysabel. It is a part of the Santa Ysabel Art Gallery. If the artist is not in his gallery, the curator of the SYAG will be happy to open up the Garage Gallery. The phone number for SYAG is (760)765-1676
KAMALA VENKATESH 