Dan Frei -
Born in Chicago in 1928, Dan has been doing art all his life. Like most artists he did drawings and paintings the first 15 years. In the fifties, while in the Navy, he did a small, four-inch high sculpture. It was beautiful.
Upon discharge from the military, however, he found himself married and expecting a family. This necessitated going to work to support the family. Even though he continued to take classes at every opportunity they were painting classes. He worked as a draftsman and then a technical illustrator for most of his life. This training gave him his eye for proportion. He never gave up his dream to do sculpture. The tech illustration meant doing thousands of line drawings that appeared three-dimensional. It was only natural that he aspired to do three-dimensional art.
About ten years ago, he did a sculpture piece that turned out beautiful. Since he was now retired he could finally devote himself to what he always wanted to do. He attended sculpture classes at UNLV and had several classes with the noted sculptress and teacher Martine Vaugel. It has been the answer to a dream. To have a vocation such as this in retirement is something everyone should plan to do.
His instruction in drawing and painting included two years at the Chicago Academy of fine arts, correspondence classes from the Famous Artists Course started by Norman Rockwell and other Famous Artists. He also joined many local classes being held by high schools and college in his area. All of these classes were of value later when doing sculpture.
Now in Las Vegas he is a member of Desert Sculptors Asociation and has shown, and sold, his work in many Desert Sculptor shows at Summerlin, Boulder City Park, The Art Factory, Treasure Island Casino, Bellagio Casino, The Cirgue De Soleil Corporate Offices, and the Beachcomber Motel in Fort Bragg, California where he does demonstrations during the summer.
In two years he has created nineteen figures including, "The Last Supper-DaVinci in the Round." These figures are 16 inches high and the entire piece, including table, chairs, and food, is six feet wide. He is presently having it cast in bronze. It could last 10,000 years. What a legacy! He intends to do sculpture until they pry a chunk of clay out of his cold, dead hands!!
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