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July 31, 2008

Late sculptor had early town ties: Exhibit of James McClellan's work in Gloucester

By Judy Wakefield

Sixty-six years ago, a young man — the son of an artist in town — had his wood-carved sculpture on display at the Addison Gallery at Phillips Academy.

As a result, sculptor James T. McClellan was on the front page of the Feb. 5, 1942, edition of the Andover Townsman. He posed for a photo with his mantel-sized gumwood carving of a bull that was chosen for a 10-day display at the Addison.

This weekend, McClellan's daughter, Anita D. "Andy" McClellan of Cambridge, is hosting an opening reception for another show featuring her father's works — this one in Gloucester.

"I invite all McClellan family neighbors, friends, fellow artists, and interested parties to the show," Anita McClellan wrote in an e-mail. "This is a special exhibit."

McClellan grew up in Andover on Orchard Street with five siblings and his mother, artist Frances Packard McClellan, and father, Percy Webb McClellan.

An Andover native, he began sculpting at age 21 and went on to be quite a force on Gloucester's art scene. Works by McClellan, who died on Aug. 1, 2005, at 95, are part of Gloucester's Cape Ann Historical Museum's permanent collection.

The sculptor had moved to Ipswich by 1947, but continued to make a mark in his hometown. He decorated pipe organs for the Andover Organ Company, which fitted several churches throughout the Merrimack Valley and Boston.

McClellan carved both indoor and outdoor realistic installations in wood — including ebony, teak, antique mahogany, black walnut, cherry and apple — as well as iron, stone, lead, ceramic, brass, gold leafing and polychrome, according to his daughter. His subjects included people, mermaids, dragons, griffins, phoenixes, sea monsters, seahorses and birds of prey.

He was friends with many artists, including prize-winning children's book author-illustrator Virginia Lee Burton. In fact, McClellan was a model for characters in Burton's picture books, most notably as Mike in "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel," his daughter said.

If you go

"The Sculpture of James T. McClellan (1910-2005)", a former Andover resident

Aug. 2 to Oct. 19

Opening reception: Saturday, Aug. 2, 3 to 5 p.m.

Cape Ann Museum, 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester

For more information, call 978-283-0455 or visit www.capeannmuseum.org/special/exhibits.htm.

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Late sculptor had early town ties: Exhibit of James McClellan's work in Gloucester
by By Judy Wakefield , , Thu Jul 31, 2008, 05:22 AM EDT
Arts/Entertainment

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