The following is a press release from The Heritage of Green Hills
READING, Pa. – Residents at The Heritage of Green Hills can expect to get their hands dirty this month when local sculptor Angelo Di Maria comes to the Reading-based senior living community to teach the basics of sculpting and to give a lecture on his many years of experience working with clay and other materials. The presentation will take place on Wednesday, January 16th at 1 p.m., at which time Di Maria will instruct the residents on the various techniques and tools he uses, and will give the residents the opportunity to mimic him as he demonstrates the process of working with clay.
Born in Delia, Sicily, Italy, Angelo Di Maria’s interest in sculpture began when he was just six years old. In 1958, the Di Maria family emigrated from Sicily to begin a new life in Reading, PA. When he arrived in America, Angelo continued to pursue his passion for sculpturing.
Since then, Di Maria has gained more than 50 years of experience sculpting a variety of subjects – from the human anatomy to wildlife, and from logos to facades. He has developed and perfected unique processes for colors, multi mediums and textures to use in his art. His experience of sculpture from concept through completion characterizes his knowledge and expertise of the art form and illustrates his natural ability to eloquently capture expressions of the human face.
‘Sculpture for me is a vehicle with which I hope to enhance life for humanity,’ said Di Maria, who teaches classes for children and adults at The Institute of the Arts in Wyomissing, Pa.
A recipient of the 2008 ‘Pagoda Award’, Di Maria has a number of portraitures for donor recognition plaques that are installed in locations both locally and nationally, including Penn State’s Main Campus in State College, Pa., Schuylkill County’s Medical Center, the YMCA in Newark, DE and other organizations in five different states.
Di Maria’s most recent commissions include:
* Joe Paterno’s seven-foot bronze statue with four football players in the background, placed on the east side of Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.
* A relief of President George W. Bush at the University of Delaware
* A six-foot statue of the Penn State Nittany Lion Mascot inside the new Sports Museum at the Main Campus in State College, Pa.
* A 17-inch replica commissioned by the Berks County 250th Anniversary Committee of the locally owned existing 15-foot ‘Goddess of Liberty, Design 4748’
* A relief of the late Mayor Eugene Shirk, former Mayor of Reading, Pa., placed at BCTV, and a second relief at the Town Clock at 5th and Penn Streets
* A life-size bust of Pope John Paul II commissioned by St. Catharine of Siena R.C. Church and for St Mary’s R.C. Church in Reading, Pa.
During his presentation, each resident will be provided a piece of clay and Di Maria will go through with them step-by-step how to begin to form a head. Di Maria always begins his process by pinching a little piece of clay where the nose will go.
To learn more about The Heritage of Green Hills contact Cheryl Anderson at 484-269-5145 or visit www.HeritageOfGreenHills.com.
About Heritage of Green Hills
The Heritage of Green Hills is an active, 55+ independent living community located on 78 rolling acres in Berks County, Pennsylvania, near Flying Hills, Cumru Township. The full-service, maintenance-free retirement community provides a wealth of healthcare and support services as well as a variety of amenities including housekeeping, maintenance and meals, enabling an active and enriched lifestyle. The Community Life Services program provides customized wellness plans, and an on-site Health Services Navigator that coordinates all health-related services to help residents stay well. Established in 2009, The Heritage of Green Hills is managed by LifeCare Services, the national leader in the development and management of senior living communities. For more information, please visit www.HeritageOfGreenHills.com.
