By Roscoe Barnes III, Ph.D., Visit Natchez
Armand Saiia, ArtsNatchez’s Artist of the Month for June, displays photographs of his sculptures at the gallery. (Photo by Roscoe Barnes III)
Sculptor Armand Saiia says he’s been a “lone wolf” in the world of art, and it’s a status he holds with pride.
During the 1960s, when people were partying and many were protesting the Vietnam War, Saiia found peace in the arts. “My refuge was the museum, and I still exist in that space,” he says, adding that art springs from a sense of integrity.
“Art is the most honest thing a person can do,” he explains. “It’s like dancing naked in front of people — all the time. I just feel that honesty is the best policy. We live in a time where things are not very honest.”
Saiia has been named ArtsNatchez Gallery’s Artist of the Month for June, and the public is invited to view his latest work at the gallery on Saturday, June 13, at 425 Main St. His reception is from 5 to 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Saiia’s exhibition will include medium-sized and small sculptures, as well as paintings he has completed over the past eight months. He describes his paintings as a blend of realism and abstraction. Saiia signed the series “Fortunate Thomas,” combining his given name, Fortunato, with the surname of his late friend Joan Thomas, who painted the backgrounds featured in the works.
“The work is collaborative. That’s one of the distinctive aspects of this show.”
Sculptor Armand Saiia, ArtsNatchez’s Artist of the Month for June, poses with his large sculpture “Subjugation” in front of the gallery. The mixed-media work features wood carved to resemble bone, forged metal, chains, and solar-powered lighting. (Photo by Roscoe Barnes III)
As with any good artist, each piece of Saiia’s work tells a story. For instance, one of his larger sculptures is designed with a log that resembles a large bone on one side and stacked metal and chains resembling anchors on the other. He calls it “Subjugation,” a work that reflects themes of suffering.
Discovering Art
Saiia, who is of Sicilian descent, grew up in Buffalo, New York. Although he has lived “all over the country,” he says, he absolutely loves his hometown. “I’m a proud Buffalonian,” he says.
It was in Buffalo that Saiia discovered his love for art.
Saiia attended McKinley High School in Buffalo, where he trained to become a commercial art director.
Saiia says he was not only a good student but also among the top students in his class. “I started doing sculpture out of a 2,000-pound log. As a kid, I used to make snow sculptures, igloos, and stuff. That was my calling. I fell in love with shapes, spaces, and forms.”
Sculptor Armand Saiia poses with his large bone-like sculpture “#2 Wing Section” at ArtsNatchez Gallery in downtown Natchez. (Photo by Roscoe Barnes III)
While Saiia enjoys drawing and painting, he is first and foremost a sculptor. “I draw well, but up until eight months ago, I hadn’t painted since college.”
Saiia graduated from Buffalo State Teachers College, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Sculpture.
Saiia credits much of his artistic development to time spent at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. After winning a workshop scholarship around the age of 10, he became a familiar face at the museum and spent countless hours studying the works of abstract artists.
“The security guards got to know me. They let me hang out in the art museum unsupervised. From age of 10 until I went to college, I would hang out with the works of abstract artists.”
Discovering Natchez
Saiia moved to Natchez about two years ago after living in Baton Rouge.
“I was familiar with Natchez,” he says. “I love history, and Natchez is like the birthplace of everything in the South.”
Saiia found a home at a good price that provided adequate space for his studio and outdoor garden, where he grows fruits and vegetables. Canning vegetables is one of his favorite pastimes.
Saiia was particularly pleased to find that his home is only minutes from the Blues Highway. “Blues is my favorite thing,” he says. “It touches my soul and is very honest. I’m happy to be where I am, and I’m happy to be working. There’s so much to discover here.”
Saiia says he’s excited about the upcoming reception, where the public can see his creations. He views the show in part as an introduction of himself to the Natchez area.
Artist Armand Saiia with his paintings on display at ArtsNatchez Gallery. (Photo by Roscoe Barnes III)
A quick review of his collection shows multiple sculptures with chains, which he admits is a recurring element in his work because of what they represent.
Saiia also likes working with old, forged metal. One of his creations, titled “Jack the Humorist,” incorporates the car jack from a Model T Ford mounted on a wheel hub and stone base. The piece also features a skull cast in plaster.
Armand Saiia displays a photograph of his sculpture “Jack the Humorist,” which incorporates a Model T Ford car jack, wheel hub, stone base, and a plaster skull. (Photo by Roscoe Barnes III)
An overview of his work over the years may be summed up in the title of his popular series, “Steel, Stone and Bones.” As with the chains, he has used creative ways to sculpt wood into structures that look and feel like actual bones.
Saiia believes he has spent a lifetime creating art because it is what he was meant to do.
“I can’t do anything else,” he says. “I wanted to be a doctor but knew I’d never fit. I’d rather hold tight to my poetic license.”
The gallery is open daily at 10 a.m. For more information, call 601-442-0043.