JUD HARTMANN ’66: SCULPTOR AND HISTORIAN

Jud Hartmann is a born storyteller and a gifted artist. For 32 years, he’s been sharing powerful accounts of the Iroquois and Algonquin with anyone who enters his galleries in Blue Hill, Maine and Grafton, Vermont. Jud has made the Woodland Tribes of the Northeast the focus of the exquisitely detailed bronze sculptures he creates, a subject that has captivated him since boyhood.

“I grew up in Bedford, New York and had as my playground tracts of virgin forest owned by the Nature Conservancy. Among these 300 year old hemlocks and oaks, it wasn’t a stretch for my little imagination to envision Indians running through those woods.”

After graduating from Hobart in 1970, Jud spent six months in the Virgin Islands where he discovered his true calling. While he had always shown talent in drawing and painting, he considered art a hobby, not a profession. However, that changed when he bought a chunk of mahogany and borrowed some tools from a local furniture maker.

“The next day on the beach, without any idea what I was doing, I struck the chisel with the mallet, and instantly, something happened inside of me. Before that day was over, I knew I was put here on earth to be a sculptor. Probably the most important day of my life. I spent the next few years teaching myself how to carve and sculpt in wood, stone, and marble. Never took a class, never read a book.”

In 1983, Jud began modeling in clay and casting in bronze, reconnected with the Native American theme, and opened his gallery in Grafton, Vermont. He opened his second gallery in Blue Hill, Maine in 1987. He now splits his time between the two locations, Maine from early June through mid September and Vermont from mid September through Memorial Day.

“I love being in the gallery. I become a story teller and share the history of each piece I sculpt. I do extensive research for each piece and that history becomes vital to the life of the sculpture. Most people have no idea of these tribes so I consider it an honor to share their stories through my words and art.”

With more than 1200 bronzes in private art collections and museums, Jud feels fortunate that he’s been able to make a living researching and sculpting these indigenous people. “This career combines my two loves, art and history, which began at Trinity-Pawling.”

Check out his website to explore Jud’s artworks and learn about the lost wax process of casting bronze.

Lastly, Jud reminds his classmates to start making plans to return to campus next fall for their 50th reunion – September 30th – October 1st, 2016.