Michael Binkley has had a love affair with Italy, since he became inspired to carve stone in 1980, while attending a Renaissance Art History course with Capilano (College) University, on location in Florence Italy.
During his first visit to the Accademia della Belle Arte, he saw the works of Michelangelo for the first time in person. What struck a chord deep inside him were the unfinished "Slave" sculptures that Michelangelo was carving for Pope Julius II’s tomb. These four sculptures were never finished, but Binkley realized he could see inside the marble and could envision the figures looking just as the mighty “David” does now.
After that experience, Binkley sought a way to learn the techniques of stone sculpture back in Vancouver. He succeeded in doing just that, and has maintained a successful studio and gallery in North Vancouver where he has produced most of the body of his career work.
For many years, he had dreamed of returning to Italy, only this time to carve in a marble studio in the shadow of the mountains of the white marble quarries under the Tuscan sun. In 2006, he finally realized the dream. He and his wife, Michelle traveled to Pietrasanta, and Binkley rented a space at the famous Studio SEM for the month of April.
Before leaving, Binkley secured four major commissions to be executed in the stunning white marble of Carrara, Italy. The patrons were excited that Binkley would be able to hand select the marble for each sculpture, and that their sculpture would have its genesis on Italian soil, just as Michelangelo had done 500 years ago.
As he could not bring his entire studio of tools with him, Binkley chose to bring enough to get each sculpture partially worked. Once he was satisfied that a good progress was achieved, he moved onto the next piece.
The Binkley’s rented an apartment in an ancient villa, and quickly adapted to the laid back lifestyle of small town Italy. Each weekday, Michael would work 8 hours in the studio. This left Michelle time to explore the surrounding towns and countryside during the day. Evenings were spent in the piazzas, dining with the locals in the quaint restaurants and exploring the many galleries of Pietrasanta. Weekends found them traveling further afield to Florence, Rome, Lucca, Pisa, Carrara and the Cinque Terre.
After four weeks of dusty work, the sculptures were packed into a container, along with skids of other marble blocks Binkley purchased for inventory in Vancouver. The container made the long sea journey back to Vancouver. Binkley completed each commission in his North Vancouver studio.
The two returned for the month of September in 2008. This time, Binkley began a series of ten new works in Carrara marble. Again, these were partially worked and shipped by container (with more marble blocks!) back to Vancouver where Binkley finished them. Their experience was again a memorable one, this time with friends from Canada visiting each week!
