Sculptor known around globe

Brunswick man began working with stone as a hobby, though now he has international reputation

Web posted August 17, 1998

Associated Press

BRUNSWICK, Ga. -- His wife calls it ``creative destruction.''

But after starting it as a hobby, Anthony Quickle of Brunswick is calling sculpting a career -- one that is taking his name and work around the world.

``I did it for about a year and a half as a hobby, then I decided to try and make a living at it,'' said Mr. Quickle, 41. ``I started taking things around to galleries in Tallahassee (Fla.) and the rest is history.''

That was 10 years ago. Since then, Mr. Quickle's work has been seen around the country and around the world, and the list of owners is impressive.

Secretary of State Madeline Albright received a green alabaster goose sculpted by Mr. Quickle as a gift after a speech at Florida State University.

``It was physically beautiful and very tactile,'' said Patsy Palmer, wife of FSU president Talbot D'Alemberte. ``It seemed to have life in it. He captured the spirit of the bird and sculpted it into the stone.''

Mrs. Palmer selected the sculpture for Ms. Albright after seeing it in a gallery in Tallahassee.

Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig also owns a piece of Mr. Quickle's work, as does syndicated columnist David Broder.

Mr. Quickle is currently working on large stone sculptures of a Florida panther and manatee -- both endangered species -- for the lobby of a Tallahassee office building.

Other projects include an outdoor bronze sculpture for a church and a line of smaller cast-metal bird sculptures.

His sculptures cost between $300 and $5,000, and are in private collections and on public display in countries such as China, Ireland, Iceland and Russia.

In addition to commercial success, Mr. Quickle has received critical raves as well.

He is one of 40 artists from around the country to be featured in an upcoming exhibit featuring wildlife art. He also was one of seven artists recently honored in an exhibition on St. Simons Island.

``Tony's work has a freshness to it,'' said Mildred Huie Wilcox, who owns the Left Bank Art Gallery on St. Simons. ``The texture of the stone as well as the artistry of the sculpture is appealing. They are one-of-a-kind, which appeals to many people.''

Not bad for someone who is self-taught and who doesn't use sketches or models.

``I look at the rock, roll it over a couple of times and look at it from different angles,'' Mr. Quickle said.