Born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, artist Paul DiPasquale knew what it was like to see art from two perspectives - both from the city and the country.

As a child, Paul DiPasquale spent both time in the New York Suburb of New Jersey and spent summers on his uncle’s farm called Cayce, Kentucky. Whether it was building rabbit cages or making a table DiPasquale’s mother at a young age inspired to use his hands. DiPasquale built things like tree and cabin forts and even lawn mower parts.

At about age of six, DiPasquale started molding with clay and created what he calls his first sculpture. A flat statue made with clay of two children lying down under his backyard swing. DiPasquale’s art projects were very much fostered through high school and once he graduated decided to pursue art studies at the university level.

DiPasquale attended University of Virginia where majored in Art and a minor in Sociology. After realizing that sculpturing was a strong passion, DiPasquale continued his studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1977.

DiPasquale also likes to share his experience and work with budding artists of today. Amanda Dalla Villa, his assistant and VCU sculpting major enjoys being able to work with such an accomplished artist. “I like the experience and I like being able to talk to him about what’s going on with my work and what’s going on with his work,” said Dalla Villa. “It’s amazing how he’s able to make public art his job and make money off of it.”

DiPasquale’s creativity and imagination expanded into much larger projects over the years. Simply place the idea in DiPasquale’s head and you’ll begin to see each and every idea manifest. He enjoys sculpting and often takes jobs before he knows all that it entails. “It’s stepping into a world that doesn’t exist and you’re going to make it exist,”
said DiPasquale.

One of DiPasquale’s large-scale pieces ranks a 25-foot wide sculpture called “Connecticut,” a fiberglass portrait bust of a Native American completed in 1983 and unveiled in Washington D.C. This statue is known to most Richmond rsidents as the Braves Indian sculpture at the Diamond Baseball Park. DiPasquale’s was also the mastermind behind the Arthur Ashe Monument on Monument Avenue in 1992, The Martin Luther King, Jr. statue in Hopewell in 2002, the 26-foot tall Virginia Beach “Neptune” sculpture in 2003 and countless others.

Dalla Villa began working with DiPasquale in July, and she said her experience has taught her techniques that far exceed those taught in the classroom.

“He’s shown me more about the realm of public art,” Dalla Villa said. “I get to see how an artist can just have a career as an artist and still be successful.”

A friend of Dalla Villa who was taking a rowing class with the sculptor and knew about her plans in her major first introduced Dalla Villa to DiPasquale.

This is not an internship for Dalla Villa; she describes her experience with DiPasquale as more of an artist assistantship. She has been able to work with fiberglass, cast molds, sand and grind, and she said she could do just about anything involving plaster.

Dalla Villa said the most rewarding part of working with DiPasquale is just talking to him.

“I enjoy being able to pick his brain and tap into his knowledge, concerns and interests,” Dalla Villa said. “Paul is very personable and is really excited to share the skills he’s acquired over the years.”
Through her assistantship, Dalla Villa has learned new techniques, shared the problems of her own artwork and gained advice about materials and skills.

As a student, Dalla Villa is restricted by a lack of monetary resources for projects, and said she wonders how she can find outside funding to make her own art.

“Paul’s work has interested me on a scale size,” Dalla Villa said. “He’s able to work large and still find a budget, commissioner or audience that is willing to make the piece a reality.”

Dalla Villa plans to continue to work for DiPasquale until she graduates in December. DiPasquale has encouraged her to work for a foundry, a factory that produces metal castings, in Florence, Italy, and has even been in contact with the foundry to see if this is possible.

“In regards to my future, Paul has taught me how to have an employee-employer relationship in the art field.” Dalla Villa said. “Further, under Paul’s direction, I feel as though I have mastered another skill (plaster), which I can use in the future.”

DiPasquale is the husband of Kelly DiPasquale, has two daughters and has been living in Fulton Hill for over 21 years. Paul DiPasquale and his family moved to Fulton Hill for the affordability of the area.

Additional links:

• Paul DiPasquale: About the artist
• Paul DiPasquale: Artist blog
• Commonwealth Times: Art student learns from a master: Local art legend takes student under his wing published October 22, 2007.
• Richmond.com article: Paul DiPasquale: Artist and Sculptor published on July 23, 2007
• 1st & 2nd airing of this broadcast story on PBS November 19, 2007 @ 7p.m. & then again @ 10p.m.
• 3rd & 4th airing of this broadcast story on PBS December 7th & 9th, 2007 @ 7p.m.

This story was developed as part of a journalism class in the VCU School of Mass Communications. Reported by Phillip Ranallo & Fateema Blackwell.