The Nahant Historical Society cordially invites you to our 2021 Annual Paterson Lecture featuring Artist and Sculptor Reno ‘Ray’ Pisano. At the event, Ray has made and shall narrate a one hour video that shows how a large bronze sculpture is made from concept to finish. This documentation in its detail of the process is unique. The subject of the video is "The Risen Christ" a 14 foot high bronze sculpture, its detail of process and site installation.
Ray Pisano, founding faculty member of Montserrat College of Art, long-time Nahant resident, and dedicated son of Lynn, was recently awarded the Lynn Cultural Council’s Significance award in the Devotion category for his dedication to creating an artistic palette which softens the hard edges of some of the city’s open spaces. Ray’s bas relief sculptures of such notables as Mary Baker Eddy and Frederick Douglass can be found scattered around the city of Lynn. Like most artists, Ray works with his hands and, more importantly, his heart.
Reno in his studio. Photo Credit: Spenser R. Hasak, Lynn Item
Reno “Ray” Pisano was born in Lynn, Ma and began sculpting at the age of 12. He graduated from, and later taught at, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In 1970, Ray was a founding faculty member of the Montserrat College of Art. Over the course of eight decades, Ray has created two commissioned sculptures of Frederick Douglass, one installed on the Commons and the second recently installed at the new Central Square Park, named for Douglass. Ray sculpts in plaster, bronze, and wood but is best known for stone carving, particularly in granite.
“The Risen Christ" at Marian Religious Community, Medway MA
“I create my work in direct response to the natural material I use, as well as the subject it references. The material I like to use best is stone, because it brings the work closer to the earth’s composition.”