M.L. Snowden Explained

Mary Louise Snowden (born March 15, 1952), known professionally as M.L. Snowden, is an American sculptor.

History

M.L. Snowden was born in Hollywood, California, at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, to sculptor George Holburn Snowden^[1] and Louise Adel Snowden (née Weider), professionally known as the stage and film actress Louise Illington.^[2] Her mother also pursued advanced work as a doctor of biochemistry, developing natural skincare and consumer products.^[3] M.L. Snowden had one brother, George, who was a financial investor, advisor, and humanitarian philanthropist.

Snowden was raised and trained in the sculpture studios of her father,^[4] whose national landmark sculpture commissions fueled her early aspiration to become a professional sculptor.^{[5] [6] [7]} She took her first sculpture lessons from her father as he was sculpting the main altar and exterior statuary for the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.^[8] After becoming one of the first women to enroll at Loyola Marymount University in 1970, she studied with Macdonald-Wright's protégé Pauline Khuri-Majoli and was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in painting and sculpture in 1974.^{[9] [10]}

Work

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Snowden sculpted several works for the $200 million Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels that opened in Los Angeles's downtown Civic Center in 2002. She sculpted four 30-inch angels that wrap around the base of the Rosso Laguna marble main altar.^{[11] [12] [13]}

The cathedral's visitors center displays Snowden's “The Los Angeles Angelic Frieze,” an 11-foot-tall, 4-inch-deep, 1-ton bronze bas-relief pane that was sculpted as a preliminary study for her altar angels. From left to right, the composition features Archangels Michael, Raphael, Ariel, and Gabriel. It was sculpted with Rodin's tool #8.^{[14] [15] [16] [17]}

A bronze free-standing screen bas-relief wall panel, "Creation's Gate", was debuted in the cathedral's Chapel 5.^{[18] [19] [20]}

Other work

• "Lunas", "Lightspire", "Photon", and "Solaris". Grand Reading Room, Ellis Library, University of Missouri.^[21]
• "Cataclasis Study". Hannon Library, Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles
• Albert Gersten Memorial (1981). Gersten Pavilion at Loyola Marymount University
• Glendale California's Civic Monument, also known as the “Shield". Civic Plaza, Glendale, California^[22]

External links

• CV: M.L. Snowden
• Snowden Family Art Trust
• Promotional websites: mlsnowdenart.com and mlsnowden.com
• Promotional videos:
  • "ML Snowden's Humanitarian Bronzes at the Williston, Canada"
  • "The Gates of Heaven by Sculptor ML Snowden"
  • "The Works of M.L. Snowden"

Notes and References

1. Falk, Peter H., Lewis Audrey M., et al, Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975, 400 Years of Artists in America. “George H. Snowden” Sound View Press, Madison CT, 1999.
2. “Louise Illington” IMDb https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0407814/ Retrieved June 29, 2020
3. “Dr. Louise Weider Illington” https://www.jareehage.com/inspiration Retrieved August 1, 2023
4. “M.L. Snowden” https://issuu.com/ricardomena/docs/rrbond_gallery catalogue/30 Pgs 22-23 Retrieved July 9, 2023
5. Gurney, George. “George H. Snowden” Sculpture and the Federal Triangle.” Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1985
6. “George H. Snowden” Lehman College, City of New York University https://www.lehman.edu/vpadvance/artgallery/publicart/bio/snowden.html Retrieved July 1, 2020
7. Larry E. Gobrecht (March 1983). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Bronx County Courthouse". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation: George Snowden. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved
8. Web site: 2017-06-12 . M.L. Snowden '74 - Loyola Marymount University . 2023-11-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170612205125/https://alumni.lmu.edu/connect/featuredalumni/alumnifeatures/mlsnowden/ . 2017-06-12 .
9. “Paquette, Russell. “M.L. Snowden: Anything but One Dimensional,” centerfold article, Vistas Magazine, Loyola Marymount University, Summer 1993
10. “M.L. Snowden Wins Awards/Distinguished Achievement in Studio Arts” Photo Credit with Dr. Mary Parent, LMU Chairman of Arts. Westchester Journal Newswire, June 26, 1974
11. News: Mecoy . Laura . 2002-09-02 . LA Cathedral: a gift of faith . A3 . The Sacramento Bee . 2023-11-07.
12. “Gold Angels swirl along the base designed by M.L. Snowden:“Mahony Share His Delight at a Dream Made Manifest” Los Angeles Times, Orange County Edition, Wednesday August 28, 2002 Pg. 9, A-12
13. News: 2001-02-11 . Hallowed Be the Art . 91 . The Los Angeles Times . 2023-11-07.
14. Lacayo, Richard. “To the Lighthouse” Time Magazine, September 2, 2002 Pg. 64
15. Ramirez, Margret. “Cathedral Wants Altar Installed”/ “ M.L. Snowden will Design” Los Angeles Times, Metro Section B. December 21, 2000
16. “M.L.(Mary Louise) Snowden /Frieze” The Los Angeles Times, Sunday, February 11, 2001 mary louise snowden cathedral of our Lady of the Angels, los angeles from 2000 - 2009 - Los Angeles Times search (newspapers.com) Retrieved September 11, 2023
17. “Sacred Creations” (M.L. Snowden Photos) The Los Angeles Times, August 4, 2002
18. “Commissioned Artists of OLA Cathedral Year of Art/ Exhibition of 2007” mary louise snowden cathedral of our Lady of the Angels, los angeles from 2000 - 2009 - Los Angeles Times search (newspapers.com) Retrieved September 14, 2023
19. Sulio, Di. “M.L. Snowden’s bronze is the architecture of aspiration.” https://www.mlsnowdenart.com/creations-gate
20. Gate of Heaven /Creation’s Gate https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EcmQBCE1ZCMfuP5CMt9Satu5eQXKEGnI/view?usp=sharing Retrieved may 28,2023
21. Web site: Cary . Shannon . 2021-09-03 . Gift of Art Provides Inspiration and Beauty to Grand Reading Room at Ellis Library . 2023-11-07 . Library News . en-US.
22. Web site: 2003-02-08 . Police memorial 'Shield' takes shape . 2023-11-07 . Glendale News-Press . en-US.