2018 BROOKGREEN GARDENS MEDA L : Th e Storytellers
Th e 2018 Brookgreen Medal, Th e
Storytellers, has been designed by Alicia
Ponzio of San Francisco, California,
selecting “History of South Carolina” as
the medal’s theme. During the sculptor’s
2017 residency at Brookgreen Gardens, she
enjoyed learning about artist and folklorist
Genevieve Willcox Chandler (1890-1980)
and historian Corrie Dusenbury (1888-
1970) of Murrells Inlet, who worked in the
original information center during the early
years of Brookgreen Gardens. Th ese two
women also were
known for the
Th e Storytellers, has been designed by
Alicia Ponzio of San Francisco, California,
selecting “History of South Carolina”
stories they
told to visitors
and Alicia Ponzio
wanted to commemorate their contributions
to Brookgreen Gardens’ history.
On the obverse, representations of
Genevieve Chandler and Corrie Dusenbury
are seated on a bench in the gardens, reading
and conversing. Th e background is unifi ed
into a large incised shape with texture to
indicate trees. Th e large fl at area behind the
women suggests a pond, describing some of
the features of the landscape at Brookgreen.
Th e legend, Th e Storytellers, encircles the
top edge of the design. Th e reverse depicts
a detail of a live oak branch, shrouded in
Spanish moss, evoking the drawings and
paintings of the lowcountry for which
Genevieve Chandler was known. Th e words,
“Brookgreen Gardens” and “South Carolina,”
encircle the lower edge of the design.
Alicia Ponzio is a fi gurative sculptor
working primarily in bronze and she is
known for expressive portraits. She is a
graduate of the University of Pennsylvania,
y
served in the US Navy Nurse Corps, and
completed her sculpture training at the
Florence Academy of Art in Italy. She was
Director of Artistic Anatomy and Écorché
Sculpture programs, as well as a fi gure
drawing instructor at the same school for
three years before returning to San Francisco
and establishing a studio. Alicia brings life
to her bronzes, using the language of the
fi gure to speak of emotional experiences. In
Italy, she sought an education in the fi gure,
immersed in the aesthetic of the Renaissance
and Classical. She’s drawn to subject matter
that’s empathic and timeless.
Th e 2018 Brookgreen Medal,
as the medal’s theme.
Recently, her work has been recognized
by several international organizations,
including the Portrait Society of America,
the Society of Portrait Sculptors, and
the National Sculpture Society where
she received the Alex J. Ettl Grant for an
outstanding body of work in 2016. In
addition to her private teaching, she has
taught human anatomy and fi gure modeling
at the School of Medicine of the University
of Calgary, at Pixar University, and at the
Academy of Art
University.
Above: Front of The 2018 Brookgreen Medal, The Storytellers, by Alicia Ponzio
At Right: Back of The 2018 Brookgreen Medal, The Storytellers, by Alicia Ponzio
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