Nina Cantrell
The Anatomy of Creativity
“Creativity demandingly requires its own unique, rarified atmosphere before it will surface from the subconscious. Its intensity, depending on the varied nurturing conditions present, cannot be summoned at will.
The creative spirit, like an exotic orchid thriving in its carefully balanced tropical environment, blossoms magically, and buoyantly guides and carries the artist on his journey to discover and create new and virgin worlds.”
Nina Cantrell, stone sculptor 1919-2004
Nina Cantrell, Sculptor
An internationally known sculptor, Ms. Nina Cantrell was born in New York City and attended New York City schools including Pratt institute the Fashion Design Institute and CW Post college. She studied sculpture with Bruno Luchese at the Instituto di Pietrasanta in Italy, and with Minoru Niizuma in his New York City studio.
Miss Cantrell was honored by both the People’s Republic of China, and the Republic of China, as the first sculptor invited to deliver a series of lectures in monochrome and multicolored stone sculpture techniques. She also was a guest sculpture critic at their leading art institutions: the National Art College in Beijing, the Institute of Arts in Xi’an, the Fine Arts College of Hangchou , the National Museum in Shanghai, the National Taiwan Academy of Arts and the National Institute of Arts in Taipei.
In addition to judging many art shows Ms Cantrell has been on the faculty of Columbia University, the Huntington Township Art League, the North Shore Community Arts Center, and the Port Washington Adult Education Program. Ms Cantrell also directed and taught at her own well known sculpture school, Cantrell Sculpture Lab in Port Washington, New York.
As the pioneer in multicolored stone sculpture her work has been reviewed extensively in various publications, including the New York Times, Newsday, North Shore News, and other professional journals.