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Roycroft Campus Unveils Sculptures by World Renowned ArtistFree Access



A sculptor who has had his work installed around the world, including at the Vatican, helped unveil four new pieces in East Aurora last week. They pay tribute to Elbert Hubbard and the Arts and Crafts he promoted in the late 1800s.  

Photo by Adam Zaremski

Artist Timothy Schmalz visited the region on Nov. 28 to discuss the sculptures installed along the Roycroft Campus and how he has been influenced by Hubbard’s life and writings.

They are bronze and copper sculptures that depict a specific visual representation of an epigram attributed to Hubbard. Each is placed along the brick walkway, known as Appian Way, in the middle of the campus.  

“I love how they spread them around,” Schmalz said as he walked the pathway, adding he hoped it would encourage people to stroll around and take more time to explore the campus.

Schmalz has been recognized locally for his “Homeless Jesus” sculpture which was installed at

Cathedral Park next to St. Paul’s Cathedral in Buffalo, and internationally for his works which reside across Canada, Ireland, in several churches in Rome, and at the Vatican. He lives in Ontario, Canada.

Timothy Schmalz displays some of the sculptures he donated to the Roycroft Campus that are now located around the brick walkway.
Photo by Adam Zaremski

He said he started to collect items that would fit in the Arts and Crafts Movement, which is described by the Roycroft Campus as a style of “handmade, well-designed, affordable, everyday objects [that] would enhance the lives of ordinary people while providing fulfilling work for the craftsman.”

As he collected those items he also started to make items that would fit within that movement. It’s also when he came across Hubbard.

“I was literally blown away by this person,” he said. “I thought this person should be known more, and I came across his amazing epigrams.”

Through those quotations, he said he was able to “learn about Hubbard, arts and crafts movement and humanity. He created this optimistic American spirit.”

He reached out to Curt Maranto, the executive director of the campus, about making art for the campus. After discussing the matter for a few years, Schmalz called up Maranto and told him to keep an eye out for some bronze and copper sculptures he had shipped to the campus as a donation. It was the four items that now are installed on the campus.


Unveiling Video


“We are proud to be a recipient of these,” Maranto said. “These sculptures will enhance our guest experience, and serve as another way in honoring the life and legacy of our Founder, Elbert Hubbard.”

Schmalz said he chose quotations that would have a simple yet powerful message right away for people who view the sculptures. One includes “Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive” and another is “Be at peace with yourself, and you will be at peace with the world.”

“These are normally found in a book, but a book can be closed. I wanted to sculpt these so people would know more about his ideas,” he said.

Click below to view the gallery

It was a creative challenge to create an interpretation for each quote, one that he enjoyed after spending years studying Hubbard. It was also a good experience to see something tangible from his years of research now on site of the Roycroft Campus.

Roycroft Campus Board of Director President Philip Kadet said he was pleased with the interest Schmalz has shown to the campus and said he has been impressed overall with the strides taken by many people to enhance the campus over the years.

Schmalz said he did not want to make a big deal about the donation itself, and looked at his creations as fitting in with the Arts and Crafts movement in hopefully enhancing the lives of others.

“It is necessary to do art that is relevant and uplifting,” he said. “I find inspiration and comfort with Hubbard. If I can give [similar] visual cues to people, I am in a sense using my art with a purpose.”

He said he would like to create others for the campus in the future, and would continue to stay in contact with its leaders.

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