The first public showing of stone sculptor G. Ramon Byrne’s life size musical instruments opens at the Museum of Ventura County on Friday, May 6. The Composed In Stone exhibition highlights Byrne’s suite of eight instruments, conceived and carved over the past five years and only recently completed. The exhibition continues through June 26.
G. Ramon Byrne
Byrnes’ silent symphony reflects his passion to transform hard surface into shapes that speak of sound and touch. A third generation stone mason and artist, Byrne works out of Ventura’s famed Art City, where he has made his artistic home since 2005. Ramon’s work is installed in public and private locations throughout California, and in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Each sculpture is created with hand tools, only. No power tools. This means hundreds of hours of work, eight to fifteen hours almost every day. The string bass which is the centerpiece of his musical suite has taken over 600 hours. He knew what the bass would look like when he imagined her three years ago. He knew her face was enigmatic and he saw a woman at a Green Art People event with the face he imagined, so he has been working with this woman as a model, a wonderful experience for both of them. He is finishing this piece just in time for this show.

His vision of this musical suite is to launch his career as a renowned artist, and to bring the exposure and patronage he needs to continue his evolution as an artist. His mission is to garner attention to further his career. His passion glows through his work making stone come to life. You can almost feel the heat radiating from his sculpture of Jimmy Hendrix’s flaming Stratocaster guitar.

Byrne began sculpting in the 1970s as an apprentice to Big Sur’s renowned wood sculptor Edmond Kara, and moved quickly into stone carving. He has worked as an instructor and demonstrator for the annual Sculptors Symposium at Camp Ocean Pines, Cambria, California, has facilitated stone sculpting workshops at the Esalan Institute in Big Sur, and teaches privately. He is also an active member of The Artist’s Union Gallery in Ventura.

The Museum of Ventura County is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Ventura. Hours are 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $4 adults, $3 seniors, $1 children 6-17, members and children under 6 are free.

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