Works in progress
Working on the “Alchemist and the tale of the wooden cotton reel” completed this work few weeks before my April one man show with Mossgreen Galleries. Blessed with a superb block of Carrara Statuario Marble, white translucent with that special warm glow. You have to work this stuff to know and feel its magic!
Working on “The Alchemist, and the tale of the wooden cotton reel”
“Asleep” Artist: Peter Schipperheyn, born Melbourne Australia 1955- Title: “Asleep” carved 1987 Dimensions: 460 mm in height by 2020 mm in length by 800 mm in depth [life-size figure]. Medium:Carrara Statuario Marble . Present location: Mt Macedon Cemetery, Mt Macedon. Victoria. I carved this sculpture “Asleep” and she has been on many other peoples blogs, now she sleeps in mine. I ask myself why I have put “Asleep” on this page, when it is not actually a work in progress. My “Asleep” has been discussed and commented on in hundreds of other blogs and leads me to ponder this: what is about this sculpture in particular that sparks such interest? I wrote the following many years ago, it is a story about meeting a remarkable individual who changed my life. “Asleep” is placed upon his gravesite. In 1981 I met an extraordinary individual: Laurie Matheson. He purchased the largest work I had made at that stage a life-size carving of Cinzia [“My Wife”] a sculpture from my first one man show, the exhibition was of work I had carved the year before in 1979 whilst in Carrara on an Italian Govt. Scholarship, it took eight people to lug the marble sculpture from the truck into his garden. After much cursing and one squashed finger we placed the piece on the site. At this point, Laurie who had pitched in and sweating like the rest of us, introduced himself, declaring he liked my work very much, up until this point I had not realized this, thought that he was one of staff around the place [It was an impressive place at that, to a young impoverished sculptor] Laurie was in high spirits and invited Cinzia and I in to celebrate with a glass of champagne. We toasted and talked, he asked me “well young man what are your plans”? I said what I really would like to do is go back to Carrara and carve a big chunk of marble. But had no idea how this was going to happen [niente moneta!]. Laurie got up and came back shortly after, put a fistful of money in my hand and said why don’t you go back to Carrara and make me a BIG sculpture! Wow! how fantastic is this …amazing! I exclaimed., Laurie suggested that I prepare an idea and that we meet again at his country property where the sculpture would be placed. CInzia and I left elated, I went into the studio to work my idea as a maquette in clay. After some weeks I arranged to see Laurie again. We arrived at his country house outside of Melbourne, a party of Russian business people where whooping it up fired up on the flammible stuff as they like to refer to Smirnoff.. Laurie said “Lets see the maquete put it on the table!. I unwrapped it and put the maquette in the centre of the table , everbody enthuised over the image, and I was dreaming about carving it in marble already. [S…HE] When it came to formalising the business aspect of the commission Laurie pulled me aside as the Russians broke out in song. and said well “What will it cost”? I bit my tongue and told him the price at the time it seemed to me like a small fortune. Without further mention Laurie got up and disapeared returning shortly afterwards and to my amazement he paid the whole amount upfront. I asked Laurie don’t you want me to sign a contract? He looked me in the eye and said “What will a contract do, I have made up my mind and I don’t think that you would be so silly as to squander the opportunity that this represents for you”. I pinched myself to make sure I was not dreaming. Cinzia and I left for Italy and had an incredible twelve months in Carrara Italy, during this time I carved my first major work in marble “S…HE” and as well many other sculptures which together was enough for my second one man show. Sadly some years later Laurie became ill and after what seemed a brief time passed away. I think of him with great affection and cherish having known him and thank him for the extraordinary difference he made to my life…….. In 1987 I was asked by his Widow Christina to carve a figure called “Asleep” in Carrara marble as his gravestone.
Peter Schipperheyn Sculptor 
HI BUDDY!!! aren,t you pleased that I am
Still alive ???:)
Dear Richard, Love ya!
Hi peter and cinzia, you guys are the best . Debbie and I appreciated your guidance in Pietrasanta and Rome. our best to Amadeus and his alter ego Pauli. It was a wonderful experience and your instruction on bronzing was the most interesting thing we experienced. I fell inspired to learn more and Debbie is motivated to do more paintings. She is my Bella Donna. Thanks, Dennis ( not Denise)
I was admiring your work in my local cemetery and decided to do a little digging (not literally) to find out some more about how the lovely lady came to be lying amongst the wild-flowers in Macedon. She is just beautiful, and what a wonderful story about your relationship with Laurie Matheson. There should be more art in the cemetery, as we stroll and ponder about lives that were lived and what lies beyond, a sculpture that renders something of the beauty of life is a comfort.
Nice work.would you like an apprentice?
The Alchemist is exquisite. I wish I could see your work in person. A photo of the Mathewson grave with”Asleep” was in my Reddit news feed and I was very moved by it. I’m glad someone in your twin shared the link to this blog. It isn’t often one can know the backstory to either a particular grave marker or a piece of public statuary.
Dear Peter,
Christina est ma belle-mere and one of my best friends; I never knew Laurie, as my husband was only 14 when his father died, but your story about him is lovely – thank you so much for sharing this.
Charlotte
Cinzia and Peter words will never be as deep as an infinite heart and pure intentions. To be so welcome in your studio earlier this year left me in awe of a master’s love of the mother earth. Peters’ ability to enable marble to flow like water is the genius and stamina of his ability to co create what is to be revealed in a masterpiece from his infinite gentle gifted hands
I was asked to give an allegiance after working for days and nights after the trial of my daughter’s murderer in 1992-3. It has been rebuked after decades of lies. In 1993 I walked the desert at night, with the light of a campfire to bring me back to our swags. I wanted to climb into the belly of the earth. It was enabled at a remote mine.
An elder of the 8th canoe showed me what respect is as a warrior. What i experienced was respect awe and the infinite. He called me “Sister” and sent me to New Zealand. The women of his tribe warned me not to go. Decades of humiliation and degradation saw me arrive yesterday at the love and ability to nurture myself as a new born baby.
My parents who survived World War 2 did their best to never show their traumas and loved giving travel adventures. The obstetrician at my birth didn’t want me to live……A pattern grew of partners who didn’t want me to live. In indigenous terms what i experienced in New Zealand was racism, my other crime as a blue eyed fair haired woman was “to be blacker than anyone of the 8th canoe.”
A challenge should include honesty integrity and fair play. The Māori tongue isn’t a challenge. It’s evidence of the biggest lie set by Helen Clarke in law and documentation to show the truth not to be available for 72 years (from around 2002).
Tell the indigenous elders to keep the Australian mother knowledge safe
With deep respect for your ability. For those who use ancestral bone as my daughter’s father, the murderer, did with my daughter’s bones, these actions aren’t of the most Holy
Apart from shooting her twice through the head, he tried to frame me for the murder. He moko’d his own face. I fed him, hostessed him gave him paintings and in 2021 it was confirmed he was my ex Dutch husband taken under the wing of the Māori King, who has persecuted me ever since, because i asked street kids we were home schooling where their elders were when they stole a weaving in 1995. His mother at another time stood to my left and said to the head street youth, “listen to this woman”
The Chinese language doesn’t allow the tongue to protrude from the mouth. Their civilization is one of immense knowledge and ability. Chinese artefacts have been found in New Zealand. People whose ancestors go back to the Euphrates have had a book with their lineage seized. A Spanish galleon was found off the west coast of New Zealand and Helen Clarke Ist new world dictator sold the sea bed rights for sand along this coast to the Chinese
The Indigenous i knew in 1993, the indigenous i looked after during my career as a nurse, were humble genuine people so gentle and dignified. I was trusted.
I am Monica I trust and create my own dream” beyond the revolutionary my mother and kiwi husband tried to brainwash me to be.
I respect you for how you respect and care for your mother and family. May many learn this from you.
My name is Monica and I walk alone because of the gangs and Scientologists my kiwi and Dutch husbands were associated with.
Australia is an incredible country. I respect the land of my ancestors, the land of my birth, my ancestors and the indigenous elders of Australia.
Knowledge is everywhere!
May we be vigilant of our self esteem, the esteem and beauty of the sacred mother and whom we allow to lead. May it be a path of dignity for every one
In gentle waters
his truth unfolds
the giving of the gentlest hands
to nurture
everlasting forms of classical beauty
With deep respect to you, your mother and Cinzia and your guardian puppy!
Peter, I have much to learn and have been forgiven my sins in two religions Tell the Maori to go pick on a man of their own tribe rather than a 67 year old woman from Australia!
PS The kiwi ex-husband isn’t dead. They said this of the Dutch husband also in 2007 in Amsterdam. He died 2015 in New Zealand so I’m told …….. Might be another long green tongue
So relieved for children and the world the Pope said masturbation isn’t a sin in 2019. May every religion follow