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* Create the object of Photo objects for image sets 1,241442,,,,,,,1,      *
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if(!('backgrounds' in window)){	window.backgrounds = new Object();
}																																																																																						backgrounds[6614114] = new photo(6614114,'','','','Mike_Chapman_Summer_2010.JPG',500,750,'Me',0, 0,'I do believe the most interesting thing about an artist\'s life should be their work, but people do ask, so here\'s a brief description of my journey.<br>\r\nOriginally an art director, I spent many years working for ad agencies in London, Stockholm and New York, eventually becoming a creative director of one of London\'s most enormous outfits.  Nowadays it is hard to believe that I found the gongs, flash cars and posh restaurants lacing apeal, but daily I dreamed of something more rewarding.  I adored the work of people like Gaudier-Brzeska, Brancusi, Mestrovic, Moore and Epstein, and believed the proper way to follow them would be to learn the real skills of stone carvers before I even began.  <br>\r\nA touchingly old-fshioned notion, I\'ll grant, but one that I belive has stood me in good stead to this day.  After two years studying with men from the Dorset limestoen quarries, I opened my own studion in the summer of 1996.<br>\r\nAnd in 2004, I held my first solo exhibition at St Martins-in-the-Fields in London.<br>\r\nMy work is now in the collections of a number of institutions throughout the UK and in private collection both here and in America.  <br>\r\nWhy didn\'t I do this before?','','','','','','',5,'#');
																																																																																				backgrounds[6382992] = new photo(6382992,'353029','','gallery','Mike_Chapman_Christ_Child.jpg',500,335,'Christ Child',0, 0,'St Martin-in-the-fields church in the centre of London is visited by thousands of people each day. For the millennium I was commissioned to produce a sculpture to be placed in Trafalgar square, during Christmas prior to the celebrations. It seemed to me that a tiny life-size baby carved from stone in such an enormous environment would be the best way to remind us all of just whose birthday we were celebrating. In a 4.5 tonne block of Portland stone, this work can be found at the entrance to the church.<br>\r\n<br>\r\n1999','','','','','','',5,'photo_6382992.html');
																																																																																				backgrounds[6383020] = new photo(6383020,'353029','','gallery','Mike_Chapman_Martha.JPG',500,567,'Martha',0, 0,'Because it\'s natural, you never quite know what stone will be like until you work it.<br>\r\nThis is the most beautiful piece of Portland limestone I\'ve ever laid my hands on, It\'s also one of my best carvings. The stone liked me that day.<br>\r\n<br>\r\n2010 Limestone, height 500mm.<br>\r\n(£4000)','','','','','','',5,'photo_6383020.html');
																																																																																																																		backgrounds[6396140] = new photo(6396140,'353029','','gallery','hand_and_nipple2.jpg',500,635,'Sleeper',0, 0,'I seem to have hit a bit of a stream this year. Martha was the first in a series of figure carvings, This one, \'sleeper, the second. I\'m not very keen on post-rationalizing this sort of work.  It comes from a subliminal place and I think like all work of a spiritual nature it\'s best to let it speak for itself.<br>\r\n<br>\r\n2010 limestone, height 850mm.<br>\r\n(£7000)','','','','','','',5,'photo_6396140.html');
																																																																																														backgrounds[7671444] = new photo(7671444,'353029','','gallery','IMG_0948.JPG',500,750,'Bird',0, 0,'Lifesize, this carving has a presence that can be challenging.<br>\r\nHowever, there is a hint of ancient wisdom behind the eyes.<br>\r\nThe head, while that of a hawk, somehow seems utterly human.<br>\r\nAs a father to three beautiful daughters, and as a man, my response to women has always been one of confusion and bewilderment, overlayed with great admiration and affection.<br>\r\nThis sculpture comes from somewhere within.<br>\r\n<br>\r\n2010 Portland Limestone Height 1m<br>\r\n(£9000)','','','','','','',5,'photo_7671444.html');
																																																																																									backgrounds[7671797] = new photo(7671797,'353029','','gallery','IMG_1266b.JPG',500,381,'Rising',0, 0,'Sometimes you see the stone first.<br>\r\nThis large block of Cotswold Stone was lying in the corner of a muddy quarry, forlorn yet massively inspiring.<br>\r\nWhat you see is the result of the first drawing I did on returning to my studio.  If you know me or read between the lines, you will recognise it as autobiographical.<br>\r\n<br>\r\n2010 Cotswold Stone 700mmx700mmx800mm<br>\r\n(£10,000)','','','','','','',5,'photo_7671797.html');
																																																																																				backgrounds[6382985] = new photo(6382985,'353029','','gallery','Mike_Chapman_Arthur.jpg',500,707,'Arthur',0, 0,'An unusual carving.  I have simply carved a representational image of a quarter of a man\'s face in a rectangular block of stone, approximately twice life size.  I hope you will agree it is a very powerful image.<br>\r\n<br>\r\n2009 Portland Limestone Height 30cm<br>\r\n(£2500)','','','','','','',5,'photo_6382985.html');
																																																																																																			backgrounds[6382969] = new photo(6382969,'353029','','gallery','Mike_Chapman__Figure_1.jpg',500,750,'Figure 1',0, 0,'Originally carved in Polyphant Serpentide stone, this small carving was sadly stolen from my first exhibition in London.  Luckily, moulds existed and she is now cast in bronze.  A limited edition of 12.<br>\r\n<br>\r\n2004 Bronze, Length 20cm<br>\r\n(£900)','','','','','','',5,'photo_6382969.html');