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THE IRONMAN COMETH BY TERESA LEE RUSHWORTH

complete with oars. Liccione, one of four metalworkers,

was responsible for the motorized Swiss Army Knife's huge

corkscrew. The final product, Knife Ship 1," was com-

pleted in ~985 and measures over 40 feet in length and

some 31 feet in height. At the other end of the spectrum,

Liccione sometimes employed his metalworking skills in

the making of jewelry.

Through his many experiences, James Liccione's

signature style began to emerge and become re-

fined, lie had developed an interest in sculptural

furniture that was beginning to burgeon into a passion. In

addition to placing works in galleries, he created numerous

pieces for use on television and movie sets, including those

of The Cosby Show, Saturday Night Live, The Odd Couple

end Sesame Street. Since his technique departs from the

straight. angular shapes often seen in metal sculpture, he

recalls directors referring to his 'funky pieces.'

The marriage of the practical with the ornamental is at

the core of Liccione's motivation as an artist. He is driven -

by a desire to make something that is functional and able

to be used, but is also a one-of-a-kind piece of fine art, "We

live in a throwaway society," he observes.,~' but my work can

be used and handed down.'

Thus, his body of work includes sculpted metal chairs,

sofas and timepieces, as well as ornate, evocative gates.

Nature also plays an important role in his inspiration. To

some degree, this occurred as an outgrowth of his years

living in New York City, where he enjoyed the excitement

of the cultural atmosphere and the novelty of running into

such interesting characters as Andy Warhol. But he discov-

ered that he missed the parks and beaches of the tropical

environment he had already experienced in Florida. "He

needed the energy from nature," explains his wife and part-

ner Caryl, a professional artist in her own right.

And so, in late ~98S, Liccione returned to Florida,

settling on the Treasure Coast. Since that time he has im-

mersed himself not only in his own art but in that of many

others: he is employed as a conservator by the Vero Beach

Museum of Art, where he manages the foundr~ sets up

exhibits, performs restoration work and assists in the edu-

cation department. Indeed,enjoys sharing his skills with

others: he is also an adjunct professor of art at Indian River

Community College.

Liccione's love of nature, especially the tropics, led to a

series of sculptures featuring a rainforest theme; tranquility

and motion are suggested simultaneously by graceful drag-

onflies and leaves. The shapes of nature, in fact, pervade

all of his works-even the timepieces and furniture pieces

The gates adja-

cent to the cafe

at the Vero Beach

Museum of Art

stand as an 11-

foot memorial to

the artist's father,

Jomes A. Liccione

Sr., who helped

design them.

The gates ore

constructed of

aircraft aluminum

covered With

copper, which

in turn is coated

with a patirm. The

patina causes a

chemical reaction

resulting in the

green color; other

types of patinas

produce different colors.

VERO BEACH MAGAZINE

JANUARY

186