Luisa Dato, Sculptor

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Carving stone, for me, is a journey of discovery in three dimensions involving all the senses,

where sight, sound, and touch govern the tension between my desires and what the stone will

reveal. I sculpt primarily in alabaster, using its unique properties of vivid colors, varied grain

patterns and translucency to reveal the natural form imbedded in the stone.

First, I remove all the imperfections of its surface. This stage is the most demanding physically

and psychologically. The struggle to overcome the stone’s inherent resistance without the use

of invasive tools is one of constant tension between my desires and what the stone will reveal.

When the stone gives up resistance, it begins to sing under the rasp’s strokes, signaling that I

can start emphasizing lines of definition and begin the final shaping of the piece. The sense of touch important throughout, is especially telling in the final stage of smoothing

and polishing.

Born in Jersey City to Italian Immigrants in 1937 and married my high school sweetheart, Anthony Dato in 1956. Together we  raised a son and two daughters.  We  lived in Madison CT for 44 years and I took my first sculpture class at Southern Connecticut State University where I studied  with Olaf Zeidenberg . I started sculpting in stone in the 1990s while working at Yale University.  I studied with Cheryl Kling, Nick Santoro, and Darrel Petit at the Guilford Handcraft Center, and began exhibiting in 1996.

Madison Art Society (MAS)

• 1996 Full artist member
• 1997-00 Member of the Board of Directors: Secretary
• May ’97 Received Honorary Award for sculpture in juried art exhibition
• May ’98 Received Sculpture Award in juried art exhibit
• Apr. ’99 Featured in profile article, MAS HiLites newsletter

Apr. ’98 Guilford Art League, Artist Member

Aug. ’99 New Haven Paint and Clay, Artist Member

July ’99 Clinton Art Society, Sculpture Award, 50th Anniversary juried art exhibit

2002 Hollycroft member & volunteer of the Sculpture Mile of Madison, CT

Jan. ’00 Year 2000 Scranton Library, Madison, CT

Mar.’00 Shoreline Art Gallery, Bittersweet Farms, Branford, CT

Jan. ’02 Shoreline Art Gallery, Water’s Edge Resort, Westbrook, CT

Another activity that calms my spirit is putting down words to express my feelings, which have

been accepted in poetry publications. I am a Distinguished Member of the International

Society of Poets since April 2000.

Thirteen of my poems have been published in Anthologies of the International Library of Poetry,

seven of which are recorded in Sounds of Poetry. Two poems have been published by Noble

House, London.

Nov. ’99 “The Game of Love” America at the Millennium: The Best Poets and Poems of

the 20th Century; Editor’s Choice Award and Outstanding Achievement in Poetry Award

May ’00 International Poet of Merit Award Medallion; nominated Poet of the Year 2000;

awarded Plaque for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry; invited to read poems at

Washington DC convention in August ’00

Sept. ’00 “Lover’s Lament” Poetry’s Elite: The Best Poets of 2000; Jan ’01 The Sound of

Poetry

Jan. ’01 “Some Things are Fornever” The Hush of Moonlight. Editor’s Choice Award. Mar.

‘01-Invited to Conference in Florida to read poems. Nominated Poet of the Year 2001

Summer ’03 “E Mail” Theatre of the Mind Noble House; London, Paris, NY

Winter ’04 “Somewhere” Noble House International

Jan. ’02 Shoreline Art Gallery, Water’s Edge Resort, Westbrook, CT