S. A. Mikoyan

Sculptor by God.

I have recently returned to the United States from my trip to Moscow, where I was present at the unveiling of the monument to Raisa Maksimovna Gorbacheva created by sculptor Peter Shapiro. The sculptor created the head of the monument using just photographs of the subject, but he has repeatedly proven his ability to recreate a person’s image without access to the live model. That is exactly how he started his career years ago when he made a bust of Beethoven, which now adorns one of the halls in Bolshoy Theater in Moscow. In the same manner, the sculptor created an extraordinary bust of Anna Akhmatova.

The unveiling of the monument to R.M. Gorbacheva was held at the Russian-American University campus outside Moscow (former site of L.I. Brezhnev’s country house), in the exhibition hall of the complex. Along with the University students, the event was attended by Mikchail Sergeevich Gorbachev and his daughter, as well as University chancellor, G.K. Popov. The sculpture of Raisa Maksimovna immediately took the central place in the University art exhibition. M.S. Gorbachev addressed G.K.Popov to express his gratitude, and wished the University students success, both in life and studies. I appreciated the opportunity to attend the event, for which I am also grateful to my former colleague, G.K. Popov. Years ago, he was a chief editor of the Economic Issues magazine, while I held the same position with the Latin America. Both magazines were published under Department of Economics of the Academy of Sciences, so we used to meet at different work meetings. I have known M.S. Gorbachev for several years now, as well.

While the sculpture was mounted, the conversation naturally turned to the sculptor, P. Shapiro. Meanwhile, the sculptor is our neighbor – he resides in Rockville, suburb of Washington, DC. I have known him since 1960s. Frequently visiting his workshop in Moscow, I witnessed the appearance of wonderful portraits of extraordinary people: I.S. Kozlovskiy, D.D. Shostakovich, G.K. Zhukov, chess grand master A. Karpov, music composer Novikov, cosmonaut V. Lebedev, I. Rodnina, A. Voznesensky, I. Glazunov, R. Karmen, S. Rostropovich, A. Sakharov, and many others.

I remember when Peter decided to diversify from portrait sculpture, participating in the competition for a monument to Decembrists in Irkutsk. The beautiful and impressive monument had an unexpected success. It was presented in a form of a large scale model. The competition judges in Irkutsk announced it a winner. However, the problems arose from writer Rasputin who had a significant public influence in those days.

The truth is – Rasputin’s opinions did not deserve to be of a true Russian writer, if you define one as having ethical principals and traditions typical for the grand Russian literature of 19-20^th centuries. I remember Rasputin’s article about my classmate and friend, Tonic Eidelman, one of the most talented Pushkin experts in the country. As turned out, Rasputin was bothered by Natan Eidelman’s nationality, not his work – Rasputin had no comments regarding creative side of his work. Our whole class read Rasputin’s article with indignation. Never in our class did we differentiate our friends based on ethnic origin.

Back then, we were just school kids, slowly growing and seeking our places in this world. We expected the famous writer to set an example of ultimate intelligence and class. Instead, he showed us his primitive anti-Semitism, somehow mixed in with his great writing talent. I thought those two things could not be combined.

Rasputin took the same position in regards to Shapiro’s model for Decembrists monument. The model is great, but the sculptor doesn’t fit! – said our Siberian writer, who carries that famous Siberian last name that has been known from the beginning of 20^th century. Truthfully, this last name is already infamous. This writer did not add any nobility to it, either.

We return to the sculptor’s story now. His move to the United States was miraculous. Stories like his happen in movies, not in real life. His mother was born in the United States, and then found herself in the country of developing socialism. The Stalin regime properly rewarded her intention to help building the new society – she was sent to prison, and her son – to orphanage. In the late 1980s, among many others the United States Consul happened to visit his workshop. Peter was a generous host (at the same time trying to prevent the Consul from running into Cuban embassy workers, who also frequented his workshop with some rum). In one of the conversations Peter told the Consul the story of his late mother. The Consul became interested: “So, you are an American citizen!” “No, I am not American, I am a Soviet citizen, - answered Peter. Want to see my passport?”

“Peter, what I mean is by law you have a right to receive an American passport.” That’s how Shapiro’s adventure began, leading him to Rockville, Maryland.

After moving overseas, he naturally continued to be a sculptor. It did not go smooth right away. Luckily, he did not know how to drive, so he avoided being a cab driver. He was not familiar with any jobs other than sculpting art.

Peter Shapiro created many works in the United States. The interesting thing is – in the USSR he was a paid sculptor. In the country of exemplary market economy, however, most of his works were created free of charge, as a gift or to honor somebody. Very impressive is the bust of famous cardiologist DeBakey. The sculptor creates bas-relief of Sholom-Aleikhem for New York. As a gift for the National Gallery director Carter Brown, he creates his portrait. In honor of Alexander Bell – creator of telephone and many other electrical innovations – the sculptor makes the bas-relief of the famous engineer for the commemorative medal, as well as his bust for display at the Washington Academy of Sciences. Shapiro also created a portrait of D. Billington, director of the Library of Congress, as well as Robert MacNamara, former United States Minister of Defense; congress woman Connie Morella, and many others.

However, I should not use the past tense here. The appropriate tense here would be the one from English grammar, non-existent in Russian – present perfect. Peter Shapiro continues to create clay sculptures in his tiny basement apartment. Later, they are transferred to plaster and surprise us, outsiders – the sculpture comes to life! And finally, when he casts them in bronze, they become masterpieces.

The only thing I want to wish him is to spend the precious years of his older life sculpting, as he was born just for art and nothing else.

Translated by Maria Bukhonina