Thursday, July 23, 1998

Kozurus exhibit sculpture in Boston

When Topsfield resident Hajime Gen Kozuru, 60, returns to his native Kyushu, Japan, to exhibit his latest sculpture, he gets rave reviews.

His fame has now increased threefold. His children -- Ataru, 31; Dai, 32 and Niho, 30 -- sculpt in their own styles.

The Kozurus' sculpture is currently on display at the Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston, in "Art of the Spirit," through Oct. 12, along with 26 other famous sculptors.

Ataru's "Big Bang," sculpted in granite, exemplifies the beginning of Earth. Nearby is H. Gen Kozuru's "Gift of the Forest," a grouping of brightly colored, gilded tree trunks.

Dai's exhibit, "Eternity," is a curious mixture of mounded earth mounded and large, molded feet, with a pathway of indented foot plaques signifying the present.

Niho's work is more delicate. Reflecting in the cemetery's Hibiscus Lake is her untitled, delicate collection of colorful blown-glass forms on poles, catching sun rays.

John Sherrill Houser, whose father, Ivan, helped carve Mt. Rushmore, sculpted a bust, "The Franciscan, Spirit of the Southwest."

Lloyd Lillie, whose statues of Arnold "Red" Auerbach and Mayor James Curley grace Boston scapes, exhibits bronze "Figure Stretching." Cousin and namesake of poet Kahlil Gibran exhibits his bronze, seated woman in a straw hat.

Nahant sculptor Reno V. Pisano, former senior designer for Towle Silversmiths and sculptor-teacher, exhibits "Perseus" in granite.

The cemetery's gravestones and crypts also are stunning architecture, gracing the resting places of e.e. cummings, Eugene O' Neill, Frank Lloyd Wright, restauranteur Jacob Wirth and others.

The 95 Forest Hills Ave. cemetery is a short walk from the Forest Hills Orange Line T station, near Franklin Park Zoo.

All exhibited sculptures are for sale. Information, call (617) 524-0703.