Family
Frank Eliscu was born inEducation
Eliscu graduated fromMilitary service
Eliscu served in the army in World War II from 1942 to 1945. He was first put to work on camouflage and maps for the Allied invasion. In 1943, he developed a unique technique used by the US Army to rehabilitate facial disfigurements from war injuries. According to his discharge papers, "Made drawings in the operating room of surgical procedures, modeling of features for reconstructive surgery, and carving cartilage for grafting in plastic surgery, pigmentation of skin in plastic procedures. Had three assistants working under him. Served at Valley Forge General Hospital in Plastic Surgery Department." Following his service, the unique research Eliscu did on tattooing pigmentation to cover the discoloration from skin grafts and for people with port wine stains was used at the New York Hospital. Eliscu applied for a patent for the tool he developed to use intradermal injections of permanent pigments.Career
Teacher, School of Industrial Art, NYC (currently called the High School of Art and Design) 1945 to 1970. As a sculptor, Eliscu had his first one-man show in 1929 at age 17. From there, Eliscu went on to a career that brought him international fame. He has two National Monuments to his credit, "Uncle Joe Cannon" at the Cannon House Office Building and "Falling Books", a four-story bronze at the James Madison Library of Congress. The four-story falling books on the face of the Library of Congress building in Washington, D.C., took Eliscu 10 years to complete and in 1985 won him top honors from the National Sculpture Society. The heroic bronze, along with Eliscu's plaque of Uncle Joe Cannon in the same city, has been declared a national monument, and by law can never be removed or changed in any way. He is represented in Brookgreen Gardens; in the Metropolitan Museum with a medallion titled Sea Treasures, 1965; in the Smithsonian Museum Archives, coins titled, Lewis & Clark, 1966; and in National Academy of Fine Arts Museum, with a bronze, 1967. Eliscu created medals for the Society of Medalists with such pieces as "Sea Treasures" as well as the first multi-part medal made in the United States titled "Inspiration" and official Inaugural Medal presented to President Ford as well as the official medal commemorating the inauguration of Nelson A. Rockefeller as Vice President In 1988, Eliscu designed an award for the Caring Institute to give annually to the most caring people in America. In 1991, Eliscu presented Henri Landwirth (Give Kids the World) with the Caring Award. and subsequently began created sculptures and jewelry for Henry Landwirth and Give Kids the World program. In 1993, the Caring Institute commissioned Eliscu to make a special award to be given by then First Lady Rosalynn Carter to be called the Rosalynn Carter Caregiver Award. Steuben Glass commissioned Eliscu to do the engraving design for many of their pieces, including "Carousel of the Seasons", "To a Giraffe", "Daniel" and "St. Francis". He was called "an imaginative realist"; Eliscu often draws on biblical and classical themes for his sculpture designs. Other works for Steuben include a "Noah's Ark" shown on the cover of the Review, and "Daniel in the Lion’s Den".Exhibits
Eliscu’s work has been exhibited in many places, starting with the Clay Club of New York in 1935. (The Clay Club later became known as the National Sculpture Society.) He repeatedly exhibited at the Architectural League of New York, Wellons Gallery, and the National Sculpture Society. A highlight exhibit was in Mexico at the Mexican North American Institute of Cultural Relations. The Architectural League of New York was quoted as saying, "Frank Eliscu, one of our sculptural colleagues scored a resounding success for himself, the profession, and our country, with his collection of twenty bronzes sponsored by the United States Embassy ... The result not only boosted the United States’ reputation in cultural circles but prompted a nationwide tour of the exhibit south of the border." He has permanent exhibits at Brookgreen Gardens since 1955, Jewel Headley Museum since 1962, Omar Bradley Freedom Shrine since 1977, Ringling Museum since 1982, Alan Shepard Mercury 7 Hall of Fame since 1991 and at Caring Institute Hall of Fame since 1992.Recognition
The National Sculpture Society awarded Eliscu the Mrs. Louise Bennett Prize in 1954 at the 21st Annual Exhibition. In 1956, he was elected into thePublications
*"Sculpture Techniques in Clay, Wax, Slate", Chilton Press, 1959 *"Direct Wax Sculptures", Chilton Press, 1969 *"Slate & Soft Stone Sculptures", Pitman Publications, 1973References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eliscu, Frank 1912 births 1996 deaths Schoolteachers from New York (state) Artists from New York City Heisman Trophy Teachers College, Columbia University alumni Pratt Institute alumni United States Army personnel of World War II American people of Romanian descent People from Washington Heights, Manhattan 20th-century American sculptors American male sculptors National Academy of Design members Sculptors from New York (state) 20th-century American educators Educators from New York City 20th-century American male artists