Angelo Caravaglia

Angelo Caravaglia 1925~2008 Angelo Luigi Caravaglia was born February 9, 1925 in Erie, Pennsylvania and left this world on the wings of a blackbird on May 6, 2008 in Glendale, Arizona surrounded by pure love. He was preceded in death by his father, Luigi and his mother, Josephine Caravaglia; one sister; a brother; and his two precious white Maltese dogs, Mikie and Marcello. Five siblings and three children survive him. Angelo was a true Renaissance man, a sculptor extraordinaire who graced his existence with his talents, his wit, his beauty, his love, and his passion for all of the arts. He loved music, played the guitar, and had a great repertory of folk songs, which he sang at the slightest provocation. As an amazingly gifted artist Angelo had the ability to work beautifully and facilely in many media: soap, clay, wood, bronze, stone, wire, terra cotta, hammered nails, pencil, charcoal, pastel, oil, and water color. His talents were manifest at a very young age when he first began carving soap with his precious pocketknife. After his service in the U.S. Army during World War II, he received a scholarship to study art at Cranbrook Academy of Fine Arts, in Michigan. In 1956 he was asked to be on the art faculty at the University of Utah where he eventually became Professor and Chairman of the Department of Sculpture, retiring in 1991. He was a wonderful mentor and inspiring teacher during his years at the University. He received many awards during his lifetime; a Fulbright Scholarship to the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, a coveted Tiffany Grant for Graphics, an Onorati award to do Bronze Casting in Italy, and a Maxwell Gallery grant to work in Florence, Italy for two years, among many other accolades and honors. Angelo's exhibited in over 100 National and International shows, and his work is very evident throughout Salt Lake City and the State of Utah. Among his prolific works are: Brass Fountain at the Salt Lake Public Library, Bronze relief on the U.S. West Telephone Company, Cast Stone Fountain at the US Federal Building, three 10-foot high Hand beaten copper figures atop the City and County Building, St Ambrose at the St, Ambrose Catholic Church, Women Ribbon Dancers at the Salt Lake Community College, mixed-media nail-head Ram in the Salt Lake County Building, Star Maker and five Hand Carved Mahogany Historical panels at Southern Utah University, Jacob Hamlin on a Horse in St. George, and Icarus and Pegasus at Snow College. When asked which public sculpture he was most proud of he answered, "I think I like most the Mountain Man at the Springville Art Museum." A notable artist said of Angelo, " I have known many good artists, but only two who were good and also totally unique, and one of them was Angelo Caravaglia". Indeed, he was a special human being who has given so much to all of us. He was a gentle man, and a gentleman. Those of us who had the great privilege to know him shall be forever grateful and enriched by this beautiful creatures' time on this earth. The celebration of his life will be in our hearts. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to an organization of your choice, which loves and takes special care of animals.