{{short description|American sculptor (1928–2017)}}
'''Harold Balazs''' (1928 – December 30, 2017) was an American sculptor and artist whose work has been featured in exhibits and public art installations throughout the Northwestern United States. He is known for creating large, abstract metal sculptures, but also created murals, jewelry, furniture, drawings, stained glass, and wooden boats.
==Life== Balazs lived in Mead, Washington and referred to the studio in his barn as Mead Art Works.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lindley |first=Robin |url=http://crosscut.com/2011/07/08/arts/21024/The-wildly-unfettered-imagination-NW-artist-Harold/ |title=The wildly unfettered imagination of NW artist Harold Balazs |publisher=Crosscut - News of the great nearby |date=2011-07-08 |accessdate=2012-10-19 |archive-date=2012-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017052722/http://crosscut.com/2011/07/08/arts/21024/The-wildly-unfettered-imagination-NW-artist-Harold/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Balazs was born in 1928 and grew up in Westlake, Ohio during the Depression Era. He moved with his parents to Spokane, Washington.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harold Balazs |url=https://www.northwestmuseum.org/exhibitions/online-exhibitions/northwest-art-collection-works-on-paper/spokane-artists/harold-balazs/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture |language=en}}</ref>
His first collaboration for commissioned work was a mural at Ridpath Hotel in Spokane, produced with Patrick Flammia in 1951. He became a leading liturgical artist, with sculpture, painting, stained glass, and reliefs inside over 200 churches and synagogues in the Pacific Northwest, including a bas relief sculpture on the east facade of the First United Methodist Church in Eugene, Oregon.<ref name=Style>{{cite book |title= Style & Vernacular: A Guide to the Architecture of Lane County, Oregon |publisher= Western Imprints, The Press of the Oregon Historical Society |year= 1983 |page= 38 |isbn= 0-87595-085-X}}</ref>
Balazs served three terms as Washington State Arts Commissioner and helped draft that state's art legislation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lindley |first=Robin |url=http://crosscut.com/2011/07/08/arts/21024/The-wildly-unfettered-imagination-NW-artist-Harold/ |title=The wildly unfettered imagination of NW artist Harold Balazs |publisher=Crosscut - News of the great nearby |date=2011-07-08 |accessdate=2012-10-19 |archive-date=2012-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017052722/http://crosscut.com/2011/07/08/arts/21024/The-wildly-unfettered-imagination-NW-artist-Harold/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Balazs died on December 30, 2017, aged 89.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lamberson|first1=Carolyn|title=Harold Balazs, a titanic figure on the Northwest art scene, dies at 89|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/dec/31/harold-balazs-a-titanic-figure-on-the-northwest-ar/#/0|accessdate= December 31, 2017|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>
==Exhibits== In 2002, The Washington State History Museum presented "Stuff and Junk: The Story of a Bricoleur," an exhibit of sculptures by Harold Balazs. The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture in Spokane mounted a career retrospective of Balazs' works in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|author=Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture|url=http://www.northwestmuseum.org/index.cfm/Exhibits_Collections_Past_Exhibits.htm|title=Exhibits & Collections | Past Exhibits|publisher=Northwestmuseum.org|date=|accessdate=2012-02-14|archive-date=2012-02-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204114439/http://www.northwestmuseum.org/index.cfm/Exhibits_Collections_Past_Exhibits.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Scozzaro |first=Carrie |title=Harold Balazs' legacy of his life and work live on |url=https://www.inlander.com/news/harold-balazs-legacy-of-his-life-and-work-live-on-7499838 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Inlander |language=en}}</ref> His work is also exhibited at The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho where his work has been displayed for 16 years. In September 2013, the gallery hosted "Harold Balazs: Alive at 85 & Mel McCuddin: Lately 80". Balazs has also shown with Timothy C. Ely in "Illuminating the Subconscious" in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |author=The Art Spirit Gallery of Fine Art Exhibitions |url=http://www.theartspiritgallery.com/html/exhibresults.asp?exnum=6853exname=---Harold+Balazs%2C+Timothy+C%2E+Ely+and+Robert+Grimes+--%22Illuminating+the+Subconscious%22 |title=Harold Balazs, Timothy C. Ely, and Robert Grimes -"Illuminating the Subconscious" |publisher=Theartspiritgallery.com |date= |accessdate=2012-02-14 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100233/http://www.theartspiritgallery.com/html/exhibresults.asp?exnum=6853exname=---Harold+Balazs,+Timothy+C.+Ely+and+Robert+Grimes+--%22Illuminating+the+Subconscious%22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
He was a featured artist at Tinman Gallery in Spokane.<ref>{{cite web |author=The Tinman Gallery |url=http://www.tinmanartworks.com |title=Featured Artist Harold Balazs |publisher=Tinmanartworks.com |date= |accessdate=2012-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724145902/http://www.tinmanartworks.com/ |archive-date=2012-07-24 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Public art== thumb|right|''Centennial Sculpture'', an aluminum sculpture that floats in the Spokane River Balazs has contributed extensively to the downtown landscape of Spokane, with many of his works featured prominently in Riverfront Park. Sculptures include the Rotary Riverfront Fountain, Centennial Sculpture, and ''Untitled'' (aka '"Lantern").<ref>{{cite web |author=Riverfront Park Sculpture Walk |url=https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontpark/highlights/sculpture-walk/ |title=(Untitled) Lantern, Centennial Sculpture & Rotary Riverfront Fountain by Harold Balazs |publisher= Spokaneriverfrontpark.com |accessdate=2012-10-19}}</ref> Other works can be found throughout Spokane, including ''Wildflowers of the Northwest'',<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/anton1974/421793254/in/pool-318291@N20 |title=Wildflowers of the Northwest by Harold Balazs |publisher= Anton1974, Flickr |date=2007-03-10 |accessdate=2012-10-19}}</ref> a sculpture, ''Canoe'' at Lewis and Clark High School,<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/anton1974/421793249/in/pool-318291@N20 |title=Canoe by Harold Balazs |publisher= Anton1974, Flickr |date=2007-03-10 |accessdate=2012-10-19}}</ref> and the facade of Hennessy Funeral Home.<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/anton1974/2421530558/in/pool-318291@N20 |title=Tree by Harold Balazs |publisher= Anton1974, Flickr |date=2008-04-17 |accessdate=2012-10-19}}</ref>
In Idaho, several of Balazs' metal sculptures are installed on college campuses. Works installed at North Idaho College, include ''I Must Go Down to the Seas Again''<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/geko1973/4798696223/in/pool-318291@N20 |title= I must go down to the seas again by Harold Balazs |publisher= geko1973, Flickr |date=2010-07-05 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref> and ''Reflections''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/geko1973/4798696611/in/pool-318291@N20 |title= Reflections by Harold Balazs |publisher= geko1973, Flickr |date=2010-07-05 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref> Works at the University of Idaho include the Hartung Theater Sculpture<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/geko1973/4798697847/in/pool-318291@N20 |title= Hartung Theatre Sculpture by Harold Balazs |publisher= geko1973, Flickr |date=2010-07-08 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref> and Theophilus Tower Sculpture.<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/geko1973/4798698193/in/pool-318291@N20 |title= Theophilus Tower Sculpture by Harold Balazs |publisher= geko1973, Flickr |date=2010-07-08 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref>
Other works include ''Seattle Project'',<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/anton1974/429028506 |title= Seattle Sculpture by Harold Balazs |publisher= Anton1974, Flickr |date=2007-02-10 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref> located at the Henry M. Jackson Federal Building.
Several of his works have incorporated the phrase "Transcend the Bullshit".<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/geko1973/4799329572/in/pool-318291@N20 |title= Transcend the Bullshit (I must go down to the seas again) by Harold Balazs |publisher= geko1973, Flickr |date=2010-07-16 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref> One sculpture that is untitled, but referred to as Lantern,<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/geko1973/4799329572/in/pool-318291@N20 |title= Untitled (Lantern) by Harold Balazs |publisher= austinspace, Flickr |date=2006-04-17 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref> has gained notoriety because one must climb to the top of the sculpture to view the hidden message.<ref>{{cite web |author=Photo |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/geko1973/4799329572/in/pool-318291@N20 |title= Hidden Message - Untitled (Lantern) by Harold Balazs |publisher= cautionary_thought, Flickr |date=2009-03-17 |accessdate=2012-10-20}}</ref> Climbing it, however, is illegal<ref>{{cite web |url=https://my.spokanecity.org/smc/?Section=10.12.010 |title=Spokane Municipal Code 10.12.010 |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= |publisher=City of Spokane |access-date=2018-08-28 |quote=}}</ref> and potentially dangerous.
==Publications== "Harold Balazs and Friends", with a foreword by Tom Kundig, was published by the University of Washington Press in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washington.edu/uwpress/search/books/BALHAR.html |title=University of Washington Press - Books - Harold Balazs |publisher=Washington.edu |date= |accessdate=2012-02-14}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== * [http://www.HaroldBalazsArt.com Harold Balazs official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240609125522/http://haroldbalazsart.com/ |date=2024-06-09 }} * [http://www.theartspiritgallery.com/artist/Harold_Balazs/works/ Harold Balazs at The Art Spirit Gallery] * [https://www.flickr.com/groups/318291@N20/ Flickr Pool for photos of public art by Harold Balazs] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100704002213/http://www.northwestmuseum.org/index.cfm?CollectionID=5296&query=spokaneartists&Artist=111201 Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture feature] * [https://my.spokanecity.org/riverfrontpark/highlights/sculpture-walk/ Riverfront Park Sculpture Walk] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20110728045407/http://www.spokanearts.org/highlights.aspx Spokane Sculpture Walk Highlights]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Balazs, Harold}} Category:1928 births Category:2017 deaths Category:20th-century American sculptors Category:20th-century American male artists Category:American male sculptors Category:American abstract sculptors Category:American muralists Category:Sculptors from Washington (state) Category:Pacific Northwest artists Category:People from Spokane County, Washington