Photographs used to sculpt artist's work
Exhibit of sculptor George Segal on display at the S.B.municipal building
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer
The old couple sat on a bench just inside the entrance of the South Brunswick Public Library, both staring straight ahead in a melancholic way, the woman with her hands crossed. However, this old couple happens to be made of plaster, created by a world-renowned artist who lived in South Brunswick, George Segal, although you wouldn't know it by looking at the humanity in their eyes.

SCOTT FRIEDMAN Bob Ambrosio, of Dayton, looks at a photograph titled "Self Portrait With George Segal" at the opening of the "George Segal: An Intimate Portrait" exhibit at the South Brunswick Library and Municipal Center on Sunday.

The sculpture was donated to the library by the George and Helen Segal Foundation, and on Sunday it was unveiled during a dedication ceremony at the library, where at least 100 people came to view the sculpture and honor Segal, who died in 2000.

"George Segal is South Brunswick's most talented and innovative artist," said Christopher Carbone, the library director. "The library is truly honored to have such an amazing piece as part of its permanent collection here."

In conjunction with this was the opening of a photography exhibit by Donald Lokuta, one of Segal's close friends. The exhibit opened at the Gallery at the South Brunswick Municipal Building and will be shown through March 28.

Daniel Luna, a friend of Segal's niece, said the dedication at the library was a great event.

"For a local boy like him, it's very important," Luna said. "And to have his family here, it's just nice. I've seen so many of his pieces, and I recognize his family in many of them."

The donated sculpture, titled "Couple Against a Grey Brick Wall," features Segal's sister-inlaw and husband, Millicent and David Kutliroff. Millicent was in attendance on Sunday.

Millicent's son Jerome said that their family had been used as models their whole life.

"It's quite striking [to see the resemblance between sculptures and their real-life counterparts]," said Jerome, who is featured in one of Segal's sculptures.

Ellen Gambatese, vice president of the library board of trustees and part of the acquisition committee for the sculpture, got choked up talking about the donation.

"People tell me I have a way with words and they save my letters," Gambatese said. "Today, I have no words."

She said she was overwhelmed that a piece by Segal, who has sculptures all over the world, including Paris, would find a home at the library.

Susan Kutliroff, the business manager and secretary of the George and Helen Segal Foundation, said it was great to do this in South Brunswick.

"We've done this in Russia, Paris, Rome, Miami, Michigan," Kutliroff said. "But we never know anybody. We have our family here, our friends, our neighbors, the community, and it's really, really exciting to be here. George always came home to South Brunswick Township."

Jerome Kutliroff was also thrilled.

"Many well-known and famous people don't get the recognition fromtheir hometown, and this is great," he said.

"He could've lived in New York City, could've lived in theHamptons," Lokuta said. "He felt connected to everyone here. He was curious about everything. He was just a great human being."

After the piece was unveiled,Mayor Frank Gambatese spoke to the gathered crowd.

"This is a great addition to our library, which has gotten bigger and better," Gambatese said. "With this addition to our library, I believe we can go forward and do anything."

Segal and his work were definitely the focus of those in the audience.

"He was always trying to break the mold, so to speak," art historian and professor Maurice Mahler said. "What he contributed was himself."

Twenty-five photographs were displayed along the wall, with accompanying captions. The photographs display theman at work, with many of the photographs featuring Segal's workspace. They also feature personal photographs of Segal with his wife, Helen, and his daughter, Rena.

Lokuta was friends with Segal from 1984 until his death in 2000, and called him an international superstar. He said they hit it off almost instantly.

"We chatted, he showedme some personal photographs he did," Lokuta said. "I was so interested in his philosophy. We would just hang out at his studio, I was not a paid assistant. It was a dream."

Lokuta wouldn't just sit there and take photographs, though.

"I'm very opinionated, so I couldn't help but give my opinion about everything," Lokuta said. "We would really talk about how the things were going to be made."

Why did he hang around Segal so much?

"I was getting my degree in art that I never got," Lokuta said. "I was getting my degree in art from George Segal University."

Segal also received help from Lokuta in the art of photography, so it wasn't one-sided schooling.

"Certainly the technical side, he was not too sure about," Lokuta said. "He became a much better photographer after [we met.]"

Lokuta said that he would get the greatest shots of Segal because he would act as if nobody was looking.

"This is totally different," Lokuta said. "This is not somebody posing and trying to look like an important artist."

He said that in other situations with photographers, Segal would be rigid, but not with him.

"We would just clown around," Lokuta said. "He didn't know I was shooting everything. I was a fly on the wall."

"There are so many with a view of his studio," said Sandy Behrend, vice president of the township's arts commission. "It's important here because not nearly enough people get to go to his studio. It's a real turn-on. They give a real sense of what the possibilities of what he did was."

Most people at the showing seemed to enjoy the photos.

"The pictures are beautifully printed and taken, because they tell the story, and you do get a feeling fromlooking at these pictures about how the man works," said Seymour Schwartz, president of the township's Camera Club.

"To see him in the studio; it's a lot different," said Howard Siskowitc of Princeton. "You even like the pieces a little betterwhen you see themin theirworkspace."

What is Lokuta's favorite part about Segal's work?

"The humanity of it all," Lokuta said. "I get a little bit bored with abstract art and minimalist art, but it's all about what it means to be human.

"I identifywith themso deeply," he said of the human-like sculptures. "They really touch my soul. His art is about the quiet moments, and who we are when nobody is looking."