NAHANT — Reno ‘Ray’ Pisano received a State Resolution honoring decades of his artistic passion and craftsmanship Wednesday morning.
At Pisano’s home studio, Sen. Brendan Crighton and state Rep. Pete Capano presented the resolution to Pisano, detailing the numerous contributions he made to the North Shore and Commonwealth as a whole.
“There’s something we do to honor really unique and distinguished residents to say thank you and recognize you along your career,” said Crighton. “[It’s] just a small token of what you’ve done.” The resolution read, “… Reno ‘Ray’ Pisano will be commended for his lifelong dedication to the arts and commitment to his community.”
Accomplishments detailed in the resolution include being one of the nine founding members of Montserrat College of Art, being an “instrumental” part of creating the Frederick Douglass Park in Lynn, donating the sculpture ‘Tectonic Eclipse’ to the Nahant Public Library, and creating sculptures of people including Bud Fowler, Mary Baker Eddy, Childe Hassam, and Frederick Douglass.
After Crighton finished reading the resolution, Pisano commented, “You’ve given me a lot to live up to.” He humbly accepted the recognition, saying “You know, I don’t like to be conspicuous. I keep a low profile.”
While Pisano has kept a low profile, his work has been a standout. In his studio, Pisano showed off three of four female figure sculptures, a stylized granite sculpture of Perseus and Medusa’s head, and other abstract pieces made of local granite.
“The experience of the process [of making art] is more valuable than the result,” he explained. “The results are something you hope are worthy of the effort you put in.”
Even five months from his 100th birthday, he shows no signs of stopping. He continues to forge his own tools and mix up the medium he invented. He said that when people ask him why he still sculpts, he responds, “because I don’t play golf.”
Emma Fringuelli can be reached at [email protected].
