David S. Seagraves
Elizabeth, Illinois
David Seagraves was born in 1946 in Saint Louis, Missouri.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University School
of Fine Arts in St. Louis in 1969, Mr. Seagraves completed his Master
of Fine Arts at California College of Arts and Design, Oakland, in 1972.
In 1973, David moved to rural Elizabeth, Illinois and began working on
house restorations, cabinetmaking and woodcarving. Several years later,
in 1972, Mr. Seagraves established a woodworking shop in Elizabeth. Here
he specialized in carved furniture, architectural carvings and small sculptures.
Several of David’s more recent works have been awarded first and third place in the International Woodcarver’s Congress in Davenport, Iowa, the largest and most prestigious show in the United States. Mr. Seagraves continues to reside in the beautiful countryside of Elizabeth creating new sculptures including woodcarvings.
1981 First major statue commissions: 3’ figure of Mary and Anne for St. Anne’s Episcopal Church – Morrison, Illinois.
1982- Holy Family, Holy Cross Catholic Church – Stockton, Illinois. 31/2’ h., basswood
1983
Our Lady of Grace, Grace Episcopal Church – Galena, Illinois. 3’ h., walnut
Crucifix, St. Anne’s Church – Morrison, Illinois. 6’ h., walnut
Saints Anne and Mary, Highcrest Center, Rockford, Illinois. 31/2’ h., basswood
Mary, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Elizabeth, Illinois. 61/2’., limestone
Farrell Memorial, Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island, Illinois. 3’ h., walnut
John the Baptist, Trinity Catholic Church, Davenport, Iowa. 41/2’ h., walnut
Crucifix, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lockport, Illinois. 51/2’ h., mahogany
John he Baptist, St. John’s Cemetery, Johnsburg, Illinois. 3⁄4 life-size, mahogany
Crucifix, Holy Nativity Episcopal Church, Claredon Hills, Illinois. Total ht. 14’,
Corpus 9’ h., mahogany
Holy Family, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Oregon, Illinois. 9’ h., limestone
Bas-relief bronze portrait of Robert Funderburg for YMCA, Belvidere, Illinois.
Bas-relief bronze portrait of Albert Robin for Roosevelt University, Chicago, Illinois.
Shepherd Christ, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Garnavillo, Iowa. 6’ h., mahogany
Edward the Confessor, St. Edward’s Catholic Church, Rockford, Illinois. 6’h., marble
Careers, bas-releif, Highland Community College, Freeport, Illinois. 9’ x a3’, mahogany
1994 Pieta, St. Mary’s, Elizabeth, Illinois. 3⁄4 life-size, marble
1995 Pair of life-size family groups, St. Daniel the Prophet (Catholic), Wheaton,
Illinois. Limestone
Risen Christ figure, St. Thomas, Freeport, Illinois. 8’ h. figure with 14’ cross. Basswood
Holy family, St. Thoasm, Freeport, Illinois. Life-size, basswood
1996 Holy Family, St. Mary and Joseph Catholic Church, Carlinville, Illinois. 7’ h., mahogany
1996- Three angels (3/4 life-size), Crucifix and Mary statue (both life-size), St.
1997 Patrick’s, Dixon, Illinois. Basswood
1998 Blackhawk, life-size bust. Mahogany. Winner Best of Show at International , Woodcarver’s Congress, Davenport, Iowa.
1999 Annunciation, statue of Mary. 4’ h., basswood. Third place at International, Woodcarver’s Congress, Davenport, Iowa
1999 Three life-size angels supporting altar and pulpit, St. Michael the Archangel, Schereville, Indiana. Mahogany
1998- Works in progress:
1999 Mythological subject, pair of limestone, high relief sculptures each measuring 4’ x 6’ x 1’ for the University of Illinois, Chicage, (UIC), Neuropsychiatric Institute, sponsored by the Capital Development Board of Illinois, Arts in Architecture program.
Twelve bronze low-relief sculptures for twelve Illinois National Guard Armories, sponsored by the Capital Development Board of Illinois, Arts in Architecture Program.
Frontier Woman, life-size bronze sculpture, commemorative piece representing the founding and naming of Elizabeth, Illinois during the Blackhawk Wars of 1832. Sponsored by the Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce, Elizabeth, Illinois.
Representative works on exhibit at the Pallet and Chisel Gallery, Galena, Illinois.
1969
