Italian Artist Casts Success in Concrete

When acclaimed Italian artist Marco Lucioni came to the United States 14 years ago, he didn't want to start from scratch to rebuild his reputation as a painter and sculptor. Instead, he incorporated his artistry into decorative concrete - a move that has thrilled homeowners throughout the Seattle area.

Lucioni, who lived in Italy for 45 years, in Greece for 10 years and in France for a couple years, showed his work in about 50 shows throughout Europe. When his first wife became homesick, he came to the United States with her.

He started doing decorative work for Italian restaurants, making a lot of fake columns reminiscent of the old country, which ultimately inspired him to give the real stuff a whirl.

"I knew the medium already," Lucioni said. "I taught myself how to use concrete; I read books, I asked around."

Today Lucioni Arts is just part of the business. His wife Janice runs Secret Garden Statuary, a 35,000-square-foot facility that carries concrete products and garden art and statues - birdbaths, animals, yard gnomes, fountains, and benches.

But it's Lucioni Arts, the manufacturing side of the business, and the concrete countertops that are keeping Lucioni busy. He estimates that countertops account for about 40 percent of his concrete projects. Fireplace surrounds and architectural pieces each make up about 30 percent apiece.

The countertop craze is mounting, he says unequivocally. "Twelve years ago I did two or three countertops a year," he said. "Then it was one or two a month, and now it's a couple sets a week."

Lucioni views concrete as an old material that is new again. Concrete countertops have been found in Roman palaces that date back to the Second Century. All over the world, concrete lends itself as a readily available, versatile building material. "One can say that either the U.S. is catching up with other parts of the globe or going back in time," he says. Whichever the case, Seattle residents are eating it up.

"I think some like it (concrete) because they don't like the cheap materials ... " Lucioni said. "They like the look - the down-to-earth, rustic look. It's a different feeling. It doesn't look cold; it's a warmer material."

He added that the wide palette of 40-50 colors and shades is also appealing to homeowners.

That and Lucioni's customers have a final product that is custom-made. Like his one-of-a-kind paintings and sculptures produced in Europe, Lucioni hand-casts each mold.

He says that anything is possible. He'll look at a fireplace and then proceed to make a form and design for a surround. He has created fireplaces that run the gamut from classic, ornate styles to contemporary, even lines. He's even produced a fireplace from a magazine photograph. White cement and marble chips were mixed to capture the look of fine Carrera marble.

He says that unlike "poured in place" concrete countertops, his do not crack. His concrete mix is rich--seven sack. He adds fiber and drying agents to the mix and reinforces it with rebar, u-bar or mesh. He and his team then regulate the cure to ensure top quality and durability. "I like to find the right products to combine with my skills," he said.

Lucioni Arts can also capture the look and feel of Old Europe through Marco's custom-designed, precast concrete columns, door and window surrounds, pier and chimney caps. He also manufacturers balustrade - a type of decorative railing, usually used to section off or accentuate a specific area, like a front porch. Balustrade has been an integral component in classic architecture for centuries.

Seattle's concrete artistry can be found in public venues as well. Lucioni's handiwork graces the bar countertops at Bullpen Pub at Safeco Field. Cutter & Buck - a chain of upscale golf clothing stores - is also a regular client. Lucioni handcrafted custom fountain and benches for one store, a beautiful custom water feature for a Palm Desert store, and a beautiful water and rock centerpiece for the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas.

Each project is a new challenge for Lucioni. "I like to use my Italian artistic background and culture and combine it with the technology to make everything," he said.

Lucioni Arts opened in 1989, occupying an old grocery store. Redevelopment of the property gave him an opportunity to move into larger quarters - nearly three times the size - in South Seattle in 1995 and blossom into Secret Garden Statuary/Lucioni Arts.

The garden section boasts 35,000 square feet of garden ornamentation and enhancements. The increased space allowed them to grow their product line from six to more than 30, expanding beyond their own taste for traditional European statuary. He offers everything from the famed Bagni di Lucca in Italy's Tuscany region to the Southwest's rustic colors and appealing shapes to contemporary chic with sleek lines and modern attitude.

Lucioni Arts is located in a 10,000-square-foot building in back of the property.

And although Lucioni hasn't had time to go back to his roots and spend time painting and sculpting, he has made time for nurturing his own "secret garden."

When the Lucionis bought a piece of property four years ago, friends expected that naturally they would have a fabulous yard and luscious gardens. Instead, they were disappointed to find a plain lawn in a rather rustic setting. So, the Lucionis put everything they learned in the business to personal use for their front and back yards.

SSo a good portion of the lawn was torn out; four pathways leading to a central fountain were added. Grass, privet, and a pond were added, as were a cobblestone walkway, an upper-level patio and fountain. A "brickcrete" fence with a wall fountain placed where two sections meet at a 45-degree angle, along with a renewed jungle of burgeoning greenery, rounded out the project.

Modular pond blocks create raised beds. Edging stones define areas. Yard balls lend whimsy. Smaller statues, like three cheerful cherubs, placed among plantings create visual surprises. (The three cherubs were damaged items, and the wisteria--about 50 years old-- was rescued from a county park demolition project.)

And his goals for the future? "I just want to keep doing what I'm doing," he said. "I like to try to make everybody happy."

Contentment and a luxurious secret garden to come home to every night - not bad.

Lucioni Arts
Marco Lucioni
11061 Pacific Highway South
Seattle, WA 98168-1941
(206) 764-7150 Office
(206) 768-0544 FAX

Michele Dawson writes each week on one of the contractor members of The Concrete Network (www.concretenetwork.com). She has written about the home building industry for several years and was on the public affairs staff of the California Building Industry Association.