Creating sculptures since 1973

Figurative sculpture is certainly inspired by nature but it is interpreted by the artists’ vision and designed by the artists’ hands. Over the past forty years, I have worked towards mastering my own interpretation of the figure and especially portrait sculpture. In bronze as well as terra cotta clay I have sculpted figures and animals ranging from life-size to small- scale work.

Much of my work is about children. The child image can be poetic. I find that concentrating on the nuance of gesture, the sensitivity of expression and the intuitive posture of a child can instill the vulnerability and “human quality” that I am looking for. The intention of my sculpture is to capture a moment of “everyday” – a reflection of who we once were.

I feel that public art should engage the community on many levels:

Art that is commissioned as a memorial is obligated to convey the message for that purpose. For example, the sculpture I created for the Amy Toyen/September 11 memorial  represented the “innocence lost” in an introspective and sensitive way. The response from the public has been to stop and reflect on a fond memory. It reminds us how precious each day can be.

Public art can commemorate an organization or a sense of history. In my sculpture for St. Francis Hospital , the figure represents the pride felt for the nursing profession as well as the nursing school itself.

Most important is the level of awareness and involvement that comes with public art. Art will never become part of our “vocabulary” unless we incorporate it in our daily experiences. I feel that there needs to be elements that draw us in, details that keep us there. The human element, the gentle calmness of my work, invites participation – whether it is through touch or simply by sitting nearby.

In order to accept it, understand it and claim ownership to it as a community, art needs to become a natural part of our landscape and our lifestyle.