horse-birds
I had an out-of-body experience. This pivotal Happening will always be a vivid memory!
While beginning to shape a wax image, I saw a horse-like face emerge. As I continued to sculp…a body, wings, horns, and ears quickly appeared. My hands were forming this horse-bird, but the creative decisions did not seem to be mine.
I was experiencing an unexpected Happening. It felt as if, I was standing next to myself…watching another person, ME, manipulate the wax. The new horse-bird image was unlike anything I had ever made. It completely changed my perspective and the direction of my art.
Family Reunion | 1982-1984 | 5′ x 9′ x 1′ | Media: bronze, railroad-ties, wood pedestals | Series: Horse birds | Theme: Family
Family Reunion: One day I watched a group of six seagulls land atop six weather-beaten pylons at a marina. My mind wandered to when my siblings would “fly” into town to see our parents. It was then that I realized my six newly-bronzed horse-birds had been waiting to be placed upon their own pylons; or pillar-like posts.
To simulate the wooden pylons, I foraged through abandoned railroad-tracks to find six perfect railroad-ties, made of seasoned wood in a variety of heights and character. I cleaned, fumigated, and painstakingly filled all crevices before applying layers-upon-layers of clear protective coating. Once each railroad-tie was secured to its black-wooden pedestal, the six horse-birds could finally visit together.
1989 | Doris Patz | Permanent Collection of Maryland Artists
University of Maryland Global Campus, College Park
2004 | INTERPRETATIONS: A Selection
of Works by Seven Maryland Sculptors
Governor’s Mansion, Annapolis MD
Current exhibition space at Global Campus, College Park.
For more than 30 years, the Doris Patz Collection of Maryland Artists has garnered recognition for many of the state’s talented artists and has provided a venue where the people of Maryland and visitors from around the world can enjoy these exceptional artworks. The collection is named in honor of its founder and patron, Doris Patz (1913–2009).
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Sculpture Titles
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HISTORY
1980 | The Beginning | 8″x7″x6″
As I manipulated the hot wax, to create a small abstract-sculpture, I saw this horse-like face emerge from the wax…the body, wings, horns, and ears came quickly. Suddenly, I was holding a creature I had no intention of making (perhaps my subconscious took over). I was excited to see this unique image appear and quickly began to expand upon a new series.
The Beginning is not only the title of the following artworks, but a celebration of a new beginning for my artistic style. Using the techniques and materials I had already honed, I made 11 metal horse-birds from 1980 to 1985.
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1981 | Attack | 7″x7″x5″
Attack, with its sinister face and threatening wingspan, was the 2nd sculpture of the series. Since this horse-bird had not yet developed legs or feet, it needed a base to stand on…I used a left-over wax abstract-nude, to symbolize out-with-the-old and in-with-the-new. I had entered a new genre; one that challenged my artistic direction and was much more interesting, to me, than my earlier artworks.
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1982 | Animus | 10″x12″x4″
I titled this 3rd sculpture Animus, because I felt the power of it’s erect body, wingspan, and facial expression. Even though I hadn’t finalized this horse-bird’s feet and legs, I knew they would eventually emerge in future images. The rock-like base helped Animus balance itself. Animus has become my favorite piece of the series.
At the time, I was studying Carl Gustav Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology. Four of his theories of consciousness were Persona, Shadow, The Self, and Anima/Animus. Jung thought everyone had both Feminine and Masculine traits.
1982 | Animus represents ambition, strength and the motivation to move forward | I see my reflection in its power.
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