Nest to Flight

Medium Description

Paper clay fired to cone six, barbed wire, granite for base of sculpture,, spray paint, faux flowers,  vintage metal base for figurine, thin piece of wood for bottom of granite, two-part epoxy, wire or nest, Air dry clay for eggs, Found various feathers and spray painted

Artist Description

This mixed-media ceramic sculpture explores the transformation of personal constraint into joyful liberation.

The central female figure and birds were individually hand-sculpted using paper clay. The figure is finished with a cone 6 matte green glaze, wiped back to emphasize form, surface texture, and dimension. As she reaches upward, she grasps the sharp, restrictive barbed wire—which gradually softens into organic, tree-like vines bearing pussy willow buds. The birds’ gold tones brighten as they ascend from the severe barbed wire toward the sky.

At the base, a bird’s nest fashioned from wire and barbed wire cradles remnants of gold-lined hatched eggs and feathers. The elegant, elongated figurine rests upon an antique metal lamp base, anchored by a heavy foundation composed of three broken, gilded pieces of granite.      Past, present, future,