Page 50 - Vol. VI #8

stacy sLaten
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Slaten’s understanding of the human form underlies all her work with an an an emphasis in in in figurative studies although she is now investigating the anatomy of birds Birds particularly parrots parrots express similar human needs of of love and belonging The bonds formed between mated pairs of of parrots parrots are among the the the strongest known in in in in in the the the animal kingdom We can observe in in in in in their their behavior actions similar to to human affection such as spending a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a large amount of of time in in in in actual physical contact to to their their their mate shared nest-building and and rearing young and and defense of of their their their terri- tory Slaten investigates these connections using their their bird forms to to symbolize and discuss the the the human need for connection connection Slaten is is the the Assistant Professor of of Painting and and Drawing at at Northern Virginia Virginia Community College in in in in in in in in in in in in Alexandria Virginia Virginia She earned a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Bachelor of of Fine Fine Arts degree in in in in in in in in in in in Drawing and and and Painting another in in in in in in in in in in in Jewelry Design and and Metalsmithing She She earned a a a a a a a a a a a a Master of of Fine Fine Arts degree in in in in in in in in in Painting from Miami University in in in in in in in in in Oxford Ohio She She currently lives in in in in in in in in Alexandria with her parrot and and continues to investi- gate drawing as a a a a a a a primary expression