Page 20 - Wax Fusion Spring 2022 Issue 6 WIP v19

When Women Were Birds

I finally found a context to summarize a lifetime of environmental
focus when I read Terry Tempest Williams’ book, When Women Were

Birds. It led me to mythological stories about women growing wings
and flying. I read another myth of ravens sitting on your shoulder
to tell you the ancient stories, if we only stop and listen. My

sculpture #1 included this raven.

This latest three-part

series was a definite
challenge! I knew I
wanted the sculpture
to be life-size. I
started out with

styrofoam heads, and
while using many
techniques and

materials from former
projects, I also added
some new ones.

Along with recycled
cardboard, I
incorporated my
home-made papier-

mâché made from
running brown paper
bags through a paper

shredder. This
became the perfect
cohesive material that
could be pressed with
texture and/or

painted with wax or
shellac.

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