Ponds and unleashing my creative side.

Two summers ago to celebrate Sage and Laura Burdine's college graduation my friend Linda and I took our daughters to France.  Top on our list was a bike ride to Giverney to see Monet's a Gardens. It was fun and worth dedicating the day. Linda and I have gone on the water garden tour in Houston and are both pond people. As a pond person Giverney  was on my bucket list. 

Monet's garden

Monet's garden

Monet's garden

Monet's garden

My water garden.

My water garden.


Lillie leaves come in many colors of green and purple.  

Lillie leaves come in many colors of green and purple.  

Goose, Tobi and Sparrow love to help feed the fish. 
Goose, Tobi and Sparrow love to help feed the fish. 

 

I officially became a pond person in 2007 when  we converted our 15,000 gallon pool to a water garden. Griffin was a senior and pretty persistent that we needed a pond. He was right.   It is full of water lilies, bull frogs, goldfish and koi. It is one of the joys of my day and great for unleashing my creative side. 

I have recently drawn my own version of a water garden - murmur of the water. But that is another post.  

First kiss

This Saturday afternoon I had one last errand to run and was running late. I dashed into the interspace  exhibit area at MFAH Glassell studio school and ........ 

“Victoria Aside”Bronze and gold leaf sculpture   30" W  x  20" D  x 10" T seeartist statement below.  

“Victoria Aside”

Bronze and gold leaf sculpture

   30" W  x  20" D  x 10" T 

seeartist statement below.  

.......there it was - my sculpture "Victoria Aside" on exhibit. I knew it was accepted in the SAO exhibit but I was not expecting it to be installed yet. I was taken by surprise - I just stopped in my tracks -  and absorbed the moment.  I can't  describe the feeling. Later in the day while  sitting in traffic I kept thinking about that feeling. It was not your everyday emotion or sensation. The only thing that came to mind that describes how I felt - is the surprise of  "a first kiss". 

 "Victoria Aside"

Artist statement  

This is one of my favorite pieces from my 2014 work. It first resonated with me purely from an aesthetic point of view, as I knew the aged leather would reproduce beautifully in bronze. What I did not realize, however, was that this sculpture would represent more than a stereotypical Texas western symbol. 

With the woman controlling the horse by only the reins and one foot in the stirrup, riding sidesaddle for hunting, jumping or herding cattle on the plains of Texas required a tremendous core strength and athletic ability. This strength in a generation of women primarily known for their refined sensibilities and social values is inspiring. 

The extremely weathered Victorian leather rendered in bronze reveals a rich Texas history in fragile relief. The white patina reflects the emphasis on chastity and the gold leaf detail was inspired by the rich ornamentation of the Victorian period. 

I hope my artistic interpretation of this Texas western Victorian sidesaddle will have meaning and be inspirational for all who view it.