MIPCES Exhibition: Katherine Dewey

If you are a new visitor to Polymer Art Archive, you can find background about this event in the 2 posts, Past, Present Future and All About MIPCES.

GARGOYLES
14”H x 6”W x 4½”D each

For the MIPCES catalog, Katherine Dewey wrote:

“My work is best seen out of the corner of the eye, the quick glance that becomes a thoughtful gaze.”

More recently, Kathy shared the following comments with me:

“I sculpted “Gargoyles” specifically for the MIPCES exhibit. A hesitancy to put my sculptures out there where children would thump them (and they do thump them) led me to design pieces that would hang on the wall. The inspiration came from an afternoon cartoon series that led to a rather dark “be-careful-what-you-wish-for” story that led to these illustrative sculptures. With my work, the words usually come first, and this pair was no exception. There are technical precedents in my previous work for the Gargoyles–figures painted to resemble stone and winged figures have always been part of my portfolio. Still, these were exciting to create. Previously, I had never sculpted in color. With these pieces, because of a new clay, I was able to achieve a realistic marble and granite. That was, and still is, a remarkably satisfying experience.
The armature for the figures consists of brass rods and aluminum wire. The wings are glue sized, acid free card stock covered with polymer clay. The pilasters are made of wood signboard and paper clay, both sized with glue and covered with polymer clay. Because sound construction makes for sound sculpture, I suspect these figures still exist, that they still grace someone’s wall. I hope the pair still brings a bit of joy or wonder. For me, the joy is in the process, the act of sculpting. That’s what matters.”

Kathy has created her own personal archive , images of the sculptures she has created over the years which shows the breadth and depth of her vision.