Cuff 8 Sculpture

The female or hermaphrodite body plays a central role in my art. I revise representations of women that have been controlled throughout history with visions of strength. In my sculptures and drawings, I start with basic human needs such as food, shelter, clothing, and touch. Over the course of a 46-year career, my art has ranged from intimate drawings to public sculptures to street performances. My sculptures respond to architecture, history and the figure. The figures are mostly of imaginary descent, often melded with architectural forms to portray structure and shelter. My aim is to create tactile visions of transformation from our collective unconscious into public spaces. Though I work with many materials, I favor traditional clay modeling and bronze casting for outdoor sculpture. For over 30 years my ongoing project is a semi-public sculpture garden next to my studio in Winooski, Vermont. A full sensory experience with sculpture is optimal outdoors or in architecture – rather than inside a museum or gallery. I often work between sculpture, photography and collage. I place cut-out paper images in different environments, and then photograph these theatrical interventions. The process is performative and ephemeral. These photographs document a direct experience, no Photoshop is used. The final images are printed on aluminum, or stay in situ for later discovery. I also draw and paint on paper and fabric. My imagery articulates connections between the natural world and the constructed world. Among other awards, I received the Vermont 2023 Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. I am a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S., born in Montreal, and live in Winooski, Vermont.