DONNA DODSON: Monumental Sculptures

Monumental Sculptures

Giant Panda, 2010, Styrofoam, cement, paint, 8ftx4ftx4ft by Donna Dodson

Elephant Oracle, 2010, Styrofoam, cement, paint, 8ftx4ftx4ft by Donna Dodson

Hathor, 2010, Styrofoam, cement, paint, 8ftx4ftx4ft by Donna Dodson

Baby Bringer, 2011, Styrofoam, cement, paint, 12ftx4ftx4ft by Donna Dodson

Moby Dick, 2012, styrofoam, cement, mortar, 8ftx4ftx4ft by Donna Dodson

Lady Bird, 2012, styrofoam, cement, mortar, 8ftx4ftx4ft by Donna Dodson

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Artist Statement

‘My artwork celebrates the mystical relationship between human beings and the animal kingdom. Because there were no icons of women in the church that I grew up in, my vision is to create them. Through hybrid female-animal forms that I sculpt in wood, I flesh out sensuality, sexuality and soul with a well-proportioned figurative vocabulary. The natural grain of the wood interacts with the form and shape of my sculptures in a descriptive way, suggesting nostrils, and nipples or garments and fabric textures. I often stylize each piece to enhance the girl, woman, princess, queen or goddess within. The mouths, or in some cases beaks, are closed symbolizing the mysteries they embody. These figures are sculpted in sizes ranging from one to four feet tall. I use color in both subtle and bold ways to activate each piece. My inspiration comes from Egyptian, Native American and Indian art’

About

Donna Dodson has been carving images out of wood since 1996. Her sculptures explore feminine beauty and evoke humor and playfulness but also grace, power and emotional strength. Her unique vision responds to the relation of animals to the human spirit that have existed since ancient times. Her figures are almost always female and usually range in size from one to four feet tall.

Dodson’s pre-med studies and her passion for Egyptian art led her to study wood and stone sculpture. African sculptures and Native American totems also influence her work.

She uses logs of osage orange wood from her grandfather’s farm in Illinois, and ash, cherry, locust and maple from New England.

Dodson has worked in a series using an elephant headed goddess to explore female figureheads in positions of power. Recently, Dodson created large scale outdoor pieces, engaging in a public dialogue about her work. The site became a more prevalent theme. Today, Dodson has returned to creating statement pieces including a cardinal goddess for the women of the Catholic Church who aspire to be ordained.

Bio

Donna Dodson graduated from Wellesley College in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts. Since 2000, she has been honored with solo shows nationwide for her artwork. Dodson enjoys public speaking, and has been a guest speaker at conferences and panels in museums and universities throughout North America. Donna regularly contributes articles to the Boston Globe’s Global Business Hub blog that demonstrate the economic impact and global reach of the arts sector. In 2011 she participated in the Verbier 3D Foundation's Artist Residency and Sculpture Park in the Swiss Alps where she created monumental outdoor sculpture. In 2012, she exhibited at the Fountain Art Fair NYC in the historic 69^th Regiment Armory Building. In 2013, she will be returning to Europe, to exhibit her artwork in the Netherlands.

Inspirations

"... I think one's art goes only as far and as deep as [one's] love goes,"

-Andrew Wyeth

"I don’t think that the value of art is determined by money at all. I think [the respect of other artists] is what determines the value in art.
-Chuck Close

"art is valuable because it challenges, inspires, and enables us to see ourselves in much more interesting ways"
-Mickey Cartin

" the thing that I had to do was to ... work super hard in the hope that someday it would pay off. And in using that term I don't mean necessarily money, but just the fact that I would have more depth and dimension both as a human being and as an artist."
-Ed Paschke

“Fashion is what seems beautiful now but looks ugly later; art can be ugly at first but it becomes beautiful later.”
-Steve Jobs

"...remember that collecting art is an act of love. It isn’t about what you pay for a work, or how rich (or not) you become when you one day sell it, but the depth of your enjoyment in the time you live with it."
-Abigail R. Esman

Artistic Process

When I start a piece of work I need to evoke such a strong feeling about each piece that I can dare to listen to the piece, to make mistakes - to just create. It is the emotional investment in the act of creation that crystallizes the work for me.

Sometimes the idea or concept comes first, and I imagine what the piece will be when completed. More often I work from intuition. Once completed I see the intentions behind the piece, or the desire from which it is born. Artists who inspire me include Jessica Stockholder and Katharina Fritsch. Stockholder uses color as a transformational visual device, changing the way we see form. And Katharina Fritsch creates sculptures of sacred figures that become pop-icons through color. In the same way I work with various kinds and grains of wood accented by color.

My artwork is about self expression, autobiography, and self redemption. Each sculpture is independent and heroic, but each is connected to the body of my total work. Each is made greater and honored by its association with those that have preceded it, but keeps its own sacred identity. Each reflects my realization that I am a self-made woman.

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Monumental Sculptures