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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 20, 2002)
3 2 Ju s t o u t * September 20. 2002 ft i f Hil i ....... ▼......... An angel in our midst Sculpture signifies a post-Sept. 11 “strength and insecurity” by THÜR- OCT. 31 st ARLENE SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL TICXm «I U i TICUTNMTEIWJTLETS I TM R N I0X »FICE I I CHANE IT PIONE 513 224 44N neun mit k mmbt n sutkj cum TKREH A I » AVAILAliE AT TIE ALANIN THEATER N X OETICE KIM f f RICHEY ,‘v . y PETE DROGE * < . iH u J í OCTOBER 2 LINDA THOMPSON SATURDAY OCTOBER 5 USAN ä BACA SATURDAY OCTOBER 12 ^ 0 * r\ i Celebrating the Body Erotic N ovember 2&3 / P ortland Come alive to the power of your erotic energy. Open your body, mind and spirit to a world of pleasure. Discover deeper levels of communication with yourself and others. Honor yourself with the gift of touch. ( 0 03 ) ‘ 4 - 9 3 - 0 - 4-21 „ E a v I Bodq Electric School • v v v v v v .b o d y e le c t r ic .O R G S arah L eimert esbian sculptor Sherrie Taha’s latest piece, a work of unexpected magnitude and perti nence in our post-Sept. 11 world, is on dis play from Sept. 21 to Oct. 26 at Art Home Gallery. “Angel Rising,” a 5-fix)t-5 bronzed angel bearing expansive wings and an expressive coun tenance, is her most ambitious project to date. “A friend actually suggested I sculpt an angel,” says Taha, explaining how one becomes inspired to construct a life-size statue. “I hadn’t ever done anything that large before, hut some thing about her [suggestion] sunk quickly and deeply into my psyche...1 thought, ‘Why not.7’ ” Begun last year, the sculpture was essentially finished in two months. Although Taha was not sure why an angel seemed like the right choice for a project, the events of Sept. 11, 2001, brought it right into fcxzus. “I stopped wonder ing about why I was doing an angel,” she remembers, “and just focused on putting some thing positive into the world.” And, one lixik suggests, rather majestic. “Her feet anchor her in a solid stance on a foundation of rcxrks,” says Taha, describing the piece. “A gentle breeze is evident in the quiet motion of her skirt. She stabilizes herself with one hand on her leg for the physically uncomfortable maneuver of standing while she reaches out for help up with the other. Her wings, one open, the other closed, display Kith her strength and insecurity. Unknown hardship can he seen on her face as she pulls herself up, assisted by the unseen hand of God.” always been my ‘calling’ seems not to have been a direct route,” she says. “But sometimes you have to wash all the dishes before you can make and eat dinner.” aha’s road to becoming a sculptor was a long and winding one. The oldest of seven chil aha’s goal for her own pieces is to illustrate dren, she was Kim in a small town in south to her audience the strong emotions behind ern Iowa and grew up in Des Moines. After a and within them. “Although a sense of the year of college in Minneapolis, she became a spiritual and aspects of nature are common ele lab technician and worked for a major pace ments in my work, ‘Angel Rising’ can he per maker manufacturer for several years. ceived as more overtly religious than any of my Back in school on “the 10-year plan,” the other work.” artist began an accounting program at Univer The sculptor has several pieces she hopes to sity of Minnesota. While fulfilling humanities complete stxtn, including one titled “The requirements, Taha “reconnected with passion Power and Joy of Freedom.” She’s also had ate feelings” she had for the arts hut had never some help along the way— the Metal Arts allowed herself to embrace. After a number of Group in Troutdale is responsible for the beau moves, she finally ended up with a degree in tiful bronze casting of her work. “I can’t imag art education. ine a more professional, experienced and tal Stxin after she began student teaching, ented group of people," she says. Taha moved with her partner and daughter to Also, the Portland Area Business Associa Oregon. Once here, she was “shocked by tion and Firehouse No. 12 in Vancouver, the realities of shrinking school bud Wash., have granted Taha a professional gets” and, after substitute teaching for -X development scholarship. Thanks to three years, realized it was unlikely |y this generous assistance, some of her she would teach art in schcxils. w displayed work will he soon he cast in The following three years glass. J R brought another daughter and a split with her partner. She produced very “Angel Rising" and several more sculptures by little artwork during this time, S herrie T aha are for sale from Sept. 21 to although “it was often on (my) Oct. 26 at Art Home Gallery, mind." 436 S.E. Sixth Ave. Visit During the past seven Taha and her work at years, however, Taha’s * www.sherriescidpture.cfrm attention has been jfj ' increasingly focused on ' S arah L eimert is the sculpture. “My personal Editorial Assistant at J Meet Sherrie Iaha and “Angel Ri-sing" journey to reconnect Out and can be reached Sept. 21 at Art Home Gallerv with what 1 believe has at sarah@justirut .com.
