3 2 Ju s t o u t * September 20. 2002
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An angel
in our midst
Sculpture signifies
a post-Sept. 11
“strength and insecurity”
by
THÜR- OCT. 31 st
ARLENE SCHNITZER
CONCERT HALL
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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.