Barbara Liss
Hamilton, Mt
I sculpt in concrete as I appreciate the organic texture of the medium that can also be enjoyed in an outside enviroment.
MessageThe feel of mud squishing through my fingers while I made mud pies as a child; I continue to enjoy when mixing mud for my concrete sculpted faces.
During the sculpting process, faces become "Friends along the Way".
Owning a property management real-estate company for 32 years I used my artistic instincts to remodel homes and added additions to them, using my vision of what could be. I incorporated the beauty of landscape enhancement where ever I could.
Creating art for the landscape kept my artistic journey flowing.
I started sculpting concrete in 2015. My medium of choice was a natural decision wanting to create art for the garden. Portland cement and sand is always at hand for building rock walls and I knew concrete would endure the test of time.
Director Artist along the Bitterroot studio tour.
Reestablished Culture Crawl Hamilton
Statement
My medium of concrete is a result of wanting to create art for the outside environment. Concrete is very organic material; the texture is the characteristic I value the most.
The color palette is influenced by stone statues and architectural ornamentation native to the concrete jungle of my childhood.
Sculptures vary from the sole medium of concrete to adding elements of found objects that are often the inspiration of the piece or of a series. My love of feathers has also found their way into many of my pieces, combining the lightest and heaviest of elements.
Subjects are primarily faces of our world and occasionally creatures from another. Concrete sculptures are at home in the inside and outside environment, placed wherever they inspire you. Faces can comfort and cheer us and in concrete they will endure.
Series continue to evolve as a means of conveying messages on a subject.
Chain reaction series celebrates the beautiful varied linkage of chains.
Going to market series celebrates the tradition of transporting products on the head.
Blessings from the Earth series incorporate elements of our natural world, feathers, shells, antlers and seeds.
Sounds of Silence series incorporates elements from the sea.