Interview With Diana Shepherd

             

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Meet Diana Shepherd, one of my friends and one of the most phenomenal sculptresses on the scene today.  Diana has won several awards  for her work, all the way from Korea to St. Augustine, Florida where she is currently living.

Diana working on a piece in Albuquerque, New Mexico    

Awards

Jacksonville Coalition for the Visual Arts

Juried Fall Show Oct. 5-27, 2011

Gallery L, Wells Fargo Bldg.

Jacksonville, Florida

“Best in Show”

“Three Sisters, Happy, Joy and Free” Bronze sculpture

 

Juror Jason John, Asst. Prof. of Painting and Drawing, UNF

Juror’s statement:

“Throughout all the pieces of this particular exhibition, three pieces really stood out to me.  Diana Shepherd’s “Three sisters, Happy, Joy and Free” was remarkable for the piece’s depiction of individual expression when overcoming a difficult life obstacle.  I might not be able to articulate what the 3 sister’s were celebrating, but my mind contemplated the celebration of a true life victory.  I believe that all good art sends us into a direction without completely answering all the questions for the viewer.  As a viewer I wanted to know the reason for the celebration, but not knowing why the three sister’s were so ecstatic, made me content with the moment and enjoy this celebration for what it is.”

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10th annual Tactile Art Show

October 7th-30th

St. Augustine Art Association

“Best in Show Jean Wagner Troemel Award”

“Esmerelda and her Little dog Toto”

 

Juror, Nofa F Dixon, Assoc. Prof.

Dept. of Art and Design, Univ. of North Florida

Juror’s Statement;

I always enjoy the process of evaluating artwork for exhibitions.  It is a task I take very seriously.  I take into consideration the skill level, good use of material, consistency, the overall aesthetic of the work and how well it fits into the theme of the exhibition.   Usually the element of texture can be real or implied.  However in this show, given the purpose of the exhibit, the texture is very real.  Although this exhibit was less complicated than most to judge, I found that assigning awards was somewhat challenging.  I considered the level of sophistication of the work, it’s presentation and overall presence, as well as the introduction of humor to be important factors in the selection process.  I personally enjoyed the award winning pieces and want to commend all of the artists for their innovation and outstanding work.

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CLAY, COLLAGE & CUTTING EDGE

March 4-27, 2011

St. Augustine Art Association

Second Place

“Red Hot Mama” Bathing Beauty

 

Juror, Alain Hentschel

Dean of Florida School of Arts Palatka, Florida

Newer Work

Interview with Diana Shepherd

   

Diana's pieces have always held a facination for me and when my blog started to take its direction towards discovering the "cool" factor in aging, I knew I wanted to present Diana to you.  She was excited to participate but I was really excited!.  

 I kept thinking of several of her pieces that depict women in a very unique way. I asked her what had inspired her to work with this particular theme. Here's what she told me.

I have always had a strong interest in the human form and how it communicates stories to us.  Through joy, contemplation, tragedy or an endless variety of human experiences, the figure, in it’s complexity, is a never ending source of fascination.  I find it intriguing how one can change a thought or emotion by the slightest manipulation of the clay.  Through sculpting the human figure I work to find a connection with the viewer.  My goal is to draw the viewer in, to relate their own stories through a shared emotion.  Sculpting the human form fills my imagination with possibilities and gives me a wonderful resource with which to communicate to the world.

About my work with the "Ladies"

“Best in Show” Jean Wagner Troemell Award

“Water Goddess’s”

These current pieces came about because I am dealing with becoming a woman "of a certain age".  I still feel vibrant and young, even though my body belies this certain fact, along with the mirror.  As my waistline expanded and my skin has become loose with extra lines, my bones creak and aches and pains have become part of my daily life, I notice that I have become"invisible" where I used to turn heads and attract attention on occasion.  Yet this is the point in life where I have done "it"...I have raised my children (and husband)...I have worked at a career to build a life...my obligations are diminished and I am able to relax at bit and enjoy the fruits of my labor.  I don't take things so seriously and have learned to deal with life on life's terms so much better.  Most aspects of life are without a doubt much more enjoyable...except for this age/body thing.  I look around at my peers and my future maturity and am finding an acceptance into this new phase of life.  This acceptance comes through my work...sculpting natural women that are full of joy, self acceptance and self esteem.  These sculptures are who I want to become.  There is a part of me in each of them as I struggle with my ego at not being a sweet young thing.  Reaching for the beauty of maturing in its entire.
In the Water Goddesses I have the Queen Bee, who is full of confidence and will be nobody's doormat!  She boldly jumps into life ready for new experiences not to be intimidated by anything.  Then there is the "Pampered Princess", (who of us doesn't want to be?!).  She has been there and done her part and now she has the expectation of being able to kick back and allow others to take care of things.  She will demand her due!  And then there is "Home Girl".  I am what I am is her motto.  She loves to laugh and tell dirty jokes.  Down to earth, with a live and let live attitude, she lives to love.  These are my hero's, who I strive to become, a vision of goals for myself.  I have been told to visualize what you want.  Through sculpting these particular figures I am seeking self acceptance and a direction to work toward.
With the "Bathing Beauties", once again I am working toward self acceptance, but in more of a sexual nature.  Along with this "maturity" comes a certain aspect of being both desirable with all the sags and rolls ("Red Hot Mama"), but also still has the ability to desire others ("Oh My...)!   We aren't dead yet girls!  There is beauty in aging that I am striving to grow in my own life.

-Diana Shepherd

As you can see, Diana is super talented and has converged with her muse to depict women in a new way.  I hope you enjoyed meeting my dear friend and that you'll visit her website. Until next time, Aloha.

Time has gone by.....

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Across the Mountains, Across the Sea

Its really true, those things which seem insurmountable and certainly not within my reach are those that take patience, healing, quiet and tons of fortitude. That's what this blog represents for me.   This blog is going to be about leaving Albuquerque, New Mexico and going to Hawaii.  Its going to be about all the changes the trip has put me through and how I've navigated the constant stresses.  Its also about being 61 and having what I call, a reluctant body. For instance, when I started out, I was going to the gym several times a week, walking the dogs on open trails everyday, hanging out with friends, going to AA meetings, eating out a couple of times a week, shopping at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's, going to the mall when I wanted and having a regular spiritual group.  When I left Albuquerque, I left all that behind.  

Our trip started out at a Motel 6 in Albuquerque.  The movers had come that day and the house was almost empty.  We wanted to go back the next day and have my dear Dora (housekeeper) clean and just make the place look good. Nobody slept well.  Not my husband, not I, or our two dogs or the cat.  The following day, we had to lift the bed up off its platform and scrape little Ling out of the box springs where she had hidden.  There'd been gunshots in the night, the place was filthy, people screaming, just generally not good.  Sam, my husband, had a friend that had told him that Motel 6 was great and that they didn't charge for dogs.  They should have actually paid us for staying there.  That was when we learned that our cat, Ling, knew a good place from a bad.  When we left Albuquerque, we only made it as far as Gallup (that's about an hour or so away). I saw La Quinta Inn and I fell in love.  There was a little dog park, a swimming pool, the room was sparkling clean, the bed was great, I loved it and they didn't charge for dogs; Ling never crawled under the mattress there. The rest of the trip was like this, full of ups and downs.  We were heading to Phoenix where our friend had a house that we were going to stay in for 3 weeks to wait out the dog's quarantine. (long story, you'll have to read Sam's book) 

We stayed in a little suburb of Phoenix called Gold Canyon. I will never forget that wonderful reprieve from all the stress we'd been under selling the house and moving.  I was still almost to the point of being terrified about the dogs and having them fly.  The last plane trip from Hawaii had been really bumpy and that was all I could think about.  While in Gold Canyon, I decided that my only source of healing was to do a shamanic journey. (research Sandra Ingerman, if you'd like) That journey was amazing.  Thousands of dolphins came to me and told me not to worry.  They told me that they would carry the plane from La to Hawaii themselves. I believed them.  I have to tell you that the flight from LAX to Kona was the smoothest trip I'd ever had.  I don't think there was one bump.  I felt that a special relationship with the dolphins had been formed and I was so grateful.

I think by this time, I was starting to get worn out.  I had been on the road one month.  I was living out of a suitcase and my entire world was different.