DONNA DODSON
ARTIST's 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 ancient iconography and mythological imagery.
Donna Dodson's ZODIAC will be traveling to the the Noyes Art Museum at Stockton University in NJ June 13th - September 23rd 2018 and then onto the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton Mass. Feb 2nd - May 19th 2019.
Zodiac is a series of 24 sculptures: 12 representing the Eastern Zodiac or lunar cycle- Year of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Warthog and 12 representing the Western Zodiac or sun signs- Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius.
EDUCATION:
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 1986-1990
GRANTS AND AWARDS:
Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant, 2017
Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers, Education Grant, 2014
Art in Nature, 1st Place Prize, Fruitlands Museum, 2013
George Sugarman Foundation Grant, 2007
9th International Open,” 2nd Place Prize, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2006
“1st Annual Juried Exhibition,” 1st Place Prize, Blackstone River Gallery, Woonsocket, RI, 2005
“Fall Salon,” Board of Director’s Choice Award Winner, Cambridge Art Association, MA, 2004
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA 2017
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton MA 2016
Provincetown Art Museum, MA 2014
Davistown Museum, Liberty, ME 2013
Dana Hall School, Wellesley, MA 2012
York University, Toronto, Ontario Canada 2009
Museum of Modern Art, Artists Space Artists File , New York, NY, 2006
Museum of Modern Art, Franklin Furnace Artist Book Collection, NY, NY, 2003
Donna Dodson's ZODIAC will be traveling to the the Noyes Art Museum at Stockton University in NJ June 13th - September 23rd 2018 and then onto the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton Mass. Feb 2nd - May 19th 2019.
Zodiac is a series of 24 sculptures: 12 representing the Eastern Zodiac or lunar cycle- Year of the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Warthog and 12 representing the Western Zodiac or sun signs- Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius.
EDUCATION:
Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 1986-1990
GRANTS AND AWARDS:
Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant, 2017
Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers, Education Grant, 2014
Art in Nature, 1st Place Prize, Fruitlands Museum, 2013
George Sugarman Foundation Grant, 2007
9th International Open,” 2nd Place Prize, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2006
“1st Annual Juried Exhibition,” 1st Place Prize, Blackstone River Gallery, Woonsocket, RI, 2005
“Fall Salon,” Board of Director’s Choice Award Winner, Cambridge Art Association, MA, 2004
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
Art Complex Museum, Duxbury, MA 2017
Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton MA 2016
Provincetown Art Museum, MA 2014
Davistown Museum, Liberty, ME 2013
Dana Hall School, Wellesley, MA 2012
York University, Toronto, Ontario Canada 2009
Museum of Modern Art, Artists Space Artists File , New York, NY, 2006
Museum of Modern Art, Franklin Furnace Artist Book Collection, NY, NY, 2003
