|
|
Family Reunion, 1982-1984, 60"x108"x12"
six cast-bronze horse-birds,
six railroad-ties, six black-wood bases

History
The six "horse-birds," in
Family Reunion, are the result of much artistic trial and error.
There were many challenges to resolve as
the series progressed from
Animus
and Best Foot
Forward. Even though, aesthetically,
each horse-bird can stand alone, the six are shown as a unit,
representing Nannette's family from her youth.
Bird # 1
(far left) is
the last of the six to be created and
the
only bird with a mane. This bird represents
Nannette, and is
significant because the mane continues into
her
next
series.
Her father,
Bird # 2,
stands proud and ready to protect his family.
Her mother,
Bird # 6,
sits on the tallest base (far right) surveying
her family unit. The remaining three birds are
Nannette's siblings.
While pondering how to present the six birds,
Nannette saw a group of sea gulls swooping down to land on their
respective pylons; she thought of her siblings living in different areas
of the country and "flying in" to see their parents. It seemed right to
have her bronze birds sitting on pylons as well. To simulate the pylons, Nannette searched for old railroad ties. Care
was taken to wash, dry, and fumigate them. Once all the moisture was
removed, in this first stage of preparation, she could fill the
crevices and apply many layers of clear protective coating. Each tie
was then screwed to it's new home, a black square base.
2004:
Family Reunion was
included in an exhibit,
A Selection of Works by Seven Maryland Sculptors,
at the
Governor's Mansion
in Annapolis MD. Artwork was chosen from College
Park's permanent collection. |
1989: Donated, by the Mano Swartz
Family, to the
Permanent Collection of Maryland Artists;
housed at the
University of Maryland Adult Center, College Park, MD

Finished wax horse-birds, ready for the
casting process
 |
|