Star York is recognized as the premiere figurative Western and wildlife sculptors in the country and she will be featured as the next artist in the Edwina and Charles Milner Women In the Arts Lecture Series.
The lecture will take place on Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. in Light Hall Auditorium with a pre-lecture reception at 5:30 p.m.
York has won numerous Best of Show awards and has been featured on several magazine covers including Southwest Art, which selected her as one of the most influential artists to have been profiled in 30 years.
Star will tell the story of her life and her discoveries through her bronzes. Since moving to the Southwest in 1985, she has created a vast body of work that reflects her interest in the people, animals, environment and history of the region.
A continuing source of inspiration comes from her exploration of the native peoples of the area – Navajo, Apache, Hopi and Pueblo – in addition to the wildlife and unique rock art. She is a part of a new group of artists who are reworking the stereotypical Western subjects. “Using Native American imagery as a vehicle for expressing certain themes,” she states, “carries great symbolic and emotional impact. The Western myth is very much a part of our collective psyche as Americans and, as such, communicates a strong message.”
On Friday, April 22, York will facilitate a student workshop demonstrating of the use of clay, wood and wax, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Chino Building 111. Included will be techniques, armature building, and things to keep in mind to simplify the casting of a piece. Silicone molds will be on hand to show how sculpture looks coming out of the mother molds as well as the investment molds in their raw state. There will be examples of the range of metal choices available at foundries, patinas and other techniques for finishes.
The event is sponsored by the WNMU Office of Cultural Affairs and the Western Institute For Lifelong Learning (WILL).
For more information, visit http://wnmu.edu/culture.