Sculptor Leslie Fry [Stuck in Vermont 644]
Leslie Fry has been making art since she was a girl growing up in Stowe. By high school, she had started sculpting. Over the last five decades, she has been experimenting with a variety of mediums and art forms. Her otherworldly mythological beings are adorned with intricate details and always turned out in exquisite footwear. Leslie has exhibited her work internationally, but many locals know her Pomerleau Neighborhood Park sphinx sculptures on Shelburne Road. A recent book with text by William Lipke chronicles the artist’s career over the years. Eva met up with Leslie at her Winooski home and studio, where she also has a lush sculpture garden that’s open by appointment. She worked on a plaster pedestal for her latest bird woman sculpture, “Arise,” which was recently cast in bronze.
Uniting States
A performance between artists Leslie Fry and Isabel Cervenka-Wenkstetten as part of their collaborative project
Foreign Affairs — Austria/United States — Steps to Hope.
The Avenue Concept, Artist Highlight: Leslie Fry
In collaboration with The Avenue Concept’s 2019 Public Sculpture program, Leslie Fry installed her bronze sculpture, Nestbuilder, in downtown Providence. It depicts a bird-woman building her nest on a curving pillar that integrates a variety of imagery symbolizing building, creativity, growth, hope and home. Here she explains her inspiration for depicting strong, positive female images
Lists and Dreams
Lists and Dreams is an artwork about daily life. Created for opposite facing walls in the artist’s home, the two-part sculpture is made out of to-do lists, lottery tickets, and written-down dreams. We try to give shape to our lives, which are often opposing elements of what we have to do (our lists) and what we dream of. In this sculpture, the two become one.
Bird Head
I meant to draw this enchanting baby cardinal but made a little video instead. Art and life collide as usual — the video is bookended with 2 images of “bird head” sculptures I made in 2007.
Drawing Birds
I innocently came to draw the birds, but one little charmer in particular took over! Please note that at the end of the video there is an admonition that it’s not a good idea for these young birds to get too human friendly (which I didn’t realize at the beginning). They are being cared for until they are well enough to be released back into the wild. Lesson learned.
Black Eyed Susan
This animation is about the imaginary life of a flower with star power. Fry created this animation during a course at Penland School of Crafts called Sculpture in Motion, taught by Cristina and Arturo Cordova. Her sculpture is ceramic with articulated joints, and the process is stop motion animation.
Uplift
Animation of one of Fry’s works on paper, in collaboration with DolDol Production.
Hands On
Watch one of Fry’s large collages come to life! Thanks to Doldol Company for their animation.
Foolish Ship
Another Fry collage come to life! Thanks to Doldol Company: Miyoung Kim and Sungjae Lee for the animation.
Voyage
Giving Fry’s works on paper new lives through animation by Doldol Production.
Apollonian versus Dionysian
Presenter Leslie Fry on her art career, ‘creative compost’ and Apollonian versus Dionysian. PechaKucha Night Burlington, Volume 27, was held in the Marble Court at the Fleming Museum.
PechaKucha Night (PKN) is a worldwide phenomenon that began in 2003 in Tokyo. It offers the opportunity for a broad range of participants to present their projects, ideas, and passions at a fun, informal, and fast-paced gathering. PKN uses a quick and concise 20 x 20 presentation format that allows presenters to show 20 images, each for 20 seconds.
PKN BTV Vol. 16: Leslie Fry
Sculptor Leslie Fry presents at Burlington’s 16th PechaKucha Night held at the Fleming Museum. Her focus is on sculpture for places and in architecture.
PKN BTV Vol. 11: Leslie Fry
Watch Leslie Fry on her installation What’s Wrong with the World? at Pecha Kucha BTV 2013.
US Embassy Vienna
Foreign Affairs: Austria-USA, Diplomacy through Arts Alliances
Leda
My one and only Super 8 film made when I was a UVM student (1973-ish). Based on Yeats’ poem, Leda and the Swan, Zeus appears as a white car (instead of a swan “seducing” Leda) in this purposely silly film starring Sarah Robards.