Rush Lake sculptor archives the natural world

In a unique twist on sculpting, Gladys Wozny Siemens of Rush Lake captures the magic and detail of the natural world.  

Siemens took to the Art Gallery of Swift Current on Friday evening for a public reception of her exhibition, The Archival Shore. 

“If you ever go to High Field Dam, and if you see an older lady walking around with coveralls and a kerchief and carrying some pails, it's me,” Siemens said. “And what I'm doing is looking at the ground and I'm not only looking for animal tracks--I'm looking for textures, shapes, some kind of composition that I see on the ground that interests me.” 

She compared herself to a photographer that composes their photos through a viewfinder; scoping out the perfect spot in the earth to pour plaster.  

Each cast documents a unique story of the natural world, from bird strikes where predator found prey, to cougar tracks from where its paws were imprinted in her garden.

Siemens took folks on an artist tour, telling the stories and inspiration behind each piece. 

Words and letters are a common theme among her pieces, but Siemens also incorporates shapes.

"To me, letters and geometric forms are like our footprints," she said. "For me to mark the ground with those kinds of things is almost like trying to connect with the natural world, which we belong to, and which I love so much."

While from afar the casts are a wonder to look at, they are another thing entirely when viewed up close; details from the sharpness of claw marks to tiny shells, to the brush of a wing to scrambled words, are revealed to the keen eye.

To complete the night, there were snacks and refreshments as well as live music by local talent Dillon Currie.

The Archival Shore is on display at the Art Gallery of Swift Current until March 18.