Public Art / Bridge Projects | Sculpture for the Body | Gallery Installations | Artist's Statement | Resumé | Contact

I have worked for more than 20 years in fiber and mixed media, and, more recently, in public art. Cold, industrial materials intrigue me with their potential to be used to create objects that contain warmth and lyricism. Although materials cast off from industry and agriculture provide the raw materials for my work, the inspiration for the work comes from the landscape, my personal sense of place, and the human figure.

This website includes examples of sculptural installations created from mixed media, of sculpture for the body, and of public art. These works range from the highly structured to the more emotionally allusive and explore the translation of ubiquitous materials to the more specific and poetic.

In the examples of sculpture for the body, models interact with my sculptures or wear headdresses created from unlikely materials such as dish scrubbers, disposable plastic bags, and industrial wire meshes. These photos combine the traditions of fashion photography and of site-specific installations, the human figure being the site. Landforms are often suggestive of the human body and this association is exhibited in the sensuous undulations of hills, valleys, or rivers, and in rich coverings of vegetation that suggest hair or fur. Perceiving this human connection with the land increases our awareness of the unity of all life on earth. Creating body-related sculptures is one way of unifying my body of work.

This website also details two public art projects. The Maryland Avenue Bridge Public Art Project began early in 2001 and is commissioned by the City of Phoenix through the Phoenix Office of Art and Culture. This design team project involved collaboration with engineer Jerry Cannon to design the superstructure, ramps, and landscaping for a bicycle and pedestrian bridge over I-17 in Phoenix, Arizona. Installation for the bridge is scheduled for June, 2005. I also organized a project involving local elementary school children that will enhance the approaches to the bridge.

The BNSF Railroad Trail Bridge Project in my hometown of Fairfield, Iowa, entailed the design of artistic enhancements for the chain-link enclosure to a trail bridge spanning a railroad track. Because of modest funding, I designed a simple but dynamic steel support structure for the bridge cage, inspired by barn structures in the local agricultural community. The challenge of this project was to pay homage to the rural history of our community while designing a structure that is contemporary and elegant. Additionally, I collaborated with Fairfield High School art teacher Mark Shafer to involve his students in the creation of ceramic tiles that enhance the interior curb of the bridge. This bridge has been warmly embraced by the community.

Although the two public projects described contrast dramatically in funding and complexity, both required that I integrate elements of warmth and humanity into structures that by nature can be rigid and uninviting. They both also required that I take into account local history, budget, and community input. Public art projects have given me the opportunity to create permanent works that will be of great benefit to communities for many years, adding a significant dimension to my artistic experience and expressions.

Judy Bales