The Wild Feminine

I aim to write about other artists and venues for the purpose of mutual encouragement, so the topic of this post is my fellow sculptor and “soul sister” Alisa Looney, from the wilds of Oregon, out near Bend.

Alisa Looney and I met online through the Pacific Northwest Sculptors Association,

based in Portland. We sealed our friendship in a monthly online women’s support group

with an organization called “Tree Sisters,” dedicated to reforesting the planet and

empowering women.

Alisa and I discovered that besides being figurative sculptors, we have dance in

common; and additionally, we both are steeped in personal growth training and

exploration.

Alisa’s artwork is both powerful and lyric, a perfect expression of the Wild Feminine.

Like my sculptural forms, hers undulate with dynamic movement. Her work runs from

vibrant, large, welded steel forms to exquisite small “drawings” that are enameled upon

metal. Here are examples of each style that she makes.

Nesting Maiden, enamel (glass) on steel form. Dimensions: 15 x 7.75 x 8.25 inches

Choosing from Within, powder coated steel. Dimensions: H 78.5” x W 61” x D 36”

In 2022, Alisa Looney and I enjoyed collaborating to make a joint sculpture for the Pacific Northwest Sculptors Association. She sent me a lovely little dancing man of painted steel. I am impressed by how Alisa can use flat, cut-out planar shapes pierced for transparency and attached in such a sensitive way as to create a feeling of pure movement. I ended up making two simple dance figures of copper wire mesh to complement her figure. We decided Alisa’s man must be Apollo.

Apollo and the Sun Dancers, painted steel, copper mesh and copper wire. Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 6 inches.

Apollo and the Sun dancers, second view.

Please check out Alisa’s website: https://alisalooney.com and follow her on Instagram: https://.instagram.com/alisalooney