|
Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea
Sculptor Erica Kirchner to Create New line of Miniature Copper Cats at Kentucky Artisan Center
BEREA, KY. – On Saturday, August 20, Erica Kirchner of Prospect, will unveil and create her new line of copper cat sculptures called “Blue Kitties” from 10:30 – 3:30 at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.
Erica Kirchner is a graduate of the Ringling School of Art and Design in Florida and the University of Louisville. While she has background in a variety of art forms her focus is on sculpting with copper. In 2004, Erica created a line of “Blue Dogs” – miniature copper sculptures that capture the essence of individual breeds of dogs. Following the success of her “Blue Dogs," Erika is now unveiling, for the first time at the Kentucky Artisan Center, her line of miniature cats – or “Blue Kitties.”
The 420 acre farm Erica lives on in Jefferson County, serves as a natural habitat for the pond, field and woodland creatures that inspire her work. Hidden in the contours of the hills, her small log home has housed several cats, doves, and even a pet deer. Any critter that ventures into Kirchner’s studio finds itself fair game for mimicry. Erica experiments with all sizes and shapes. She explains, “If I can fold paper and make it, it can be done in metal.”
Erica’s pieces are constructed by hand from flat sheets of copper and copper tubing. The copper is cut, hammered, manipulated, and then assembled using solder and brazing techniques and an acetylene torch. The matte finish is made using copper nitrate for a verdigris green-gray patina.
Works by Erica Kirchner are regularly available at the Kentucky Artisan Center, located just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping, and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 620 artisans from all across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov
The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Commerce Cabinet of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
|