Artist: Cindy Jenkins
Medium: Winter stone on granite base
Dimensions: 7'' x 23'' x 7''

Bidding on this artwork will take place at the Live Auction event, Friday, April 10. Tickets available at the link at dvsa.ca. Absentee bids can also be placed in advance – request a form at the school office or email bid@dvsa.ca.

About This Piece
This piece is about the model herself, Izzy Diaz. Izzy modelled in the warm breezes of Costa Rica. She stood under the shade of a pavilion far up a mountain side with glorious views. What looked like an abandoned concrete block construction project was the only other sign of possible human activity. Birds and monkeys trilled and hollered throughout the warm day. A strong breeze blew the cotton gauze curtains, twisting them inward and crowding the space. With Izzy’s permission the curtains were tied back to allow the breeze to blow through the pavilion. Izzy soaked up the experience admitting she could find no better location for her work as a life model. It wasn’t long after when male voices could be heard and suddenly work had resumed on the abandoned concrete block rooftop. Hammers and saws sounded unintentional and sporadic unlike the usual rhythms of a determined work crew. One by one the men appeared after climbing a tower to gain a view of the pavilion. The beautiful Izzy giggled but maintained her pose while the curtains were closed and tightly tied shut.

Biography
Returning to DVSA in retirement, I took to the clay studio. From there, the Director Claire Loughheed suggested private sculpture lessons with the Dundas sculptor Les Drysdale. After learning modelling and casting techniques, I began travelling to modelling sessions in the USA and participated in the weekly Guelph Sculpture group. I love to internalize the movements and attitudes of the models and for a short time live vicariously through them. Models and people in general are the inspiration. Following the historic practice of figure drawing and figure sculpting one never stops learning, developing techniques or ideas. My education has been gained through many classes at DVSA, online drawing instruction and at studios such as Toronto’s Al Green Sculpture School. In the USA I've studied with Phillipe Faraut, Rick Casali, Leroy Transfield, Brian Booth-Craig, Kevin Chambers, Alicia Ponzio, Robert Bowden and Grzegorz Gwiazda.