She Who Stands and Waits

Sculpture by 

Ellen Woodbury

Sivec Marble on Marble 11 x 5 x 5 inches

Completed May, 2012

The title of this sculpture is a derivation of the last line in the poem, “On His Blindness,” by John Milton—“They also serve who only stand and wait.”  Milton was contemplating his feelings of usefulness after going blind.  I take the line in the context of the poem to mean that each being has his/her own validity in life simply through the fact of existence.  We all have the right to be here. 

True patience is not one of my natural abilities.  Many of my friends see what I do as an animator and as a stone sculptor as requiring massive amounts of patience.  It is not patience that allows me to create intricate work at a snail’s pace.  All that creation-time is spent enjoying the process, envisioning the final artwork, and daydreaming about the next sculpture I will make.  

I do stand and wait for validation.  Each year I apply to several national art shows and I wait (sort of) patiently for the jury results.  This year my wait was rewarded when White Lightning (see ermine below) was accepted into the Society of Animal Artists’ 52^nd Annual Exhibition on Art and the Animal.  My first time in this prestigious venue, and I am absolutely delighted!  The show is at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum in Oradell, New Jersey, and will run from September 1 through December 31, 2012. 

In other news, my outdoor sculpture, “See Through Other Eyes:  Spotted Owl,” was recently installed in Highlands Ranch, CO, for June 2012-2013.  The owl is beautifully displayed in front of the Highlands Ranch Library, which is part of a gorgeous municipal park with gardens and recreational fountains (in which one can cavort if one so chooses.)

White Lightning
sculpture by Ellen Woodbury

See Through Other Eyes:  Spotted Owl
sculpture by Ellen Woodbury

See Through Other Eyes:  Spotted Owl
in front of the Highlands Ranch Public Library
Highlands Ranch, CO

All images and text Copyright 2012 by Ellen Woodbury
She Who Stands and Waits, White Lightning photos by Mel Schockner
See Through Other Eyes:Spotted Owl photos by Ellen Woodbury