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Frankie Kangas was 9
years old when she saw a showing of the works of
Michangelo in a museum. She recalls "I was hooked on
sculpture from the day I set eyes on his work. From then
on I dreamed of someday working in clay and creating
pieces like his. Why clay? I don't know. All I know is
that all of my life, I've imagined myself working with
clay."
But Frankie spent the first half of her life building a
successful business career in Silicon Valley. At age of
48 Frankie retired from business, moved to Fort Bragg,
and began taking art classes at the College of the
Redwoods. Her initial training in sculpture gave Frankie
the opportunity to work with a variety of media: wood,
stone, wire, wax, bronze, cement and clay. Frankie found
that working with clay was her true vocation, turning
vision into reality.
She explains, "Working with clay satisfies some deep
tactile sense in me. I've found I do my best work when I
can include both additive and subtractive modes, which
isn't possible with many other media. I like being able
to push and pull, pinch and twist -- to manipulate the
clay into whatever shape I want at any time I want."
Frankie's sculptures incorporate a variety of finishing
techniques -- raku, saggar, horsehair and feathers,
stains and underglazes, plus both low-fire and high-fire
glazes. Most of Frankie's work is either stylized animal
figures, including lions, bears and "fu dogs" (Chinese
temple lions) or abstract garden sculpture.
In addition to her continuing art classes and almost
obsessive research, Frankie is studying under the
tutelage of an accomplished local sculptor.
Frankie donates 10% of her sculpture sales to the
National Wildlife Federation to help save Polar Bears
from extinction and the other endangered wildlife
species. She also donates 10% of her Internet sales to
Big Cat Rescue.
Please visit my other site: http://www.sculpturesbyfrankie.com
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