HEIDI WASTWEET

My sculptures invite you to think and to touch. ...No, really, I mean it... I encourage the viewer to reach out and touch them to feel the surface textures, feel the temperature of the metal, connect with it. No “do not touch” signs in my studio! 

In a world that can be disheartening I create art to speak and tell stories, in a unique beautiful way. I am perpetually inspired by my travels, the world around me and it’s people. A sort of visual social anthropology. It is important to me to give the viewer something they can relate to, something they can see part of themselves in. 

I always work in a representational style and frequently employ symbolism in subjects that deal with the many faceted human condition. 

The art school classroom was never for me. With books and museums I built my autodidactic education firmly on the masters of the Renaissance, but I am much influenced as well by modern work. These influences guide my evolution of style into a balanced contradiction of classic and contemporary.

I am absolutely fascinated with bas-relief sculpture because it is remarkable in many ways. It relies solely on the trickery of the eye, the illusion of it's depth. It is firmly planted in between the tactile qualities of statuary and the illusion possibilities of drawing, sharing skills of both. The technique allows for background images and detached detail not accomplished in traditional sculpture "in the round.” Bas Relief has long been used for architectural applications and monuments but today is an uncommon sight in galleries. Uncharted territory is always appealing to the artist and I pursue that dusty corner with enthusiasm.

My introduction to low relief sculpture came through the coin minting industry where I have worked as a designer and medallic sculptor since 1987. I have always pursued drawing and painting but found medallic sculpture came naturally, although not easy, it all made sense to me. Eventually I applied those skills to the larger format and cast them in bronze. 

After careful planning of the composition, the sculpture is made using oil clay and then finished in plaster with metal tools. The clay allows for quick, energetic build up of forms and the plaster stage accommodates sharp detail. I look for fluid lines and dynamic compositions to achieve a feeling of life and motion to pull the viewer in. 

The finished pieces are cast at a bronze foundry using the lost wax technique. I work closely with the foundry in the final stages to insure each detail is as intended and often apply the final patina myself. I like working with bronze because it is a rich sophisticated medium that will stand the test of time to live on for many years to come, ...many years beyond me.  

Infrared Black & White Photography

 My first camera at the age of 8 was a small, old back & white thing that I ran around with obsessively capturing details of my young existence. Coming around full circle today I do much the same on only a slightly different scale. When it comes to equipment I prefer to keep it simple and concentrate on the image.

 What was at one point intended to be a simple gathering of material for artwork reference blossomed  into a separate series of art in and of itself. I love the maddeningly sensitive infrared film which records only the infrared light rays. I find this fascinating! To record what is not visible to the naked eye is like finding hidden treasure under your nose.

 Traveling is one of my greatest pleasures and serves as the subject of these photos whether it be far or close to home. Traveling gives me perspective and lessons I carry with me everywhere.

 The majority of the final prints are printed on color photo paper in a sepia like tone to add a deep warmth to the image.

Heidi Wastweet

Residence : Seattle, WA, since 2003

                  Coeur d'Alene ID, USA 1972 - 2003

Born : California 1969

Exhibits :    

                Jade Moon - Featured Artist - Ellensburg WA - Jan. 2007

                Form Space Light Gallery - Pacific NW Sculptors group show - Seattle WA - Dec-March 2006-2007

                SOFA - Chicago - Nov 2006

                Sam Day Gallery - "Women by Women" group show - Seattle WA July 2006

                Sam Day Gallery - solo exhibit, new works - Seattle WA - Nov-Dec 2005

                Sam Day Gallery - "Women by Women" group show - Seattle WA - Jun-Aug 2005

                Mercer Island Art Gallery - local artist group show - Mercer Island WA - Mar 2005

                Forest Lawn Museum - AMSA Exhibit - group show - Los Angeles. CA - Jan 2005

                Art Spirit Gallery - Small Works Invitational - group exhibit - Coeur d'Alene ID - Dec 2004

                Sam Day Gallery - solo exhibit - Seattle WA - Oct. 2004

                Nordic Heritage Museum - American Medallic Sculpture Assoc show - Seattle WA - June-Aug  2004

                Spokane Club - three person show - Spokane WA - Sept-Dec 2003

                Raw Space - group exhibit - Spokane WA - Feb 2003

                Pen and Brush Club 56th Annual Juried Sculpture and Medallic Art Exhibit - New York NY -April 2002

                National Sculpture Society - group exhibit - New York NY  - Feb. 2002

                Lake City Playhouse - solo exhibit - Cd'A ID - Oct. 2001

                Art Spirit Gallery, Small Works Invitational - group exhibit - Cd'A ID  - Dec. 2000 

                Lake City Playhouse - solo exhibit - Cd'A ID - Nov. 2000

                Yoshida's Fine Art - joint exhibit - Troutdale OR - Oct. 2000

                American Academy of Equine Art - juried exhibit - Atlanta GA - 2000

                Lake City Playhouse - solo exhibit - Cd'A  ID - 1999

                Magic of Manito - juried exhibit - Spokane WA -, 1999

                Eastern Washington University - solo exhibit - Cheney WA - 1999

                Art On The Green - juried exhibit - Cd'A ID - 1996

                North Idaho College - school show - Cd'A ID - 1988

                Art On The Green - juried show - Cd'A ID - 1986

                North Idaho College - all schools show - best of show award - 1985

Current Galleries :

                 Portals Ltd., Chicago IL

                 Sam Day Studio and Gallery, Seattle WA

                 The Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur d'Alene Idaho

Public Art Commissions:

                University of Washington, Seattle WA

                Ninth Street Medical Building, Portland OR

               Cheney High School, Cheney WA

               City of Coeur d'Alene Fire Station 3, ID

Memberships:

                 Pacific Northwest Sculptors - Chapter President

                 National Sculpture Society - Associate Member

                 American Medallic Sculptor Association - Acting Treasurer

Employments : 

           Art director and medallic sculptor  for:

                 Global Minting Co., Las Vegas Nevada, 1998 - 2002

                 Sunshine Minting Co., Coeur d'Alene Idaho, 1987 - 1998

Notable Minting Clients: 

                 Aladdin Casino, Bellagio Casino, Boeing, Island Records/Willie Nelson,

                 Children's Miracle Network, Caesar's Palace, Fur Rendezvous Alaska, Hilton, The History Channel

                 Idaho Fish and Game, Lewis and Clark Festival, Luxor Casino, Mandalay Bay Casino, Mayo Clinic

                 Michigan Ducks Unlimited, New York New York Casino, Treasure Island Casino, 

                 US Forest Service, Washington Mint, Folsom State Prison, California Ducks Unlimited,

                 Hoover Dam, Los Angeles Police Department, Industrial Light and Magic, Stanford University

                 Stephen F Austin State University, NC State University

                 Medal presented to Pope John Paul II

                 Medal presented to President Gorbachev 

Education: Autodidact               

Study and Inspiration Travels : 

                 Yucatan - Mexico;  Jamaica;  Florence, Venice, Siena, Rome, Sicily - Italy; 

                 New Brunswick & Nova Scotia - Canada;  Taos & Santa Fe - New Mexico;  

                 Arizona; Utah; Colorado; New York City - New York;  San Francisco - 

                 California; Portland - Oregon;  Boston -  Massachusetts; Paris - France

                 Washington D.C.; New Orleans - Louisiana; San Juan - Puerto Rico

                 London - UK; Figueras, Granada, Seville - Spain; Portugal - London U.K. 

                Chicago, IL

Publications:

                 Coin World, Oct 2006

                 COINage, April 2005