Shell Girl c. 1910

Janet Scudder cast this bronze sculpture of a playful child, called Shell Girl, sometime in the late 19th or early 20th century. There is a lovely energy in the way the light catches the curves of the bronze, highlighting the textures of the surface. It’s like watching a performance where the artist has captured a fleeting moment of joy, the feeling of a summer afternoon spent playing by the water. The green patina is gorgeous. The way the color pools in the recessed areas is beautiful. It reminds me of the work of Auguste Rodin who was, of course, working at a similar time. There is something very honest about leaving the marks of the process visible, it's like a dance between control and chance. Art isn't about answers, it's about keeping the conversation going.