Joyce Cutler-Shaw

My subjects are of the natural world, of human nature and the built environment within nature.  Recent works include Of Water and the River: Meditations on the Rio Grande, a two-year project for a New Mexico State University exhibition that explored the complex issues of water in the Southwest.  Other recent permanent installations were titled Lightlines and Birds in Flight for a Carnegie Library rebuild in East San Jose, California, which included light-edge images of tree leaves and a calligraphy of native wild birds of that region.

A previous public sculpture was for the Mission Valley Library in San Diego, which had as its theme “the river.”  The San Diego River, though within viewing distance, was hidden from sight.  The sculpture paid homage to river bank trees.  Titled The Sycamore Leaf Canopy, it was awarded the San Diego AIA 2002 Design Award.  It is composed of eight structural columns, each with arching, cut steel panels. It has light projected leaf shadows cast upon the barrel roof to bring the outdoors in.