Joyce Cutler-Shaw
The Rio Grande at Broad Canyon: What Shall We Do When the River Runs Dry?, digital prints, 2009
Near Elephant Butte: What Shall We Do When the River Runs Dry?, digital prints, 2009
At Elephant Butte: When the River Runs Dry, artists slide book, 2009
After the Fires in Seldon Canyon, artists slide book, 2009
The Sycamore Leaf Canopy, public commissioned work, Mission Valley Library, San Diego, California, 2002
The Railing of Wild River Grasses and The Sycamore Leaf Canopy, public commissioned works, Mission Valley Library, San Diego, California, 2002
Lightlines with The East Carnegie Calligraphy, public commissioned works, East San Jose Carnegie Library, East San Jose, California, 2009
Birds in Flight, public commissioned work, East San Jose Carnegie Library, East San Jose, California, 2009
The Open Cage of Wild Birds and Grasses, commissioned work, Stonecrest Village, San Diego, California, 1999
The Fence of Wild Grasses, commissioned work overlooking Lopez Canyon Nature Preserve, Sorrento Mesa, California, 1998
My subjects are of the natural world, of human nature and the built environment within nature. Â 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. Â 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.” Â The San Diego River, though within viewing distance, was hidden from sight. Â The sculpture paid homage to river bank trees. Â Titled The Sycamore Leaf Canopy, it was awarded the San Diego AIA 2002 Design Award. Â 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.