The Canadian Champion, Friday, January 13, 2006 - B1 Scuiptor brings 'whimsical characters' to life Clay crelations quickly grow into thriving endeavour By STEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion W hen local artist Marlene Kawalez sculpted her first character, she could hardly believe someone wanted it. This was no flawlessly-featured porce- lain doli she had brought to life, to say the least. "She svas a homely, older-looking balle- rina svîth the grace of a fariner and big, ugly fecî. Ms Kawalez said. But she was comical and possessed an inner joy that brought her to life in a svay perfection couldn'i. In many svays. Ms Kasvalez saîd. the sculpture ss'as a self-por- trait. Soon she birthed another character. And another. Thar was just a couple of years ago. Today. the artsi selîs her polymer dlay "ssý,himsîcal characters.' as shc caîls them. across Canada and the United States and esen has devoted collectors. Each character is a tangible figmet ot her imagination. painsiakingly deîailed ssith hand-sesvn clothes and life-like hair. A character cas take up to 40 hours to complete and can be as sinali as six inches tall. -I love faces. One of my passions is cap- turing an expression, a feeling." Ms Kawalez said, adding, "'i overly sensi- tive. 50 I tend to, study people." On her Web site, her sculptures are dîvid- ed into the following categories: divas and fancy ladies, fainies and butterfiies, fun and fantasy, and swinging seniors. One of the "swinging seniors" is Cinderella Senior, a delicate. grey-haired womnan wearing a powder bine party dress and holding up a glass slipper. Beside her is this description: "It has been 50 years since Cinderella and Prince Charning have been wed. Aliter 10 children and 25 grandehil- dren, her dress is too snug and the slipper no longer fiLs." once again. Cinderella Senior's joy seemas to radiale, froin within despite the toîl life has taken on her outer self. Although one mnight be tempted te, raIl "She was a homely, old- Iooking ballerina with the grace of a farmer and big, ugly feet."e ..M......................... the characters dolîs. Ms Kawalez cringes ai the term, svhich seems to strip themn ot their creativity and artistry. She has a difficult enough time gaining recognition in art cîr- cles. with shows seldorn having a category tor her to enter. "Its flot acknow ledged as an art form.' Ms Kasvalez said of polymer dlay sculp- tures. 'Mat frustration recently caused the local artist to branch oui. She's nosv splitting her turne between polymer dlay and "*regular" clay - creaîing earthensvare and sioneware people. -1 svanîed the recognition as an arist,- saîd Ms Kawalez. a meniber of the Fine Arts Society of Milton. Thai move paid off recenîly when Ms Kawvalez was told, much to her surprise. that a piece she'd submitied to a juried art shosw ai the Mîssissauga Art Gallery had received an honourable mention. It was chosen in mnid-Decensber from among 5(0) subruissions to be dîsplayed for seseral monîhs -untîl February 4 -ai the gallery. Regardless of ihe matenial she uses. Ms Kasvalez said the whimsy thaî's corne to define her pieces remains. 'Me dlay sculpture that garnered the judges' attention ai the art show is a smil- ing womnan. "She's flot even an attractive womnan," Ms Kawalez said, explaining she found a photo of her subject in a magazine. "She just looked s0 happy. She was smiling s0 much you could see her tongue, upper and Iower teeth." This isn't the norm. the artisi said. se. NOT on page B3 ~% ~BeAirrave[cS IIIIIIIIIIIoIII places... for le,9s! Holguin Ck mig. AIkimC lXtapa M bouai 1 wk - AU hIctusive i ia l57 wo k Aut i N cuaslv,.n 17 $599-s$ee, Tampico 1 wk * AU Inclusive je, 18 LOS Cabos i Wk - AU lnIiuV. J,, 23 Club Nu». fle Caste Magice Lau.. Cameu cos $ 6 2 9 i52-71Wk -AirCCis#gM Me Jan -12 $649 Q"ý bui. Puert Pilea AMme Flaya Dr 58 99.-'-ý-r IW -Ic*lndUSlVe jan 18 ~67 9' Manzenillo(mexSo BSl Cencun I wk * AN Incluive j-,a 2o 8 H"' k N nlsv J,2 Puerto Valert;a I wk -Au Inusiuuve ion, i Acapulco i wk aAInclusive ion ia Club subothmao Mod $6 9 ý471Wk * NJI ImidUSIVe J," 25 Las Tronw Goumas La Romane i ýýT'ý wk - Ai' Inclusive 16 23 Red YMUcn cmoé COUI Bookonfne oda at elartr$749om TO*] FRE 1-8 8-BEL&' I ~ ezo, flou. Leai Soki 0107 Q Photos by GRAHAM PAINE Sculptor Mariano Kawalez shows off somne of her work. Mirasol Spanish Services Rosemanj Davisoi4 BA., MA., B.E. kmwtig Iis0teNig & X - Tltlnuclvte Plaeoi .Dvionai90-86.05 Lear SpaiahfBune7fave or F%à Show off your preclous pet in the Canacian Champions monthly section of Champion Pet Showcase. If your pet is chosen as "Pet of the Month" ~~you WIN a gift certificate frorr oneO of th~e participating Send in photos to: ICtâfilm I 875 Main St. E. P.O. Box 248 I Milton, ON L9T 4N9. or e-mail to: smniller@miltoncanadianchampion.com