Ann Fleming Sculptural Art

Bare on Bear

And so it was that bear found her, naked and lost. “Come with me”, his warm breath sighed, “for my future too is uncertain”. And with hope she did not know she possessed, upon his back she climbed.

Silkie
There is an Irish legend of the seal people who could shift between human and seal by shedding their sealskin. They walk the earth for only a short time before returning to the sea. While they in human form they can only make contact with one person. If a man wants to keep a silkie woman, he must hide her skin. If a woman wants to call to her a silkie man she must go to the beach and shed seven tears into the sea.

“Those who don’t return become a part of the clouds, a part of the animals that hide in the ravines and of the water that comes form the earth. They become a part of everything... they become the Soul of the World.” The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho

Yoga postures take strength and control. In one posture the body is shaped like a "V" balancing on just one point. We live our lives balancing between work and play... discipline and celebration... Lady Baccus in balance.

Chrysalis

It seems that we go through life in a cocoon, deeply wrapped in the binding threads of our own making. Chrysalis is the breaking free of those threads to become the beautiful creature that she is meant to be.

Solid as a rock, yet moving in that gentle eternal rhythm of the dance of life. Call her Gaia. Call her the seasons. Call her motherhood. By whatever name, we recognize this dance and know the feel of its steps.

The Mothering Way

We become the total of our stories and we pass them along to future generations so that the richness and color of our tribe is not lost, but preserved. And though as a modern woman I have forged a new path, I can still feel the thread that ties me to those who have gone before me.

If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Antoine de Saint-Exupery(author of “The Little Prince”).

Weight of Wonder

One evening, while listening to Irish music, I saw a pregnant woman get up laboriously from her chair to leave the hall. I was not only struck by her amazing shape, but it also struck me that both the words “weight” and “wait” fit her condition. This time of patience is the passage into motherhood.

Sea Goshenite

Goshenite is the “mother of all gems”. It is a rare stone and pure white in color and from it’s source many other gems are derived. It is a hard stone, yet it can be broken.

Midori Spring

The tree growing up the back of this piece gave it its name. Midori means “green” in Japanese. I wanted to capture the sense of nurturing life that flows through the forest in the gentle spirit of a tree.

Practicing Eternity

I once was fortunate to see a Sufi Whirling Dervish perform...to watch this woman go to such a meditative place while turning and turning. The dedication to the practice struck me deeply and made me hope that one day I would have such dedication to touch the divine.

After listening to the news in my studio one day, I was inspired to try to capture what I felt the world needed...a bit of the feminine to come and mend the cracks and splits.

In Japan, the Sika deer is regarded as sacred and allowed to roam freely in the city of Nara. According to legend, protective deities arrived on the backs of a deer to protect the former Japanese capital. Now Nara protects the deer.

It is also said that “when one encounters deer, he or she should get out of the carriage and bow to them” as they are considered a sign from the gods and a good omen.

Many Irish ballads tell the story of the maiden who walks the lonely windy shores of Ireland waiting for her love to come home. This piece is about the waiting in all of us but with hope, for with this maiden is the crow....the symbol of magic.

Shortly after my son was born, I bought a piece of sculpture of a bear protecting a tiny baby. I have often wondered what it would be like to surrender all and sleep in the arms of that big bear.

Taking Things Slow

Getting on the slow belt of life sometimes takes stripping everything away and remembering the girl inside.

It has been fun watching women, especially mothers relate to this piece. They smile and nod. Derived from a yoga pose, this speaks to how we juggle our lives but it also speaks to the warrior in all women.

	2008 Bronzes
	Of Wind and Sea There is a time when the sails of a sailboat fill with the wind. There is a surge of power, a lifting and the sound of the sea splitting against the hull. And though this moment is humbling in its power, it was the spreading of wings that set it in motion.
	Onion Girl Onion Girl represents the journey of breaking through the layers that prevent us from experiencing the authentic in life. Reaching towards the light Breaking through the layers I use my true voice To say that I love you.
	How Far Love Goes You'll fly away, but take my hand until that day. So when they ask how far love goes, when my job's done you'll be the one who knows. - Dar Williams, "The One Who Knows"
	Letting Go Companion piece to "How Far Love Goes."
	Sea Sprites Companion piece to "The Mother Way."
	Generations Companion piece to "Silkie."
	A Wild Hare Sometimes, especially in the spring, there is that wonderful urge that flows up through our veins.... that itchy feet feeling.... that desire to taste life..... "The spirit is really the bouquet of life. It is not something breathed into life, it come out of life." -Joseph Campbell
	Stirrings A cold day in winter... The kitchen is warm and comfortingly familiar. Hands follow the steps of a recipe as the soul floats freed by the timeless ritual of cooking. Dreams begin to dance.
	Bare on Bear And so it was that bear found her, naked and lost. “Come with me”, his warm breath sighed, “for my future too is uncertain”. And with hope she did not know she possessed, upon his back she climbed.
	Silkie There is an Irish legend of the seal people who could shift between human and seal by shedding their sealskin. They walk the earth for only a short time before returning to the sea. While they in human form they can only make contact with one person. If a man wants to keep a silkie woman, he must hide her skin. If a woman wants to call to her a silkie man she must go to the beach and shed seven tears into the sea.
	Waiting “Those who don’t return become a part of the clouds, a part of the animals that hide in the ravines and of the water that comes form the earth. They become a part of everything... they become the Soul of the World.” The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
	Perfect Balance Yoga postures take strength and control. In one posture the body is shaped like a "V" balancing on just one point. We live our lives balancing between work and play... discipline and celebration... Lady Baccus in balance.
	2007 Bronzes
	Chrysalis It seems that we go through life in a cocoon, deeply wrapped in the binding threads of our own making. Chrysalis is the breaking free of those threads to become the beautiful creature that she is meant to be.
	Journey Begins Picking one’s path in life can sometimes bring unusual traveling companions. This piece is a story about finding one’s way.
	On the Brink “I have found that you do have to take that one step towards the gods and they will then take ten steps towards you. That first step, that first heroic step of the journey, is out of or over the edge of your boundaries....and it often must be taken before you know that you will be supported.” A Joseph Campbell Companion
	Rock of Ages Solid as a rock, yet moving in that gentle eternal rhythm of the dance of life. Call her Gaia. Call her the seasons. Call her motherhood. By whatever name, we recognize this dance and know the feel of its steps.
	The Mothering Way We become the total of our stories and we pass them along to future generations so that the richness and color of our tribe is not lost, but preserved. And though as a modern woman I have forged a new path, I can still feel the thread that ties me to those who have gone before me.
	Hope’s Boat If you want to build a ship, don't herd people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea. Antoine de Saint-Exupery(author of “The Little Prince”).
	Weight of Wonder One evening, while listening to Irish music, I saw a pregnant woman get up laboriously from her chair to leave the hall. I was not only struck by her amazing shape, but it also struck me that both the words “weight” and “wait” fit her condition. This time of patience is the passage into motherhood.
	Sea Goshenite Goshenite is the “mother of all gems”. It is a rare stone and pure white in color and from it’s source many other gems are derived. It is a hard stone, yet it can be broken.
	2006 Bronzes
	Midori Spring The tree growing up the back of this piece gave it its name. Midori means “green” in Japanese. I wanted to capture the sense of nurturing life that flows through the forest in the gentle spirit of a tree.
	Practicing Eternity I once was fortunate to see a Sufi Whirling Dervish perform...to watch this woman go to such a meditative place while turning and turning. The dedication to the practice struck me deeply and made me hope that one day I would have such dedication to touch the divine.
	The Mending After listening to the news in my studio one day, I was inspired to try to capture what I felt the world needed...a bit of the feminine to come and mend the cracks and splits.
	Nara In Japan, the Sika deer is regarded as sacred and allowed to roam freely in the city of Nara. According to legend, protective deities arrived on the backs of a deer to protect the former Japanese capital. Now Nara protects the deer. It is also said that “when one encounters deer, he or she should get out of the carriage and bow to them” as they are considered a sign from the gods and a good omen.
	Cliffs of Moher Many Irish ballads tell the story of the maiden who walks the lonely windy shores of Ireland waiting for her love to come home. This piece is about the waiting in all of us but with hope, for with this maiden is the crow....the symbol of magic.
	Safe Haven Shortly after my son was born, I bought a piece of sculpture of a bear protecting a tiny baby. I have often wondered what it would be like to surrender all and sleep in the arms of that big bear.
	Taking Things Slow Getting on the slow belt of life sometimes takes stripping everything away and remembering the girl inside.
	Warrior Woman It has been fun watching women, especially mothers relate to this piece. They smile and nod. Derived from a yoga pose, this speaks to how we juggle our lives but it also speaks to the warrior in all women.