Artist’s Statement
I twist recycled materials into whimsical animal shapes to help keep my balance in a sometimes tilting world. I begin with a sturdy wire armature wrapped with newspaper and tape. Then crumpled newspaper is attached to the armature with more tape to create and shape bodies, heads, and legs. Once the critter's pose is achieved, several layers of newspaper strips wet with glue are applied. After the newspaper has dried, another layer of glue-soaked pieces from torn grocery sacks are added to strengthen the animal. The papier-mâché pieces are finished with paint, wood stains, decoupage, or salvaged paper. Unruly and challenging critters may require more than twenty hours of handwork over many weeks.

Exhibits
• Sebastopol Center for the Arts 2003 sculpture exhibit juried by sculptor Manual Neri
• Sebastopol Center for the Arts Members' Exhibit 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Smitten Exhibit at Plaza Center for the Arts, Healdsburg 2006
• Americana Exhibit, Plaza Center for the Arts, Healdsburg 2008
• Open Studios with Art At The Source 2006, 2007, 2009
• Sebastopol Center for the Arts Auction 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
• Innovations in Fiber Art, Sebastopol Center for the Arts Merit Award 2008
• Paper Capers Exhibit, Arts Council, Idaho Falls 2006
• Arts Council Members Exhibit 2007, 2008
• Local Color Gallery Exhibit August 2007 and December 2007
• The Cradle Project, New Mexico Community Foundation, Albuquerque 2008
• Barns, Farms & Animal Crackers, with Janet Moore, Graton Gallery, August 2008
• Critters, Stewart Krummer Gallery guest artist, Gualala, August 2008
• Arts Council Exhibit, February 2009

More Critter-Art
• The Museum of Craft and Folk Art, San Francisco, California
• The Graton Gallery, Graton, California
• Local Color Gallery, Bodega Bay, California
• Henley's Gallery, Gualala, California
• www.nancywinnsundawg.com