Artist Statement

I am a sculptor combining weaving with metal in innovative ways: woven willow; bronze cast from woven originals such as willow; woven wire, electroplated, oxidized and patinated. While I create small and miniature works for private collectors, the larger work in bronze for outdoors has been increasingly been commissioned.

My work focuses on the human form and what I perceive as the beauty of human frailty. Inspired by human forms of ancient times and present day, and by architecture past and present, I am drawn to the universality of human emotion, leading to simplification and abstraction of form. Increasingly, I am interested in placing the work in natural outdoor settings and gardens. I have taught, mentored, and juried but I am also still learning.

Biography

Dawn MacNutt has exhibited for many years locally, nationally and internationally. Solo and group exhibitions number over a hundred and include shows at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, American Craft Museum, New York, Palais de Rumine Lausanne, Switzerland, Montpelier Cultural Art Centre Laurel, Maryland, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto and Mount Saint Vincent Art Gallery, Halifax. She has completed many commissions including ones for the Halifax Regional Municipality, City of Kelowna, BC, Halifax Infirmary and Alderney Gate in Dartmouth.

Her work is in the collections of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, The American Museum of Decorative Arts (formerly the American Craft Museum), the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, the Owens Art Gallery, Sackville, NB, the Canadiana Fund at Rideau Hall and numerous private and public collections. Her creative work has been supported in the past by Canada Council Grants and Nova Scotia Arts Council Grants. MacNutt works in her "new" 170-year-old studio at Little Harbour, Pictou County, which she discovered was built by her great great great grandfather upon looking at the old deed.