Spirit of the Marsh by Lise Becu of Maine. Black granite, 2011
“I created this sculpture to be a peaceful and benevolent presence.” – Lise Becu
Addison
Artist Statement
I created this sculpture to be a peaceful and benevolent presence. It will be placed at the edge of the beautiful marsh that inspired it. I chose the great blue heron as my subject because I like the symbolism: skill and patience, going with the flow. I also like that the Iroquois people considered it an omen of good luck.
I would like to thank everyone involved in making the symposium possible. It is very exciting to be part of such a great project.
Artist Biography
Lise Becu is an intuitive artist who delves deep into her sub-conscious for the stuff of universal myth. To regard her stone carvings of humans, animals, and/or human-animal relationships is to enter into a dream realm where the psyche takes hold of reality. Her sensual, spare, figurative forms evolve from found stones in ways that seem inevitable.
Becu was listed in Maine Home and Design’s “40 Artists to Collect in Maine” article, and has been featured in Down East magazine. She has participated in cultural exchanges for sculptors in Finland and France.
Her work is in the permanent collection, in Kemijarvi, Finland and in numerous private collections in the U.S. She was the recipient of a grant from the Artist’s Resource Trust.
Becu graduated from Ecole de Sculpture Surbois in St. Port Joli, Quebec where she studied with reputed sculptor Pier Bourgeault. Later she studied with Sidney Simon at the Arts Students League in New York City and with Joan Esar at the University of Montreal. Becu was born in the town of Chandler in the Gaspe Penninsula, Quebec and lives now in Tenant’s Harbor, Maine.