“Sugar Plum Fairy” Bronze Sculpture to Be Unveiled at BPL on December 16
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| Cindy Free – Clara with Nutcracker, bronze, 2023 |
If you
plan to attend BPL’s Holiday Open House on December 16, stick around for the
unveiling of three new bronze sculptures by Birmingham artist Cindy Free.
Free’s sculptural rendition of the Sugar Plum Fairy, a character from the The
Nutcracker ballet, is among the pieces that will be revealed at the
opening reception of her exhibition Volumes in Bronze: A Sculptor’s Library
of Moment. The reception will take place in the Lobby Gallery at the
Central Library from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In
addition to Sugar Plum Fairy, Free’s exhibition features 17 sculptures
of figures such as the Greek goddess Athena, dancers engaged in a pas de
deux, a mermaid, and other characters from The Nutcracker. Inspired
by her experience as the founding artistic and executive director of Birmingham
Ballet, Free began “The Nutcracker Collection” in 2023. Each year she adds
another bronze to the series.
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| The artist at work on a clay mold |
Sketches, clay studies, and molds will be on view next to Free’s finished bronzes to show visitors the many steps involved in casting a bronze sculpture using the lost wax method. The artist’s intention is to illustrate “how ideas take shape—how a fleeting feeling can become a permanent work of art.”
There
will be an interactive component of Free’s installation as well. Visitors are
encouraged to share memories or stories they might preserve in bronze in The
Guestbook of Moments, thus participating in a living dialogue between art
and community.
“My
hope is that this exhibition inspires reflection, curiosity, and a deeper
appreciation for the ways we can tell our stories—without words, but through
form,” says Free.
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Cindy Free is a sculptor whose figurative works are rooted in romantic realism.
Her sculptures weave precise detail with a sense of movement, transforming
fleeting expressions into enduring form. Using the lost wax method, Free
creates figures that feel on the verge of taking a breath, offering intimate
glimpses of spirit and movement suspended in time.
Free’s work has been featured in juried shows and
gallery exhibitions, as well as belonging to private collections. She teaches
classes for UAB’s ArtPlay and other community arts programs and is a member of
the Birmingham Arts
Alliance and the National
Society of Arts and Letters. She continues to expand the presence of
figurative sculpture in the South by bridging classical tradition and living
expression. Learn more about Cindy Free on her website at cindyfree.com and on
Instagram @cindyfreesculptures.
Written by Margaret Splane, Library Assistant III
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