Liz Parker

ABOUT THE ARTWORK

This portrait is not exactly a portrait as it is entirely imaginary. It’s not based on any historic photo or contemporary individual but is pulled from an imagination informed by these. She could be a timeless representation of the histories and life of a people but that the dandelions date her. 

Unlike the main subject of this work the dandelion is a more recent edition to our continent.  It may have been brought in 1620 by the Pilgrims on the Mayflower, or by Jamestown settlers, or even earlier with the Spanish. When I began this work the dandy lion for me was a symbol for the overlooked or under appreciated. However through the course of creating this sculpture it began to make me think of an unintentional duality. It is both a charming flower and a nusome weed, careingly cultivated for food, medicine and beauty, at the same time an unwanted intruder that spreads wherever it wills. In the context of this sculpture I think it can represent people, like the people who brought it here to America. I’d like to imagine it being recieved by the native people with a bit of wonder or imagination as they consider something that they had never seen before with fresh, inquisitive eyes, ready to appreciate if for all it has to offer. But the good and the bad are wrapped up together in it, and its cheerful face later becomes sober and remorseful till it is finally blown away with the wind. 

Carved from one solid piece. I’ve left three marks, untouched from where they were first cut in order to relieve the piece from the original log located on the nose, brow and feather. It was scrap from another sculpture. The face is placed so tightly within these confines that there was no wiggle room given in order to make the most of the material and make this work as large as possible. I enjoy the intentionality and precision of this as my carvings are created freehand with chisels and mallets, with no measuring tools or devices. Freehand is the most liberating way to make anything. So these marks are like bragging rights to me. 

Item Details:

This piece was featured in the Kalamazoo Institute of the Arts West Michigan Area Show, 2025.

$11,000.00 Price includes shipping

One of a Kind Sculpture

Hand carved in red oak, finished with gesso, acrylic and colored pencil

Size: 10.5 W x 16.3 H x 3.5 D in

Signed on the back

Ready to hang

Ships in a Crate

Worldwide shipping

Certificate of Authenticity included

30 day return period from delivery date

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