Grace Bridgman
Baby Yikes
January 27, 2007- March 18, 2007
Most of my first two decades were spent studying music: piano and string
bass. The next ten years found me playing the string bass professionally
with the National Ballet, The Canadian Opera Company and others. At
thirty I left that life to find one that didn’t include so many long tones
and so much beer. And once I stumbled into the world of visual art I stopped
looking—I had found what I was looking for: a process that felt
meaningful, a way to speak.
But instead of grabbing a paint brush or an acetylene torch I got responsible,
paid off debts, saw some of the world. And another decade passed.
The good news is there’s nowhere else I need to go, no more stones to overturn,
credentials to chase. Now it’s time to do the work, enjoy a process
that felt like a breath of life, years ago.
This work, Baby Yikes, comes after a twelve year hiatus from making
sculptural/installation pieces. The inspiration for this particular
Big Baby came out of play done
with rhythm and words, a long ago dream, and the materials.
In 1994 I made a number of what I called Big Babies. They were
psychological, dark and emotionally heavy. With Baby Yikes I wanted
to go a different road—to
use the same materials but aim at different feelings: delight, curiosity,
absurdity, fun. To create an initial impact that needs no figuring,
analysis or thought.
Grace Bridgman was born in Toronto. She has a Performance Diploma in Music
from the University of Toronto. After that she obtained a B.F.A. from
York University,
and another Artist Diploma, this one in visual art from Georgian College.
Three years ago she came back to Canada after spending seven years teaching
English
in South Korea and travelling in Asia. She now calls Durham home.


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