Statue Art

Pam Bonaguide’s “statue art” was displayed in front of the Grout-Heard House during November 2020 reminding everyone to vote. Pam shared her creative process in the following interview:

Q: What do you call them?  Are they statues – or something else?
Pam:  Statutes seems to work.  Sometimes I call them “the ladies.”

Q: Did you use real dresses as the basis for the statues?
Pam:  Yes, there are antique and vintage dresses underneath.  Most are actually wedding dresses.  The dresses are from local thrift shops and from donations from friends.

Q: What is your process for creating the statues?
Pam: I made the first one in my back yard this summer.  I first built a form with wood, PVC and then chicken wire.  Then, I dipped the dresses in cement and hung the very heavy dress over the form.  The statue is then sprayed with water for several weeks to cure the cement and then painted.

Q: Did you have any help with making your “ladies?”
Pam:  After the first one, I built the other three with Christine Stanley, who I share a studio with in Framingham.

Q:  Is this the first time you’ve done something like this?
Pam:  I love to make large pieces and I really enjoy making things with cement, although it is really messy.  I made a 18 foot dragon with “hyperfufa” which is a mixture of cement, peat moss and Perlite.

Q: What is next for the statues?
Pam: The ladies will be moved to our studio #23 in the historical building @SaxonvilleMills in Framingham.

Q: What’s next for you as an artist?
Pam: My hope is to next work with antique children’s clothing.