The Wire Zoo
How Elizabeth Berrien Learned to Turn Wire into Amazing Art
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- $10.99
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- $10.99
Publisher Description
This inspirational picture book biography tells the story of how neurodivergent artist Elizabeth Berrien created three-dimensional wire sculptures and went on to become the “godmother” of contemporary wire sculpture, perfect for fans of The Girl Who Thought in Pictures.
Elizabeth Berrien has always had a special way of seeing the world. When she looks at animals, her mind imagines energy lines flowing across the surface of their bodies. Thin lines and thick lines. Bright lines and dim lines. The flowing lines make each animal unique and beautiful.
She wondered, How can I copy these lines so others can see them too? Elizabeth isn’t very good at drawing, so she tried many other different kinds of art. But none seemed quite right…until she discovered wire sculpting. And so began her journey of using three-dimensional wire sculptures to share her vision with the world.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wing highlights the importance of perseverance for sculptor Elizabeth Berrien (b. 1950), "the Godmother of Wire," in this extended biography. An early connection with animals leads Berrien to art as an expressive medium ("Her mind imagined lines flowing across the surface of their bodies"), but methods such as drawing soon prove frustrating for the left-handed artist, who is forced to work right-handed. After an open-minded teacher introduces her to wire, "she'd found the thing that expressed the beauty she'd seen all her life." Using the new material for sculptures becomes her passion, culminating in the creation of magnificent life-size horses for a store window and a zoo appointment as artist-in-residence. Stone's smooth, realistic digital renderings showcase the protagonist's inquisitive nature, while flowing fine lines visualize her preferred material. The in-depth presentation of Berrien's highs and lows underscores the way that making can take a meandering path. Secondary characters are depicted with various skin tones. Back matter offers more about the figure. Ages 4–8. (Oct.)
