Grandma Gatewood Statue Project | Studying Grandma Gatewood’s Clothes And A Sitting

Sculptor Bridgette Mongeon is collecting period clothing and absorbing everything she can about Grandma Gatewood’s clothes and the Appalachian Trail for the Statue Project. Many Women from her Houston Women’s Hiking Group have been helping her to work through a pose, collect period gear, and finally put a pose together for a client to approve through a photographic sitting. 

Why Do A Sitting?

A photo sitting with a pose is essential for several reasons. 

• It helps the artist define the gesture and angle.
• It helps the artist figure out how the sculpture will fit into the setting (Fitting in the location is very hard when you need to know exactly where you will place the second sculpture of Grandma Gatewood on the Appalachian Trail.)
• The artist can look at folds and lines, fabric, and details.
• A pose is the beginning of finalizing a design, which in turn affects the landscaping around the sculpture as well as being able to complete the costs involved with placing a sculpture. (Again, the artist can only confirm the total costs for the sculpture once she confirms a second location. Two of everything -two sculptures means two installations, two deliveries, and two areas to the landscape.)

Artist’s Connection To The Subject.

This portion of the process helps the artist connect to the subject. Studying Grandma Gatewood’s clothes helps Bridgette feel closer to who she was. Bridgette puts herself in the place of her subject. What energy does she want to portray in the sculpture? What is the subject thinking and feeling? One person told her, “You develop a relationship with the deceased.”  Indeed, She and Grandma Gatewood, are spending a lot of time together.

Please consider donating to the Grandma Gatewood Statue project, through a GoFundMe or by contacting Paul Maxwell at Ohio Valley Memorial Gardens.