Mirtala Biography
Mirtala's bronze sculptures are stunning works of art, but their importance goes far beyond their artistic beauty. Mirtala penetrates the superficial, reaching into the heart of humanity, and in so doing reveals universal feelings, hopes and dreams.
"The Source" is an example. In the shape of a circle, the sculpture represents the oneness, completion and perfection of creation. "The circle is active and passive, spiritual and material," says Mirtala. "These complementary polarities interact in an eternal dynamic rhythm, each containing elements of its opposite. And we partake of both."
Although Mirtala's sculptures are often small in scale, they are always large in concept. Most contain stylized figures lacking anatomical detail. Solo, in small groups, or as a gathering of the multitude, these figures inhabit abstract forms that may suggest nature or architecture but also nearly always express a spiritual or psychological situation. As she creates her sculptures, Mirtala engages in a dialogue with an aspect of herself that connects with the universal. It is this dialogue and connection to the universal within her that allows her to speak through her sculptures to the universal in everyone else.
The spaces around and between the sculptures are as important to Mirtala as the sculptures themselves. With her discerning eye she carefully observes the interplay of space and form of her pieces. She rarely makes preliminary sketches. Ideas flow out and find immediate expression through her gifted hands. She views her task as putting thought into matter: "The challenge as a sculptor is to carry the initial inspiration - the spiritual, emotional and thought energy - and encode it into the work," she explains. "My energy is in the completed piece and radiates out from it." There are times when words in the form of poetry perfectly express her thoughts and are companions to her sculptures. As she sees it, words flow in time while sculpture appears to arise in the mind's eye as a total, completed concept.
All of Mirtala's creative expressions come from the same, quiet, contemplative place deep in her heart and soul that is driven to connect with humanity and celebrate its triumph over struggle and adversity. Her wisdom springs from a personal journey that has taught her about the preciousness of life. Born in Ukraine prior to World War II, she experienced childhood traumas that included the death of her father, a writer who lost his life during the Stalinist purges. Mirtala emigrated to the United States, where she finished the Boston Museum School and was awarded a traveling scholarship, which took her to France for study at the Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs in Paris and with Zadkine at La Grande Chaumiere. Returning to Boston, she attended Tufts University and received a bachelor of fine arts degree.
Mirtala's work is part of public art collections around the world including the State Cultural Center, "House of Ukraine," in Kiev, Ukraine; and the Art Complex Museum in Duxbury, Massachusetts. People of all faiths are touched by the universal appeal of her sculptures, leading to commissions from churches, synagogues and religious or spiritual organizations of all kinds.
- Emily Van Cleve
 Updated 09/16/2008 |
