Helena Sorus "Shoebill" 8x10 sculpture

Wood cradle, acrylic paint, chip board, wool, taxidermy eyes, Sugrue

I am a neuroqueer artist (any pronouns), raised in the North Bay, now raising my children in the East Bay. I’ve long held an interest in how art and grief influence each other, dating back to 2001 when I worked on David Best’s Temple of Tears. I currently work in death care. I love making art, both painting and three-dimensional work and there is often a sense of pathos that accompanies my work.

“Shoebill” is a sculptural representation of a shoebill stork. I wanted to invoke the unsettling, serious gaze of the shoebill. The shoebill is classified as Vulnerable in conservation status, with the highest risk coming from habitat destruction. It is also the subject of many Internet memes. I used a layer of acrylic varnish to dampen the wool roving for the head, which helped shape it and make it easier to secure and paint.