Casting the Volunteers
Cheryl-Ann started the Beautiful Women Project by making a plaster cast of naturally beautiful women from Canada, the US and England. The casts provided her an accurate ‘negative mould’ of each body.
Plaster Casts
The plaster casts, fragile as egg shells, are only stage one. Next Cheryl-Ann created strong ‘positive replicas’ of each women by laying clay into each mould - not as simple as it sounds!
Turning it into Clay
After much ‘trial and error’ Cheryl-Ann used Tucker’s white sculpture clay in large slabs to fill the moulds. She managed to capture the details such as nipples, scars, and in some cases goose bumps!
Half Way There
The creation of each sculpture involved many stages; this example shows the carved decoration and the clay fired once, but this sculpture is only half way to completion.
Decorating the Sculptures
Cheryl-Ann had planned to leave the sculptures white. However, as each woman shared personal and powerful stories, Cheryl-Ann was compelled to represent them visually. The decoration became portraits of each woman’s life journey.
The Finished Sculptures
This is one of the 120 sculptures that act as a community of women, waiting to share their strength and stories. Together they promote self-acceptance and celebrate natural beauty.
The Project on Tour
The tour began in Kingston in January 2006. Since then, the Project has been showcased in 10 more communities: Vankleek Hill, Cornwall, Lindsay, Cambridge, Hamilton, St Thomas, St Catharines, Gananoque, Toronto and Southampton.
Suitable for Everyone
Cheryl-Ann’s Beautiful Women Project is suitable for women and girls, men and boys of all ages. The artwork is accompanied by workshops and presentations as well as curriculum materials.
Reaching New Depths
Passionate divers, Cheryl-Ann and husband Behan submerged a concrete Beautiful Woman on Sept 1st 2008 at 24 feet just off Prescott Pier, Ontario. The chosen site, known as
The Playground, is a popular checkout dive for novice divers.
