Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Dudek.
Mary, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Every child is an artist and I was no exception. I did have an artist mother, though, who taught me as a child. The principles she instilled in me as a young age are the cornerstone of my artistic eye and teaching philosophy. As a kid, she would take me around church, museums, art festivals, and teach me how to see. She would show me what to look at, how the artist created the piece, what they were trying to achieve, etc. What she was really doing, though, was training me to look critically at art. For becoming an artist with your own vision and view points, this is essential. My parents encouraged me to go to art school. I earned my BFA at the University of Michigan Stamps School of Art and Design and studied in Florence, Italy. It was in school where I began studying figure sculpture and anatomy and fell in love with the human body and found my calling to make figure sculptures. I was still a student when I got my first commission to create a life size crucifix for St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Shelby Twp. MI. It was clear to me what path I needed to follow and where my niche was: creating figure sculptures for the Church. Every piece from a portrait to a composition with multiples figures has been a blessing and privilege to create.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No- it has not been a smooth rode! From struggling to find studio space, to transporting my clay models to the foundry for bronze casting, to engineering complicated installations, it has been anything but a smooth rode. Out the gate, finding a space big enough to accommodate a large figure sculpture was a challenge out of college. I ended up working out of i3 Detroit, a makerspace, in Ferndale Michigan which was an incredible find and a wonderful resource for artists, designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and more. After that, renting a u-haul, loading a 6ft tall clay crucifix into it, driving it to a foundry, terrified the entire ride that it would break with every pothole I hit, unloading it, and spending hours fixing the little nicks it got along the journey, proved to be a harrowing experience. I have had statues fall over in transport. At one time, I needed to work out of my parents’ garage and even kitchen to finish a few pieces, because I couldn’t work in other places during covid. I have woken up in the morning with the flu and driven hours to my foundry to pick up and deliver a life size bronze statue to my installers at a church. I have had to finish pieces in the wake of personal crisis and tragedies to make the deadline. From potholes so big they made the news, to freezing cold studio space, to working through chills and body aches, it has not been a smooth rode, but one I would take again and again. When you love something, you gladly suffer for it.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work as a professional artist. My area of focus is figure sculpture and I specialize in religious art. I make bronze figure sculptures of Jesus, the Blessed Mother, angels, saints, etc. for churches, private collectors, cemeteries, retreat centers, schools, you name it. In my work, I seek to lead the viewer to have an encounter with God. I desire the viewer to not just see, but feel the love, the beauty, and the truth of God through my work. I’m most proud of the moments of inspiration I have in prayer about a particular piece. I’m happiest when the inspiration comes from the Lord because then, it’s easy. Then, I can go forward with a concept for a sculpture confidently because I know it’s not just my own idea.
How do you think about happiness?
What make me happy is when I get inspired for a piece when I am praying or in Mass. When I am close to the Lord and get an idea, I have the confidence that it’s a really good idea and it’s one that makes me excited to pursue or present to my client.
Pricing:
- Everyone always asks about price. There are several factors to consider that go into the price, like: the foundry cost of casting in bronze (that’s the biggest usually), the artist fee (my time and craftsmanship in creating the clay model that will be cast), and the installation fee (working with the team of construction workers and usually woodworkers who install the piece in it’s final home)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marydudekart.com/
- Instagram: @sacredartstudios and @marydudekart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marydudekart/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-dudek-7b140782/
