Distinctly Montana Magazine

Intimate and Monumental: "The Unseen Moves" "Live it Gently Amber Jean's Mythic Art R with Fire" aised in Montana, Amber Jean is a gal with gumption who follows her passion as an artist, adventurer, and storyteller. WOOD Magazine declared her one of "America's Woodworking Greats." Her life and art are featured in the "Wood Sculpting" DIY TV series and on the "Pure Oxygen" show; her art is published in several books and resides in permanent collections here and abroad. Ice climbing, mountaineering, white-water kayaking, and mountain biking lure her away from the long hours happily spent in her studio at the end of the road near the top of a mountain in Paradise Valley, Montana. So what are you working on now — and why? Overwhelming desire to freely explore my own unique vision coupled with the belief I have something to say propelled me to clear the calendar of commissions. I am focused fully now on several sculptural series. A curator in Texas is working with museums to put together a traveling solo exhibit of the new reliquary sculpture series titled, "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden." The first sculpture in the series is at the Museum of the Rockies on display through January 2013 along with one of my earlier works. Two more sculptures in the new series are in the works — each an engaging challenging adventure, po- etic, and soulful. Another carved wood series is on my dance card and will take its turn soon — small scale, intricate, and intimate — can hardly wait to begin. New bronze editions are being launched as well. The bronzes provide various price points for collectors and simply allow more people to have an "Amber Jean" piece in their lives. Cast from woodcarvings, the previous bronze editions are nearly sold out. A life-size bronze bison bench cast from carved black walnut will soon be a permanent addition to the Bozeman Yellowstone Jake Bank 32 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • WINTER 2013

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