Location: Old Lumberyard, 115 Seventh Street, Milford, PA

Sponsor: Old Lumberyard Antiques

Artist: Maria Torffield

The Sanskrit word "Maitri" translates in English into loving-kindness. In my sculpture I use the mother as the source and the goddess as the symbol for this approach to life. The mother goddess is seated on a native box turtle representing our planet. She is holding in each of her many arms an animal child native to the Pike County area. On top of the bear a native bald eagle is spreading his wings representing father sky. All animal children are connected through the halo of the goddess creating a unified universe. The construction of the sculpture allows people to sit in the bear mother’s lap to have the experience of being part of the whole creation.

Maria Torffield was born in East Germany and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden (East Germany). Her work includes sculpture, installation and stage design and has been exhibited in Europe and the US. Currently she lives in New York and Milford, PA. Her next solo show will open in June 2003 in Soho, New York City. She is also a member of Women’s Caucus for Art and the International Sculpture Center.