Since 1965, Pamela Weir-Quiton has made functional wood sculpture. Her art has progressed from simple doll and animal iconography to complex architectural commissions of extreme scale and structural sturdiness. Little dolls became 13′ wooden caryatids and giant 36′ cardboard tube dolls, while animal boxes and adult sized rockers morphed into my first wooden playground. Along with this growth in the scale and breadth of my work, came expanded creativity.

“I had always drawn from my imagined mind, but with the Modesto commission began on site photo research resulting in life-size sculpture. Real life cows translated into abstract geometric shapes with the essence of “cow” exuding experientially, not just iconographically. This transition became a defining moment for her art, opening to an ever-widening arena for inspiration.

Finding a photo of tiger tamer, Mabel Stark, a new trajectory for my work ensued. Marrying Mabel’s image with the influence of vintage wooden toys, I launched into an epic body of work that became the pinnacle of magical playgrounds where children’s imaginations could run wild.

After the grand scale and complexity of three playgrounds, I sought simplicity. Seeing my first Navajo sand painting rug was a visceral experience; inspiration, along with ebony and bits of scrap, led to prototypes for the original Yea Dolls in only a few short hours. I felt like I had stumbled into an archeological dig as more and more figures appeared – Yea Dolls, Man-Icons, Chairman-Icons, Bridge-Tables, Blanket Benches, Clothes Horses – an entire civilization of primitive stick people manifested.

Coming full circle, I was recently commissioned to create two of my original doll chests from college. I seized the opportunity to construct two quintessential pieces at seven feet tall, with drawers down the front of their striped torsos. These dolls represent the culmination of forty years of working with wood and embody all of the ideas that have driven my creative process: iconography, high contrast, geometric shapes, patterns, playfulness, functionality, precision, durability and quality.

After all these years, I still get excited when inspiration strikes and look forward to discovering where the next forty years will lead.”