Serena Mann has worked in papier-mâché and other media for over 25 years.  She studied sculpture at the University of New Mexico, as well as with independent artists.  In the early 1970s, she traveled to explore the traditions of sculptural and figurative art in Asia.  She found that papier-mâché is as old as the invention of paper itself, some of the oldest papier-mâché  artifacts dating back to China’s Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220A.D.), while paper was developed at the beginning of the second century B.C.  The production and use of paper as a portable, reproducible means of literary and artistic expression spread westward along the silk routes and on into Europe.  The art of papier-mâché followed.

At work with her hands, Serena Mann built upon her training and the ideas she gathered from her travels to create a rich and varied world of flying papier-mâché women. She soon developed the materials and techniques to create small, figurative papier-mâché sculptures.  The 23 step process uses wire, paper, and fabric to bring these colorful mobiles to life.  The figures are seemingly fragile, but, in reality, have an inner structure and strength.  The simple, glossy exterior belies the time spent building layer upon layer of materials.  The mobiles are of a celebratory nature and display a balance between tension and freedom while still moving gracefully. 

Photo courtesy of Little Shot Photography