Artist Kirsten Engstrom stands next to her sculptures, “Aamenah,” meaning Lady of Peace and Harmony, and “Mirembe,” meaning peace, Aug. 4 outside the Baptist House.
Words & Photos by GABRIEL MILBY
Kirsten Engstrom, the 82-year-old artist who created the “United We Stand” statues in front of Chautauqua Institution’s Baptist House, is hosting a photo contest titled the “Ya Ya” statue photography contest.
Contest participants can email up to six photos of Engstrom’s statues to laughingeagle@windstream.net by Saturday.
A robin lands on Engstrom’s “Bah Hoa Binh,” meaning Esteemed Woman of Peace.
Gretchen Gaede and Ruth Ann Raines of Gretchen’s Gallery will judge the contest and decide the best photo based on composition, use of light and creativity; the winner will be chosen and announced Wednesday. Thursday, Engstrom will hold a reception at her home, where the winner will be awarded one of the sculptures to keep.
Through this contest, Engstrom hopes to give her art to someone who may not be able to afford it.
Engstrom has a long connection to Chautauqua, dating back to before she was born. Her parents met at Chautauqua and later married. After living in Europe for 20 years, she eventually moved back to the Chautauqua area, and she later moved into her forever home, the “White Chapel” in Mayville, New York. When she walked into the empty church, Engstrom recalled saying, “This is my permanent space. I want to live here.”
Engstrom makes statues to connect with people. “Children talk to them and hug them, and old people sit next to them to have someone to talk to,” she said.
Engstrom said the sculptures are a vessel for connection-making and relationship-seeking.
“My sculptures bring people to me, and they share their stories,” she said.
Ultimately, she explained, her art serves as a way to “share with people,” and in return, they share with her.
Engstrom said the artistic process is a reciprocal, back-and-forth dialogue between the artist and artwork. She said she only finishes a statue when it speaks back to her, and she hopes they will speak to anyone who comes across them.
Contestant Frank Burdette photographs Engstrom’s statue “Fernanda,” which means Ardent for Peace. The image was taken for the “Ya Ya” statue photography contest, which offers a prize package worth up to $300.
