by three male metal sculptors Tom Deco, Philip Wesley and Robin Emos. “When I was a young woman I wanted to be a welder and sculptor but I was advised to do a more feminine art so I was forced to do print maker. They thought it was safer for me as a woman,” Gazellah said. “Now, because of this project, I am finally able to make my dream of being a sculptor come true. Sculpture best represents my true self. It took me 20 years to get here. “The sculpture was incredibly hard to work on. I was blessed to be able to hire three incredible sculptors to help me work on this. Steel is a heavy, hard and dangerous material and needs a lot of cutting and bending, requiring a team with strength, experience and immense creativity to achieve this result – an awe-inspiring monument that will last a lifetime.” The sculpture is currently in the grounds of the US Embassy in POM but will be transported to Lae at a later time. At the ground-breaking ceremony, US Ambassador Ann Marie described its location in front of the UniTech library as not only fitting but profoundly symbolic.
A 1997 photo of astronaut Marsha Ivins during one of her five space shuttle missions. Photo: US National Archives
Lockheed plane the aviator was flying around the world, positioned on two angel wings. It will be installed at the front of the Matheson Library on the UniTech campus as a beacon of hope and potential for students. PNG fine artist and sculptor Gazellah Bruder was appointed as the first PNG female artist to lead such a high-profile construction project in the
Marsha with her fellow NASA astronauts
Moi, a sculpted stainless steel miniature model of the
male-dominated field of metal sculpting, mentored and assisted
Deborah presents visiting US astronaut Marsha Ivins with a bilum from her home of Bagabag Island off Madang
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