I am proud to have had this work praised in the Saturday March 14, 2020 issue of The Philadelphia Inquirer. In her review “In Philly galleries: Top-notch craft art, and a noteworthy solo debut,” Edith Newhall discusses “Une Exposition d’Arts Obsessionels de la Fibre,” the new installation curated by Bruce Hoffman and featuring 40 fiber artists at Gravers Lane Gallery, in Chestnut Hill, near Philadelphia. Newhall writes:
Another standout is Leslie Grigsby’s charming, lifelike sculpture of an ocelot’s [actually margay’s] head, made with felt, glass beads, and glass eyes over a foam-core support.
This work was inspired by the beautiful margay, a small wild feline native to southern Mexico and Central and South America. The striking appearance of such creatures has led them to be hunted to near extinction for the exotic pet trade. They also are endangered by diminished forest land, their native habitat.
While viewing a National Geographic episode, I was struck by the beauty of margays as well as by their inquisitive expressions. As I would never remove such a creature from its native habitat, the only way to have one at home was to create one, myself. This work took about four months to complete.
I’m All Ears! (Margay)
Glass seed beads in peyote stitch over dense foam core; glass eyes, felt
L (nose to back of head): approx 5″; W. (including ears): 4 1/4″: H: 3 1/4″
Available for purchase
Below are images of the margay head, while in progress. At the time when those photos were taken, the ears were not yet attached. They are held onto the head by beadwork, alone. As also is true for some of my past works, the foam core of this sculpture is the type used by taxidermists when they want to mount animal skins. That’s not my thing, though! There’s no fur on my margay, though, just beadwork.
Leslie B. Grigsby Beadwork 