Social Climber (Squirrel) was completed just in time for my single-artist show, Private Thoughts: Beadwork Sculpture by Leslie Grigsby for which my sculptures formed the loan exhibition at the New York Ceramics & Glass Fair (January 19-22, 2017).
Similarly to many of my other works, the beadwork on this sculpture was created in peyote stitch over a dense-foam form. The animal is equivalent in size to a largish, life-size squirrel. Although he can rest on all four paws, he prefers to hang upright by one fore-paw, as though he is climbing the wall. (Sounds, figuratively, a bit like me sometimes!)
Social Climber (Squirrel)
Glass seed beads in peyote stitch over dense foam core
Estimated length: 18″ (front paw to tip of tail)
Exhibited: Loan exhibition. Private Thoughts: Beadwork Sculpture by Leslie Grigsby for the New York Ceramics & Glass Fair, NYC (January 18 [preview] through 22, 2017).
Private collection, New York, NY
The below images show Social Climber at about three months into the project.
Below are views of the little guy earlier in the process, about three weeks after I began. His glass eyes have not yet been added, and his body still shows my markings hinting at possible color changes and design elements.
Leslie B. Grigsby Beadwork 