Alaska's Original Raven Sculptor

Mary Ann Fortune

I have been active in the Fairbanks’ art community since 1994. The distinctive influence of my sculpting technique captures both the Raven’s dignified presence, as well as their whimsically entertaining antics.

I arrived in Alaska with my two canine companions Pete and Ebony on July 1, 1992. Originally from Southern California, my formative years were spent between American Samoa and Puerto Rico. My life’s journey had taken an interesting curve from Puerto Rico to Fort Lauderdale, and Florida was considered home for the next 17 years of my life.

Although I had traveled to Alaska years earlier with my husband, it wasn’t until after his untimely passing that I chose to make Alaska my forever home.

The resulting expression of each sculpture personifies the mischievousness of the Raven’s clever humor. I attain personal delight in being told that my Ravens appear as if they are always smiling.

My Process

I maintain an abundance of miscellaneous art materials in my home studio. Often, neighbors will leave envelopes under the windshield wipers of my car containing gifts of broken jewelry, bits of hardware, as well as other miscellaneous materials that they believe I will find useful for my Raven sculptures.

Products

Raven Sculptures

Raven Spirits’ sculptured Ravens are an evolved surge of metal, wood, plaster and acrylic. Each signed sculpture, formed by my hand, is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. For every Raven nearing completion, visualization of the next has begun to appear. Frequently my Raven sculptures take surprising turns, despite their initially intended postures. Their range of scale begins at 4.5”(w) x 9”(l) x 7(h) through 13”(w) x 28”(l) x 18(h).

Raven Fledglings

My sculptured Raven Fledglings are all found resting in their nests. They are one of the smallest of my Raven sculptures measuring approximately 6” in diameter x 4”(h). They are evolved using a combination of plaster, recycled paper products, grasses and wood.

Raven Profiles

My Raven profiles are approximately 5”(l) x 4’”(h). They are a surge of plaster and acrylic. They are created with the intent of being hung. Their options of direction are right-facing and left-facing.

Framed 3-D Sculptures

My framed Raven sculptures rest on collages of materials and patterns ranging from acrylic-mixed media backgrounds, to those composed of metals and glass materials of particular interest to the Raven in residence.

Commissions

I am often afforded the privilege of being commissioned for sculptured Ravens celebrating both weddings and birthdays. I am given (3) personality traits, their Raven’s name, and a personal trinket for their Raven to be clutching. As well, I am commissioned for memorial Raven sculptures honoring the departed by embracing a talisman once belonging to the individual.

Please Enjoy

My Raven Spirits sculptures are an amazing journey. I do hope that you will enjoy them with the same delight as they were conceived.