California Sculptor to Give Public Lecture
March 10, 2008
Gloria Nusse, noted sculptor of natural history and forensic artist, will give a free public lecture, “A Chronicle of Forensic Facial Reconstruction, History and Use,” at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 27, in the Palmer Lipcon Auditorium, Palmer Museum of Art, on the University Park campus. Nusse’s lecture is sponsored by the Penn State School of Visual Arts’ John M. Anderson Visiting Artists and Scholars Lecture Series.
Nusse, who has a background in art, anthropology, and biology, uses the most advanced technologies to create her work. She makes sculptures for natural history and cultural museums as a method for illustration in 3-D form and uses her skills as a scientific artist to aid in the identification of human remains. "The work I do is a last-ditch effort," says Nusse, whose portfolio spans museum reconstructions of Miwok Indians to those of suicide and murder victims for law enforcement. "I get called in when a case is completely cold. My sculpture can be used as a tool to generate new leads." 48 Hours, a national television documentary program, featured her forensic facial reconstruction for a show titled "The Girl Next Door," which aired January 7, 2006. Nusse is a member of the International Association of Forensic Identification, California State Coroners Association, and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. She owns and works in her studio, Clay and Bones. In addition to the installation of numerous sculptures in various public institutions, she has nine bronzes of her work installed in Yosemite National Park. Nusse lives in Mill Valley, Calif. with her husband, two children and various animals. For more information, visit http://clayandbones.com
Image:
Gloria & Bob / Clay and Bones
Contact: Ann Shostrom, ashostrom@psu.edu