Born and raised in Cincinnati, Casey Millard is one of seven artists named an inaugural Cincinnati Arts Ambassador and receive a $6,000 fellowship to go along with it.
The grant will support Millard’s creation of a fiberglass sculpture of “Shark Girl,” a character based on irrational fears. As a child, Millard had panic attacks related to fears that there were sharks in her swimming pool. As she neared 40, the panic attacks returned, this time focused on mortality. Both fears inspired her to create “Shark Girl.”
Her plan for the sculpture is to have “Shark Girl” sitting on a rock overlooking the Ohio River. Extra space on the rock will allow visitors to join her perch. Since art affected her as a child, Millard hopes her work will do the same for others.
“For a kid to sit with her, I think would be much more of an interactive experience,” Millard says. “And something very real.”
Millard plans to work on this project throughout winter and have the piece ready for public installation in the spring, though the location for the sculpture is still to be determined.
Currently, Millard has an exhibit called “Come Follow Me” at the UnMuseum in the
Contemporary Arts Center. The exhibit features sculptures of “Shark Girl” and other characters based on an animated short film that Millard created, which is also featured in this show.
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Learn more about Millard’s artwork.
• Find out how you can get involved with the
Contemporary Arts Center.
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Donate to the Contemporary Arts Center.
By Stephanie Kitchens
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