Apr 12, 2006 - Site Downtime - Some of you may have noticed problems with the I-CON site over the past few days. We have been having hardware issues with our server, which have now been resolved. All site functionality should now be fully restored... if you notice any issues, please email webmaster@iconsf.org. Thank you.

Mar 22, 2006 - Important Travel Update! - The Suffolk County Half Marathon will be taking place this Sunday, resulting in closures on Nichols Road between the Long Island Expressway and Rt. 347. Please use these directions to get to the convention on Sunday.

Mar 22, 2006 - New I-CON Community - ICON Science Fiction, Inc. is proud to announce its new project, community.iconsf.org. Designed to encourage community involvement and the open sharing of ideas and information, community.iconsf.org is our new hub for everyone who is interested in Science Fiction, Fact, and Fantasy (and Gaming, Anime, and everything else you might see at I-CON - and likely a whole lot more!). We encourage you all to stop in, take a look, and speak your mind - this site was created to allow you to immerse yourself further in the things that matter to you (and us).

Mar 22, 2006 - Indie Film Schedule - In addition to the main schedule and gaming schedule linked from our home page, the Indie Film schedule is now online. Also, an HTML (webpage) version of the schedule is coming soon, we thank everyone for their patience.

Mar 21, 2006 - Schedule Coming Soon Posted! - We know that many of you were anxiously awaiting the schedule for I-CON. Well, it's here! Go to the site index and check it out to see everything what I-CON 25 has in store for you!

News Archive

Website: http://www.sculptor.net/

Sandra Lira has enjoyed sculpting since early childhood. Her limited editions and commissioned work in bronze, precious metals, fired clay and resin are in private collections worldwide and she has won awards both for her larger sculptures and her jewelry designs.

She has studied at Syracuse University, Hartford Art School and the Lyme Academy of Fine Art.

A native of upstate New York, she now lives in central Connecticut.

Interview with Sandra Lira:

1. WOULD YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GIVE A LITTLE PERSONAL BACKGROUND?

I'm Sandra Lira. I consider myself primarily a sculptor, but I'm very interested in painting and both stop-motion and 3D computer generated animation. I also still occasionally make sculptural jewelry. My other consuming interest is Aikido. It's a perfect counterpoint to sculpting. It keeps me from going buggy when I have a deadline and have to sit still for so long while working.

2. CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING I-CON'S AGOH THIS YEAR. WHAT DOES BEING THIS YEAR'S GOH MEAN TO YOU?

I'm absolutely delighted and feel very honored to have been chosen as this year.s AGOH. Everyone in the I-CON Art Show staff has been so wonderful over the years, I hope I'll be giving something back. I've been going in so many directions lately in my artwork, I hope that con-goers will be entertained and inspired by my artistic efforts.

3. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN ARTIST? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CREATING FANTASY ART?

I've been creating things since I was very young, probably around two years old. My parents made sure that we had lots of materials to experiment with. I didn't always think of it as a learning process, I was just having fun discovering what I could do with a particular material, be it paint or clay, or something I'd found around the house or in the woods. I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. So, growing up, if I wasn't running around in the woods with my dog, I was attempting to create artwork of some sort. My main subject matter was figurative, animal/human/inhuman, and - right from the beginning . most of it was Sci-Fi/horror/fantasy themed. I guess not much has changed.

4. HAVE YOU HAD ANY FORMAL TRANING IN THE ARTS?

Yes, at Syracuse University and Lyme Academy of Fine Art. While my style and methods of working were pretty much ingrained by school age, I gained a lot of technical knowledge. I had many good instructors, but I think three were the most influential. I particularly value lessons learned in casting and foundry techniques at SU with Roger Mack. Three years of anatomy at Lyme Academy with Deane Keller Jr. was probably the most enjoyable and intense learning experience ever. And a course in animation at Middlesex Community College with the very animated Rick Eriksen opened many more possibilities for creative outlets.

5. WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST ARTISTIC INFLUENCES AND INSPIRATIONS?

When I was little, I was particularly amazed by ancient Greek sculpture, Assyrian sculptural reliefs, Scythian goldwork, painting and sculpture by Renaissance masters... and late night monster movies. Two other major influences were (I'm sure this will be no surprise to I-CON-goers), Frank Frazetta, who paved the way for so many, and Ray Harryhausen and his stop-mo animation, particularly in Jason and the Argonauts.

6. CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS - HOW YOU COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR A NEW SCULPTURE AND HOW YOU TAKE THOSE IDEAS AND CREATE A FINISHED PIECE OF ART?

Sometimes I actually have something that I want to express and a sculptural metaphor will emerge from that, sometimes it's just an emotion, sometimes an image of a sculpture will just pop into my head.

Most of my sculpture is cast, in order to reproduce it. This requires a mold to be made of the original sculpture. The original is usually destroyed in the moldmaking process. The materials I would use for the original sculpt depend in part on what the finished product will be. If it.s a small piece to be cast in metal, I.d prefer to work in wax. If it will be cast in resin, I would use an oil based clay with an armature (internal wire support) for a larger sculpture, or polymer clay for a small one.

7. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE FANTASY ARTIST OR AN ARTIST THAT YOU ADMIRE?

There are SO many that I admire, I couldn't begin to list them. I've already mentioned Frank Frazetta. I also really love Brom's work. His anatomy is splendid and his painting style and subject matter sometimes actually give me chills (the good kind).

There are many sculptors that I also admire. I particularly like Antoine Louis Barye, a 19th century French sculptor, mainly of animals. There is a wonderful collection of his sculpture at the Baltimore Museum of Art. I saw it several years ago and was amazed by the movement in his work.

8. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG ARTISTS WHO ARE JUST STARTING OUT?

Experiment. With technique and materials. If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right. Many artists (myself included) are perfectionists. This is a double-edged sword. It will force you to keep striving for excellence, but it can also immobilize you. Know this trait for what it is and use it to your benefit. Loosen up and really enjoy the creative process.

Trust your instincts. Don't try to make art to please others (unless it's a commission!), but make what you're driven to create. This will keep you authentic and help you stay inspired.

Don't be shy about seeking out people who can provide needed information, you'll be amazed at how wonderful most people are at being helpful to emerging artists.