Art Chowder November | December 2017, Issue 12 | Page 21

O
ften the format for these gatherings is
to not reply or give feedback to the woman
sharing, unless it is asked for. The purpose
is to provide a place where each person is
heard and accepted in a non-judgmental
environment. This design goes against the
mainstream characterization of women as
competitive with one another and/or pres-
sured to be flawless and perfect in every
aspect of life, from appearance to parenting.
This is the reason Ritchie prefers “to create
women whose images, though graceful and
flowing, are often disproportionate and out
of symmetry.” Her figurative sculptures
often depict voluptuous hips and over
extenuated thighs. The art proposes thought
between the visual aspect of a piece and the
inner “essence” it implies, and that com-
bination creates balance. “My sculptures
are perfectly empowered in their imperfect
forms and that’s what is so alluring to me.”
Embracing the imperfections of the self
seems to be a new concept. A longing to
belong and never quite feeling accepted for
who we are behind the mask we wear is a
common isolation, until the freeing moment
of surrender, when one speaks their truth
and feels the love of community. Ritchie
hopes her pieces inspire and create a sense
of serenity while reflecting a woman’s inner
strength. Her goal is to help other women
through her art. “All women need to take
care of each other.” Releasing old negative,
destructive thought patterns and imple-
menting self-care creates a ripple effect in
the world. The healing begins with the first
look inward.
“Blue Muse”
19.5 x 8 ”
Available at:
Tsuga Northwest Arts
1114 S. Perry Street
Spokane, WA 99202
An old proverb says “eyes are the windows
to the soul.” Ritchie’s sculptures hold on to
their secrets, as their eyes are almost always
closed. It’s difficult for a woman to have a
sense of self in a subtle second-generation
gender biased society. Her art reflects the
figure’s withholding of identity. What lurks
behind the eyelids is a mystery.
November | December 2017
21