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A fascination with the outdoors is what inspires Mary-Jo Carter Dodd.

The Scarborough artist has her photography/mixed media artwork and wire sculptures featured at the Victoria Park Gallery in downtown Kincardine, throughout the month of August.

Born in Meaford, Carter Dodd also has a passion for theatre which led her to Ryerson Polytechnical Institute for a degree in technical production. When Ryerson became a university, she returned and earned an Honours Degree in technical production.

In her 30 years in the theatre business, she has worked with several Toronto Theatre companies in the wardrobe department and has been head of wardrobe at Soulpepper Theatre Company and Young People's Theatre.

She has always been creative, but wanting to do more, she began sculpting wire trees. Her inspiration came from her love of the outdoors - the beauty in nature that surrounds us every day.

Carter Dodd was fortunate to be able to sell her sculptures at the Art Gallery of Ontario during the Ansel Adams photography exhibit.

A self-taught artist, she finds the process can be overwhelming but always exciting.

Feeling inspired for a career change, Carter Dodd began learning how to make models for set designers in theatre. She has worked with many designers and has built many set models including the set model for "Ragtime" at the Shaw Festival.

While travelling, she took many photos as most of us do. This led her to her new work of mixed media. Combining the photography and techniques in model building, she was inspired to create a 3D effect on the canvas with wood, wire, art media, plastics and acrylic paint.

This new work has also brought an interest for her to photograph architecture.

Her first solo exhibit is as the guest artist at the Victoria Park Gallery in Kincardine. It features a variety of local photos as well as photos from her travels.

When not working on her art, Carter Dodd teaches wardrobe to theatre students at Humber College.

Wire tree sculptures by Mary-Jo Carter Dodd

"New Mexico"

"River Rapids," photography/mixed media by Mary-Jo Carter Dodd



"Urban Reflection"

"Winter in the Park"

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Monday, August 06, 2012