STORY BY KAREN BOSSICK

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DELIA DANTE AND HEMMINGS GALLERY

Delia Dante has created bold sculptures like “Me Deuce” and “Arbol de la Vida,” both of which have become signature pieces in Boise’s public art scene standing outside the Barbacoa Grill and Coa de Jima.

Of late, this Boise -based artist has been focusing on what she calls “Warrior Women,” a new series celebrating the strength and resilience of women through the creation of intricate metaphorical warrior helmets.

One of the first works in the series—a golden-hued chainmail-adorned headdress-- honors actress and author Mariel Hemingway, who grew up in and still lives parttime in Ketchum. And Hemmings Gallery in Ketchum is throwing a one-night pop-up exhibition party celebrating the art that gives form to the metaphorical armor that women forge to survive—and- thrive—in today’s world.

The party will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the gallery at 340 Walnut Ave. in Ketchum. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Dante will be there along with Hemingway. And documentary filmmaker Karen Day, who used to live in Stanley but now lives in Boise, will show a five-minute film she made of Dante and Hemingway called “Women on Fire.”

“I reimagined what a modern female warrior looks like,” said Dante. “The women of today fight their own battles for equality, identity and respect. I wanted to honor them with contemporary, metaphorical armor. This series is created to reflect the spirit and story of a specific woman, but it is also meant to speak to the shared struggles and courage of women everywhere.”

An art teacher for many years, Dante got into welding 15 years ago and now creates metal and enamel art, including sculptures, enamel panels and jewelry.

Her “Warrior Women” series was born from a realization that women are rarely depicted in sculpture as warriors, particularly in ways that reflect their courage.

She chose Mariel Hemingway as one of her first subjects because she was deeply moved by Hemingway’s book Out Came the Sun, where the Ketchum native shares her journey toward healing and personal transformation.

“Her resilience, honesty and lifelong advocacy for mental well-being are profoundly inspiring,” said Dante. “In creating her armor, I wanted to honor her strength, her clarity of vision and the light she brings to others through her work and her foundation.” 

Day’s film shows Dante working with TIG welding, enameling, electroforming, 3D printing, and metalsmithing.

“One of the most exciting parts of the process was blending traditional metalworking with modern technology,” Dante said. “I used copper electroforming on 3D-printed components and TIG-welded the entire piece together, which pushed me to advance my own technical skills in new ways.

“I also worked closely with two talented women artists—Idaho based master leather tooler Deana Attebery and metalsmith Christina Gilmore—who added intricate details that elevated the work.” 

Day has been the film festival circuit with her new documentary “ARIA” about four singers overcoming racism and other challenges to sing opera. But she will attend Saturday’s reception.

She said her film captures the spirit of the series while encouraging women to step forward and have their own armor created. 

It addresses the concept of women needing to put on something, whether a pair of high heels or lipstick, as a kind of mental armor to deal with the world, she said. And she’s used some of her footage shot of women around the world, including Muslim women wearing a burqa, to make the point.

“Delia is a diminutive 5-foo5 women who created this Medusa-like sculpture and the Tree of Life—both huge two- to three-ton statues. To see what she’s done is amazing,” added Day. For this series, for instance, she took a 1920 men’s welding helmet and made it into iconic piece of sculpture.”