Coming into the Present Sculpture by Heloise Crista

"Leaving behind acquired attitudes and associations, one must rediscover the essential self. One must come out of everything else into one’s self." (Nicoll, 1996) Heloise Crista joined the Taliesin Fellowship in 1949, not to become an architect, but rather to be in "the atmosphere of such ideas and such people as Mr. and Mrs. Wright and the community of apprentices." While at Taliesin, Heloise studied dance under Olgivanna and Frank Lloyd Wright’s daughter, Iovanna, and was a respected and extremely talented performer. In addition to dance, Heloise specialized in making highly-decorated, intricate costumes and sets for the performances, known then as "movement performances." Her performances and creations were influenced by her study of the philosophy of Russian mystic George Gurdjieff, which she continued throughout her life. Over time, however, Heloise became known for her sculpture, an interest sparked at Taliesin. Her first major work was a bronze bust of Wright, in 1956, which rem