Sculpting Olympic spirit.

The 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing will be host to dozens of sculptures created to embody the Olympic spirit as part of a landscape sculpture design contest. More than 2,000 sculptures from 84 countries were entered in the contest, 400 of which were exhibited in cities on the Chinese mainland, as well as throughout the world. One of the short-listed sculptures was created by American artist Shray, whose piece, "Raising Tomorrow's Olympic Champions," was produced in bronze via investment casting.

"Not many people realize all it takes to create a bronze," Shray said in a public statement. "The [metalcasting facility] is extremely important. I'm in control of my work and consider each work one of a kind and its own entity. I have great respect for those at the [metalcasting facility] who work on my pieces."

Using the subtractionist technique, Shray starts with a block of clay and shapes her sculptures without the use of a framework to support the figure. Rather than add clay as she goes along, she works with the lines and shadows of the block, taking away clay where needed.

Shray's Olympic design was on display at the Art Foundry, Sacramento, Calif., last year as part of the international exhibit of Olympic sculptures. The final medalists of the contest were announced in May. Most of the winning sculptures will be on display in the Beijing Olympic Green this month.

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