Since 1998 Karla has been spending extended periods of time in Kathmandu, Nepal where she is studying traditional painting techniques and the “lost wax” method of bronze casting.

Currently, Karla is working on a larger-than-life-size statue in Kathmandu commissioned by the Nityananda Institute, a meditation center based in Portland Oregon. The statue is a portrait of American-born meditation master Swami Rudrananda (Rudi). Karla is creating the statue with the assistance of Ravindra Jyapoo, a well-known Newari sculptor/bronze caster in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The Newari artisans of Kathmandu are among the best in the world at the lost wax process. The conditions in which they work today and the techniques they use are largely unchanged since the beginning of their tradition. They work in poorly lit, small spaces with no ventilation, and yet turn out true masterpieces displaying some of the most refined workmanship in the world.

Work on the Rudi statue began in Ravindra’s small house at the base of Swayambunath stupa in 2001. The statue will be cast using the five-metal technique. This method was chosen because the five-metal technique is the method traditionally used in Nepal and India to create sacred images. This technique combines gold, silver, copper, zinc and tin, each of which correlate vibrationally to planetary energies, similar to the way gemstones are used in the Vedic system. Karla will return to Nepal in spring of 2005 for the casting and final finishing of the statue.

> Read an article Karla wrote about this process published on Asianart.com