“My daughter lives in France, so I’ve traveled there quite a bit in the last few years. I enjoy the art and architecture, the gorgeous countryside, learning the language… It’s truly a culture of romance. So in sculpting this piece about love, I wanted it to have a little more style and mystique… a sophistication, an elegance… I made changes to the dress — extending sleeves and neckline. I love the challenge of starting with a solid, opaque, hard surface, and carving and carving until it looks like embellished lace. Although influenced by France, Je t’aime is a universal piece. The sentiment moves from the universal, to the personal one-on-one. ‘In any language, it’s you I love.'" —Susan Lordi