Nestled in the lively cityscape of Milwaukee, Janet Adventure Sather is redefining abstract sculpture with an extraordinary twist. Her artistic medium? Conductive light fiber optic stranded sugar. This unconventional material, both delicate and luminous, brings her 2- and 3-dimensional sculptures to life, reflecting the unseen energy and auras of her subjects.
Janet’s gallery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, offers visitors a glimpse into this captivating fusion of light and form. Her artistic journey began unexpectedly, following a career that spanned business, education, philanthropy, and culinary arts. For many years, she believed her creative talents were limited. However, a spiritual calling led her into the realm of kitchen chemistry, where she stumbled upon the unique properties of her chosen medium. At 57, Janet is fully immersed in her passion, creating sculptures that challenge perceptions and illuminate the intangible.
Her process is just as intriguing as the final creations. By working with light and sugar, she crafts pieces that appear to pulse with energy, capturing the essence of her subjects. Janet’s sculptures go beyond visual appeal—they embody stories, emotions, and the energies that often remain unseen.
One particularly memorable project was “The Twins,” an exploration of the bond between four-year-old identical twins. The twins began life as a single cell before dividing, and Janet’s sculptures reflect this deep connection alongside their individuality. Using her unique medium, she crafted forms that shimmer with bright, charged energy—a perfect representation of the twins’ lively auras.
“It was such a fun project for me,” Janet shares. “Their auras were so vibrant and electrified, just as you’d expect from young kids full of energy and curiosity.”
Her creation process began with a single piece symbolizing their shared origin, before evolving into two distinct yet interconnected sculptures. The light-infused sugar forms capture both the twins’ unity and their separate personalities, highlighting Janet’s talent for translating intangible energies into visual art.
Not all of her projects carry the same playful energy. Some pieces delve into themes of pain, loss, and healing—like the deeply personal project titled “Bryce’s Crossing.” This two-part series tells the story of a young man named Bryce who tragically took his own life. The first sculpture reveals his inner turmoil, depicted through swirling, chaotic forms of dark and light.
“That first piece felt heavy,” Janet reflects. “Every strand of sugar seemed to carry the weight of his struggles.”
But something profound happened as Janet worked. Within hours of completing the first sculpture, she felt compelled to create a second piece. Using the same materials, she crafted “Bryce’s Crossing (II),” which radiates light and peace. The transformation between the two sculptures was striking—from turmoil to tranquility.
“It was clear to me that his spirit had crossed into the light,” Janet says. “The shift from one sculpture to the next wasn’t something I planned—it just happened. It was like witnessing a spiritual transition in real-time.”
This project stands as a testament to the duality of human experience—the darkness we endure and the light we seek. It also underscores Janet’s belief in art as a healing force, capable of capturing both struggle and solace.
Janet’s choice of medium is far from traditional, yet it suits her work perfectly. The fiber optic sugar strands shimmer, twist, and glow, creating a mesmerizing effect that evokes awe and curiosity. For her, the material itself is part of the story.
“It’s fragile but resilient,” Janet explains. “Just like human emotions and energy, it bends and twists, yet it holds its form.”
Combining her background in kitchen chemistry, spirituality, and a fascination with human energy, Janet creates sculptures that resonate on a deeper level. Each piece is a tangible reflection of unseen forces—a snapshot of energy captured in sugar and light.
“Every sculpture is its own adventure,” Janet says with a warm smile. “Whether I’m exploring the joyful energy of twins or the profound peace of a spirit crossing over, my goal is to bring light into the world—both literally and metaphorically.”
Her gallery is a space where visitors can immerse themselves in these luminous journeys. Janet Adventure Sather’s work invites people to look beyond what is visible and consider the unseen energies that shape our lives. Through her sculptures, she transforms light and sugar into stories of connection, emotion, and transformation—turning the intangible into something you can see and feel.
