The Splendid Hen is all about artful fowl and more, It all began with a series of paper mache chickens made by Ana Flores for her sculptural installation about Cuba. That project, Cuba Journal, was Ana’s response to her first return to the island in 2002. Flores is Cuban-born. The larger sculptural elements in the installation had to be kept together since it was traveling to many galleries and museums, but Flores made paper mache chickens to be sold at each new venue. This latest series of paper mache chickens began during the pandemic to bring joy and relief to the artist as she worked to finish a series of cast metal sculptures for her upcoming museum show. She found the paper mache process therapeutic and a good way to begin her day in the studio before going on to working in metal. Flores has also had her own chickens at her home and studio in Charlestown, RI. They always provided a great cache of funny stories and warm eggs.