As she wandered along the beaches and byways of Bermuda, fascinated by Bermuda's tempestuous maritime history of shipwrecks and sunken treasure, Susan Luery began to have "visions'' of beautiful sirens rising from moonlit seas. "I could see ethereal images of these women luring unsuspecting sailors on the rocks!'' It was a far cry from the American sculptor's recent work -- massive, realist sculptures of baseball legends `Babe' Ruth and Cal Ripken, Jr. which have brought the Baltimore-based artist wide and unexpected fame. And not only fame, she laughs.

"You'd be astonished at how many people now ring me up to ask who I think will go on to the World Series, enquire about batting averages and ask my opinion on players I've never even heard of!'' Having won a competition for the commission of the 15-feet tall Babe Ruth Monument at Oriole Park, Camden Yards in Baltimore, she was approached in 1996 to create another sports statue -- this time commissioned by Cal Ripken Jr.'s home town of Aberdeen, Maryland. The Orioles star -- who has played moe consecutive major league games than any basebally player in history -- realised that a museum, devoted to his career, could revitalise the town. He stepped in to help.

"Within the first three months, over 3,000 people visited and put this little town on the map. So statues have become landmarks. The unveiling of Babe Ruth's was a huge event -- I even had to get up and make a speech. I didn't really know what to say, but I did make the point that statues perhaps make the passerby walk a little slower.

"Since then, I've seen my statue on the David Letterman Show, and on postcards all over the place, so I have the strange privilege of remaining anonymous, but watching my statue develop a life of its own!'' Currently in Bermuda as Masterworks' latest Artist-in-Residence, Ms Luery has come up with a proposed project that certainly matches her title of "monumental'' sculptor. Excited at finding what she calls "the perfect location'', Ms Luery, who likes to work in terms of "big pieces in natural environments'', says this was found almost by accident as she travelled about, absorbing the sights and atmosphere of the Island.

"I have toured on foot, by bus and ferry -- and suddenly came upon a fantastic group of rocks just off Gates Fort in St. George's. Perfect for my `sirens', framed by cliffs from behind, in the water but near enough to the shore to have a relationship with the land and buffeted by these amazing waves. I started to think in terms of three female figures who would use the rocks as a pedestal and, from a distance, they would look as if they were cavorting on the rocks.'' Admitting she never thought anyone would take this idea seriously, which had come to her while she was on holiday here after completing the Ripken statue, Ms Luery says it was a complete coincidence that her husband happened to pick up a brochure about Masterworks' three-month Artist-in-Residence programme.

She sent in an application and was accepted.

"In fact,'' confirms assistant director Elise Outerbridge, "Susan is one of the few artists who was not referred or recommended to us, but we were fascinated by her background and her proposals for a residency.

This includes an initial, three-foot tall statue modelled in clay with the concept of possible future enlargement and integration into a Bermudian seascape. A permanent casting, which will stand on its own as a finished work will be provided to Masterworks for permanent exhibition. A keen teacher, Ms Luery, who trained at the Maryland Institute of Art and then studied with master sculptor Alberto Sparapani in Italy, holds many workshops (including lectures aboard the QE2 ) and since her arrival here, has worked with the Island's schoolchildren.

Working every day with model Sasha Blackburn, Ms Luery has already designed the composition of three figures. She is now developing the tall, standing figure as a quarter maquette (preliminary model) which she hopes to have "refined'' and returned to Bermuda some time in October.

Explaining that she works in a very professional setting -- a huge warehouse space in Baltimore's Little Italy, Susan Luery describes her sojourn here as almost "like a trip back in time. Working here, I'm reminded of my life 20 years ago when I had to go around by bus, `begging' for pieces of wood, and working in a small studio.

Siren's call It's been quite a humbling experience, but wonderful in a way, because you remember what it's like to have to struggle! "I firmly believe that every artist has a moment of great realisation -- as I did with my `sirens' -- and then you start the actual execution of the idea.

But that great moment, for me, remains the real artwork. So by the time I leave here, I will have expressed that moment. If it should become a project, then it enters a whole new phase!'' Thanks to a chance reunion with local artist Manuel Palacio whom she had already met in the US, Ms Luery says he has volunteered to help her attempt to cast the mould here, in what she calls an `ad hoc' foundry in Dockyard.

Although no plans have been made beyond completion of her three clay models, Susan Luery remains captivated by the idea of long-ago sailors being bewitched by watery sirens.

"I do believe that monumental sculpture can elevate and inspire by its theatrical nature and I think Bermuda's rocky coastline provides a tremendous opportunity to utilise its seascape -- I can just `see' it, illuminated at night by soft lighting. I could see this as a great tourist attraction.'' CARVING OUT A FUTURE -- Sculptor Susan Luery, Masterworks' latest Artist-in-Residence, gives some pointers during one of her children's workshops.

SULTAN OF SWAT -- Susan Luery's statue of Babe Ruth in Baltimore -- Ruth's birthplace.