1974 - 1979

In 1974, Carla had a solo exhibition at Iolas in New York and at the Phillips Collection in Washington. Also, she shows “Maps Of Light And Shadow” in Altissimo in 1974. She spends time in Wyoming at the site of the jade quarries to extract boulders for monumental sculptures, architectural structures and objects. This project was interrupted due to Mr. Hunger's death. She then does “Ripped.” Which is a collection of 4 small scale models of black and white tapestries to be woven in Aubusson. Included is “Chapel Of All Religions,” which is a model of a church with a glass roof and water flowing. She wanted to create a space always looking at the sky. It was unrealized.

She then makes her first alabaster sculpture, “For The Light.” “Stele For a Prayer” is acquired by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. She has a solo exhibition at Gimpels in 1976, where she shows her granite and marble pieces, and some floor sculptures. She also does the field installation “For Spring.” It is hand-knitted raw silk and cotton sheets shaped and stressed by wind. Carla then helps on a photographic project by Carlo Lavatelli Herrmann. The project is a series called “Fragile, Perishable Environments.” Due to a terrible accident, where much of her work is damaged or destroyed, she experiences a severe illness and is “blinded by rage.” Once restored to good health, she leaves Gimpel and Weitzenhoffer in 1978.

After the unfortunate incident, she begins work on “A Place For Prayer” and “A Space For Peace” (a water, earth and stone burial place). Her stone and marble sculpture, “Maps Of Light: Negative and Positive,” is destroyed and removed from St. Peter's Lutheran Church. She then builds her own space from an abandoned garage in the landmark building at 140 Thompson Street in New York. Her suspended floating sheets of paper are first noticed by photographer, collector and philanthropist Aaron Rose and his wife Jessica. In 1978, her first major happening, together with music, is made in their building at 392 West Broadway. The installation “Festa For The Roses” is visited by the public, filmed by Carla, herself, and photographed by Aaron Rose. He presents Carla with 30 black and white photographs of the event. It remains on view for one year. Later, two sculptures are installed at Princeton University, at the Woodrow Wilson Building (Yamasaki), and at the Institute of Advanced Studies (Robert Geddes)on loan for two years.

She then works on projects and presents mock-ups for public sculptures with Skydmore Owen and Merryl, Milo Barnum Associates, Pomeroy and Lebduska, and Davies and Brody, to name a few. All of which is unrealized. During this time, she is also commissioned to do a sculpture for Park 80 Plaza West, New Jersey (Bernard Grad Partnership). She also creates a sculpture and a weaving for Sandoz. At the end of this time period, the stone sculpture “Black Bodigoi,” is acquired by the Williamsburgh Muscarelle Museum.