I think of myself as an object maker rather than an artist. It seems a more free term, less vague and less pretentious. I have long since let go of the art vs. craft concerns and just want to concentrate on communicating.
The work shown here is broken into three
four parts (as of February 2008);
A series exploring the landscape, Traditional ceramic forms, Sculptural pieces in ceramic and mixed media,
and finally all the pieces that have been leading up to the first three
categories, a kind of attic collection.
Landscapes: This newest series of work is built upon the traditional vessel forms but with the focus on a narrative. This story telling takes place in a landscape with but a few elements, settlements and trees. Little else.
Traditional Forms: I do not consider myself a great potter. Most of my friends can throw faster and truer. Many have better studio techniques. I approach these forms as abstractions upon which I can build a story or observation. At the present I use crystalline glazes on porcelain, a particularly difficult subset of ceramics from a technical point. I am wrapped up in the challenges of both getting expected results and avoiding the garish gaudiness of traditional crystalline glazes. My vessels explore landscapes, geometry, ethereal depths, chemical mechanics and... well they are also meant to be visually and stylistically appealing.
Sculpture: My approach to the three dimensional has always been as a story teller. I observe my own experiences and those of others and try to translate that into an image. Once again the challenge of bringing a story concept to a three dimensional reality is a great part of the reason I do this work. After all, anyone can make an elephant fly on canvass.
The Attic: I keep these images of past work, some successes and some duds, as a history to go back to and to build from. They may be of interest to others as well. I imagine all makers have such a room that they go back to occasionally. Like the dinosaurs' part in evolution, it's sometimes good to dig up some bones.
It's Pretty, but can it
tap dance?
Traditional Forms, anew
Angst, Angst, Sturm and Drang. Ceramic Sculpture
It's in The Attic,
Attica!
Only History, "Oh, Evolve," she said.
