Thursday, August 25, 2011


Artist Statement






"I celebrate and grieve the similarities I share with my figurative sculptures; they are self- examinations. As I construct my ceramic forms, I analyze transitions and changes in my life. I represent myself through clay because I respond to its contrasting abilities to be fleshy yet rigid, geometric yet organic, and simultaneously strong yet fragile - all qualities identifiable and contradictory in human form and spirit. Physically, I may not change much from day to day, but my body is only an exterior mask for my emotions. Shedding the mask, I make myself inversely so that the ceramic exterior reflects my internal state; the fragmented bodily forms are hollow with openings, slits, and cracks revealing interior cavities. Since the initial act of change is unstable and awkward, I feel vulnerable.

My vulnerabilities can be protected or supported by an exterior structure; some thing that is not me, not clay. I build wood, fabric, or metal structures to cradle, push up, or envelop my figures, emphasizing the tension between support and form. I choose wood for its brittleness and strength, metal for its linear, flexible, weight-enduring ability, and fabric for its conforming and expansive protection.

The relationship between exterior structure and ceramic, or my support and myself, becomes a crucial element to the final work and installation; one exists for the other."


This statement is a continual work in progress. After today, I already feel it needs tweaking!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

normal work


Egon Shiele- Embrace


My past work has led me down a very exciting trail which includes moving to Normal, Il. Lately, I have been thinking a lot about how necessary vulnerablility is in relationships- especially in changing or progressing ones. I found myself looking and studying different forms of embraces. I looked up the word embrace and found out that almost every definition included the word 'take'. This was mind shattering for me I always felt that embracing was a form of giving something intimate. Don't get me wrong, I still feel an embrace can be energy giving btu doesn't that mean you take the other person's energy? What happens if it is one sided? Can guilt or shame be found in such an embrace? For my upcoming work I want to focus in on the individual within the embrace.