w once asked me if I was a devil worshipper! I was showing a lot of different works - devils and angels among them. I find it interesting that many viewers will zoom in on the pieces that disturb them the most.
t would we do without him or her? I choose to depict the fool not as an object of ridicule, but of wisdom. I believe that there is much to be learned from the fool and that we need only look inside ourselves to find it.
Alice and followed her journeys in Wonderland. Even though I'm past the "one pill makes you larger" phase, I'll continue on down the rabbit hole to the game. There are just too many delightful characters to ignore.
t to stick around just a little bit longer? The title is a reference to one of those old songs that I can't seem to get out of my head. It surfaces now and again with its simple lyrics and repetitive chorus. The message here is that it seems to be those catchy little moments that leave lasting impressions. If only we could choose which moments would affect us so!
at faces"... this one looks like it has been forgotten somewhere and left to the elements. Although I don't like to admit it, I feel like that when I realize that I'm not getting any younger. Yikes, where did I leave that oil can?.jpg)
then sculpt on top of the "face blanks". I'm doing less and less of that these days - for the joy of sculpting! This is one of the last cast pieces that I made (about a year ago). At the time, I was also experimenting heavily with raku techniques - especially copper mattes. This mask is the culmination of those efforts.
elieve in angels, but I know that there is something watching over me. You can call it what you like! I've chosen to express it like this because the angel gives a feeling of protection in a tangible form. I can't always see what I know is there - and to explain, or prove it is impossible.
, I love plays on words and phrases. Even though many times they are cliches, they have become a part of our tradition and I respect that.
a rose - and roses are sweet....this is about as "girly" as my work gets! There are times when I just can't resist doing something pretty and flowery. I also rely heavily on literary references, so it was natural to combine the two in this mask.
tionary" piece - which means I did another, very similar, one. The first was left behind after my residency at the ICS in 2006 - so, at least I know that it has a good home! But this past year, I felt a need to make another. Of course, it's not the same...call it the up to date version.
relative of "Birdgirl"....perhaps a cousin or a sister. I can't seem to resist the birds showing up in my work - maybe because they represent, for me, the ultimate freedom.
ke a whole? Sometimes I wonder! I often feel divided or indecisive about something only to end up like poor Humpty Dumpty. If only there could be some space between the divisions, there might be a place where the parts could reconcile. Wow, this is surely the most cryptic entry yet....
piece from the leaf series. As with most things unexpected, there are mixed feelings. What is it here? Could it be surprise, delight, fear of the unknown, or even resolve? Since we all have our own reactions to the unexpected in life, the idea behind the mask is up to you, the viewer, to decide.
o you feed it? Do you weed it, or let it grow wild? Is it perennial or annual? Ah, the questions!
of masks with hearts as the focus. I also like to use doors that open to expose what's inside. Here, I've used them together to express the idea that we take a risk when we open our hearts. Even though risk is associated with danger, the key is there to assist the opening. I'm not really sure why I added the key, but it seemed hopeful somehow. Isn't there usually a key for a locked door? I seem to have more questions than answers.
offering from the leaf series. I wanted this "leaf" to appear surprised about its separation from the tree and a bit excited about the journey (as in free falling...). The leaves are becoming expressions of my own personal struggles with the challenges that life throws at me. Can I surrender? Can you?
t spaces and the spaces between the spaces. Does that make any sense?! Well, whether it does or not probably doesn't matter too much in the scheme of things. But, it's what I was thinking about when I sculpted this mask.
ing theme in my work. There is something unsettling in the question "which came first?". So, I use eggs to express some of these feelings of doubt. In this case, it's about risk and taking chances.
This is the latest entry and one of my favorites (it seems that the newest ones are always my favorite!). Birdgirl happens to be one of my alter-egos and the series represents the dreams and flights of fancy that are possible.
This is another of the "Hungary" pieces. I was feeling a bit old while working there! Many of the artists and students at the time were young (at least, younger than me) and, as always, I felt a need to fit in and to keep up. The mask suffered a "raku accident", so I decided to make the best of it. Sometimes, the accidents are upsetting, but I feel that this one actually benefits. The fact that it is broken and repaired highlights the fact that no matter what we do, the end result is the same.
Being a child of the 60's has left its mark on me and, though the times were turbulent in many ways, I remember them fondly. It's the rose colored glasses I suppose!
This is the offering for today - it's "Just a Little Piece of My Heart". The New Year seems like a good time to share this mask since it's all about beginnings....or is it about endings? I don't know, but I do know that it is about sharing.
I made this piece during my second residency at the International Ceramic Studios in Kecskemet, Hungary (May to July 2008). Of course, it is Raku - as was most of the work I did there. I'll be showing some more of these as the days go by. It's always inspiring for me to work in another country as I get ideas that I don't think I'd get at home in my studio. Then too, I bring away thoughts and images that will affect my work for years to come.
Right now, I'm gearing up to get back into the studio in a serious way. I never seem to get much done during the holidays - so many distractions. And these days, I'm easily distracted anyway. So - Here's to the New Year!!
