Organic Abstraction and Improvisations: A collection of recent sculptural ceramic work inspired by objects and occurrences in the natural world.
Ideas for my sculptural forms come directly from objects that I observe in nature. I am interested in the way things grow, transform, die and decompose. I notice the construction of forms in the natural world and pay attention to transitions from inside space to outside space, from flat plane to curve, from large volume to small detail. So, the pieces I create are often inspired by specific objects in nature, but are rarely explicit portraits of these objects. The natural object may guide the initial form and decisions about texture and structure, but once the piece is underway, it becomes more of an improvisation. When sculpting in my studio, I usually work on several pieces at one time, experimenting with variations on the same idea. This helps create a kind of visual language that is derived from the original object but that has begun to evolve into something new.
My recent body of work which I call organic improvisations is once again, inspired by nature. These sculptures are built to reflect the effects that universal forces have on everything we experience. They are fabrications- they are fictitious- they are abstract, but they are built to respect the governing laws of physics and nature. Spirals are a particular favorite of mine. They allow for views of interior and exterior space and have a satisfying way of resolving into themselves- finding their center.
