Sunday, November 7, 2010

Earth Divers, MFA Final Show

The title Earth Divers is derived from the idea of the human family owing our existence to the earth, meaning clay, from which we came and to which we must return. The use of clay in combination with the human form has universal poetic meaning. The human form that shapes my work is not premeditated beyond the use of a given mold from which my sculptures are inspired. No drawings are made ahead of time. I physically dive into the clay construction process and allow the mold from which I build to lead me in a dance with the clay.

Earth Diver I

Earth Diver II


Earth Diver III


Earth Diver IV


Earth Diver V


Earth Diver VI


My stoneware sculptures in my MFA final project were named Earth Divers because clay as a material is earth and clay is also symbolic of the Earth. The way that I physically dive into clay up to my elbows is also a poetic performance.