Artist Statement
CVI believe there is a secret part of the self that hungers for adventure. Following the great pilgrimages of past eras, we too, seek the quest of something unknown as a way to invigorate everyday life. With the challenge of the venture, we may return to our old way of living with some new knowledge of ourselves or the world around us. Like our predecessors understood, the lure of discovery is compelling.
As a sculptor I seek to uncover this hidden desire for something new. I compose narratives in clay that give us a window into the mythical world of the traveler. Symbols from the nautical domain, such as maps and boats, are placed around clay figures. Each symbol is used to create a feeling of travel - arrival into an unknown place and departure from one's mundane experience. My mythological travelers portray the physical sense of travel as they may be seen peering thorough a large telescope or paddling through unknown waters, but the fanciful environment that surrounds them suggests this traveler is on an inward journey as well. The mental and spiritual aspects of the voyage become apparent in each sculpture.
Each clay piece is made separately and then assembled. Wood and metal are often included in the assemblages as a way to play contrasting surface textures off one another. The balance of the objects used in each piece is an important consideration when I am creating. I push the clay to look weightless and balanced, going against the very integral nature of clay and gravity. A balanced, weightless looking piece reflects the precarious nature of travel and all its unexpected challenges.
