As visual artists, we are creative object makers-whether we are process-or result-oriented. Clay, as an artistic medium, offers endless choices for object making. As students of ceramics, our teachers guide us through the maze of possibilities: functional, decorative, architectural, sculptural, realistic or abstract.
In today’s art world, ceramicists are challenged to combine their pure form with various other media, such as painting, photography, video, computer graphics, installation, and recently, the emergence of 3D printing.
As I ventured deeper into the world of ceramics, my interest in psychology lead me to figurative ceramic sculpture. Eventually this curiosity brought on further questions: How could the process of making an object become more than just a challenge for myself? How could my work be societally beneficial and not merely satisfactory for myself? I found the answer by sculpting on site, in a nursing home, with residents as models. There I have discovered a way to put my art to work for society by recognizing, valuing and conveying an individual’s life experiences. This honest and artistic exchange has proven to be both profound and priceless for myself, the model and the viewer.
