People, Ravens, and Crows by Suzanne Storer
People, Ravens, and Crows
by Suzanne Storer
Artist's Talk: Sat, Nov 23, 3:30pm
Reception: Sat, Nov 23, 4–5:30pm
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
The raven and crow pieces you see here are the final work I completed as a potter.
Now I am a sculptor creating figurative work in high relief for the wall. It is the art of my heart of hearts. I am grateful to have been given the freedom, the ability and the desire to pursue what is most meaningful to me.
People are the most compelling subjects that I know of. My work depicts everyday people who often pose for me unclothed. They are real people coping, surviving and thriving in today’s world. My art stems from my innate desire to make connection with my fellow human beings. I begin each work by looking at my model for an extended period of time while drawing a portion of their body always from a point of view that creates an interesting shape. Working in clay I add volume to this drawing. By doing so I make what was once an illusion (a drawing) real because it now exists in three dimensions. Now line and shape combine with volume and all the other elements visual and tactile art can provide to make that connection as poignant as possible between artist and model and you, the viewer.
A leading curator and author of ceramics, Mark Del Vecchio, told me that no one he knows is creating figurative work in high relief as fine as the work you see here. The sculpture “Alec, My Son” was exhibited last fall at “Ecumene; Global Interface in American Ceramics” in Santa Fe new Mexico. More information about my artwork and myself can be found online at www.suzannestorer.com.
ARTIST'S BIOGRAPHY
The excellent eye/hand coordination I was born with has played a large role in my success as an artist. I knew as a child who loved ball sports that as I grew older my interest in making art would overtake playing sports. I’ve brought to the studio lessons learned from countless hours spent on the tennis court. These include the importance of correctly perceiving perspective and proportion, body awareness, continual practice to keep my eye/hand skills sharp and, perhaps most importantly, perseverance. I learn from the previous pieces as I go forward. I’ve learned from many artists in developing my work including Picasso’s painted ceramics and especially the groundbreaking ceramic sculpture of the contemporary artist Akio Takamori. My current work combines all the skills I have accrued over the years working in clay with my ever-growing empathy with my fellow human beings.
Location: Main Library, Level 4 Gallery at Library Square
Contact Information: (801) 524-8200