What does a residency in Santa Fe do for a ceramic artist?
Do you go down the internet “rabbit hole” often? One of my 2015 goals is to limit this wandering. BUT, I did find our May featured artist, Marion Angelica, in this manner.
Marion Angelica and her husband
Marion has several arts degrees and began her ceramic career focused on sculpture. When her children were young, she worked in the arts and non-profit world. When Marion’s last child headed to college, this artist re-acquainted herself with clay and fell back in love with it. Marion decided that this time around she was going to focus on sculpturally oriented functional art.
In 2012 and 2013, this artist was awarded the Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist award. They allowed her to study the high desert for 6 weeks. Marion worked in the Santa Fe Clay studios focused on the Southwest land forms – forces of wind and water, the high desert’s rhythms, colors, and textures. She returned home to create texturally interesting porcelain pottery.
We are excited to exhibit and sell Marion’s work. Whenever, a new artist is featured at C2C Gallery, we ask them the same ten questions. It is a great way to learn a bit more about them.
Here are Marion Angelica’s answers to “Ten Questions to the Artist”
What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?
I am lucky that many things engage my creativity and spirituality. Nature is very important to me… most recently, I have been focusing on geology and the beauty created when wind and water sculpt the earth. My time in the high desert recently has influenced many of the shapes and textures in my work. When I have the opportunity to travel, the different shapes of people’s homes and the different plant life also excites me and winds up in my work.
Do you have an influence or theme that guides your work?
I don’t have a particular theme, but because of my background in sculpture and silver-smithing, form and texture are what I emphasize in my work.
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I would like to write poetry (and if I get a next life, with a young body, I would like to dance)
What profession would you not like to do?
Accounting… nix… numbers are not my forte
Who are your favorite artists?
Georgia O’Keefe, and the German Expressionist painters
Henry Moore and Modigliani are favorite sculptors
What is your favorite tool used to create your work?
My Dolan knife is a favorite so are soft Mudd ribs.
What is your favorite word?
It’s a phase, not a word… its my mantra…. “What if?” It leads me in new directions and encourages me to try to re-envision what is before me.
What is your least favorite word?
It is also a phrase.. one currently often used. The phrase is, “it is what it is”… somehow it strikes me as defeatist.
Who is your favorite musician?
Ella Fitzgerald and most jazz of her era, as well as Dvorjack (sp?). I listen to classical in my studio… it puts me in the zone to be calm, mindful and creative.
How much formal education have you received? Related to your craft.
I am a learning junkie!!! I have a BA in Fine Arts (sculpture) an MA in ceramics, an MFA in ceramics and a PhD in which is studied creativity as it applies to both art-making, scientific research and conflict resolution. Sorry… that’s a mouthful.
Thank you, Marion, for answering our ten questions. I appreciate your time
and your art.
I hope you, as the reader, are now curious about her ceramic work. Stop into the gallery to have a look, touch, and take a favorite piece home with you. Hope all is well in your world.
