In the New Myth Series, I worked to extend the physical boundaries of the material and explore an alternate way of working with ceramic. The process started by making and firing large solid blocks of clay. Then to create the work, I carved the blocks using the same tools a stone carver would use to carve stone. The process of making my own “stone” gave me a new perspective on an ancient material; I began to see ceramic, rather than clay, as my raw material.
The rarity of carving fired ceramic gave me the opportunity to bring another mystery into the work, as most viewers were unsure of what the objects were made out of. This provided a critical beginning point to seeing the work and it was my hope that within this mystery, a wonderment of the unknown would be a jumping off point for developing one’s own story about what the object is, or was.
Through mystery and curiosity, the stage was set for the viewer to create their own unique history of the object, a personal story that was an amalgam of their past experiences. To me, that process felt honest because the story existed mainly within a personal conversation with the work. In this way, my hope was for the viewer to use that story to create their own new mythology about an object, and it’s possible place in time and a personal history.
(left to right from top)
New Myth Series: Separator
15in x 90in x 20in
carved earthenware, carved limestone
New Myth Series: The Rod
21in x 68in x 11in
carved earthenware, carved limestone
New Myth Series: Boundary
26in x 22in x 21ft
carved earthenware and porcelain
New Myth Series: Site
45in x 22in x 56in
carved earthenware and porcelain
New Myth Series: Keys
22in x 36in x 60in
carved earthenware, carved limestone
New Myth Series: The Line
16in x 8in x 7in
carved earthenware
New Myth Series: Spinner (without rod)
11in x 10in x 8in
carved earthenware
New Myth Series: Offering
12in x 23in x 75in
carved earthenware
New Myth Series: Draw
19in x 12in x 17in
carved earthenware, carved limestone