ONCE THERE WAS

SPOON & SPRIG STUDIO NOTES ON ONCE THERE WAS

I began to grow these abstract forms first by coil building, allowing the clay to remain wet as it grew to allow the weight and gravity affect the form. Quickly it came to resemble coral, and as I grew each polyp individually, I imagined the outcome, realizing the white of the porcelain would reflect that of a bleached coral reef. 

What I was creating would grow to imitate the destruction that was occurring within our oceans. I felt even though I was creating to make art, I was participating in this idea that our solution to this destruction is to create man made replacements of something that had already existed perfectly. To replace natural with artificial in an ironic attempt to save our world from our mistakes. 

The commentary within my art pieces is usually soft-spoken and meant to be a quiet personal experience with the viewer and their internal self, but Once There Was... seemed to become much more vocal as it left the internal and spoke upon something that effects us collectively and is happening in real time.

As I grew my little polyps, I couldn't help but think of what environmental impact I might have by creating these odes to the environment. Because although I was using a material who's composites had emerged from the earth, destruction occurred for them to be obtained. 

It will always be a situation of give and take, everything we do is a contribution to this cycle of destruction and creation.  The two colors of the naked clay further reflect the presence of this duality.  And the pink sand, and vibrant blues of the pedestal exist as a reminder of our artificial contributions to our world.