Artist Statement

I grew up 15 miles north of Milwaukee in the town of Mequon, Wisconsin. It was there that I acquired a great love of nature due to the numerous surrounding open fields and woodlands. As a child I used my imagination to create stories about the woods and the fictitious creatures I imagined living there.

My interests lie in human history, the universality of religion, ancient cultures and their strong connection to the earth and cosmos. My work is a celebration as well as trepidation toward life and death; I am awe-struck by the beauty, brutality, complexity and mystery of existence.

When making art I am asking questions rather than seeking answers. It is also a reflection of a moment, a feeling and an idea. I am fascinated with the notion that art can hold great power. I believe it can influence the viewers` perceptions, ideas and emotions in reference to their world-view. I want my art to evoke associations on a primal level.

All of my sculptures are made from earthenware, a low fire clay body. They are one of a kind and are hand built using the coil and slab technique. The surfaces are intricately carved and textured. After firing the work I finish them off with underglazes and acrylic paint. This new body of work is a variety of female busts that are covered with a representation of various organic materials found in nature. The torso/pedestals have references to the female figure, antiquity, human evolution and the natural world.

"Art is a means of connecting two worlds, the visible and the invisible, the physical and the spiritual"

-Joseph Beuys

"The mystery of the universe is to be lived, not solved"

 -Mother Tessa Bielecki

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Copyright(c) 2005 Judith Simonds. All rights reserved.