Diary Heads - A Conversation Between Two Selves
Clay, collaged cigar boxes.
First Place Award, Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA
I write each morning as a means to "empty my head", express my thoughts, deal with stress, and plan my day.
I was moved to write on the surface of these heads and discovered a new love of process.
This piece was a "watershed" piece; one that catapulted me into a new direction using clay and my writing together.
Belly, Guts, Spine; Anatomy of Selves
Clay, hardware, pearls and beads on wire, nest.
Second Place Award, Community Arts Center, Wallingford, PA
I am captivated by how our bodies work like finely tuned machines.
While creating this piece, I was recovering from a bad back and
was thinking about the complex functioning of my spine and other body parts.
She, Her, Me
Paper clay and fabric
My love of type shows in this figure, as well as my constant self-exploration:
I continually reassess myself as a girl/woman and artist, examining myself and how I am seen by the outside world.
In this piece I question the labels "she", "her", "me".
Spirit is Here
Clay, bisque fired, old bottle
I contemplate my spirituality everyday.
I contemplate believing in something that may be felt but not seen.
The clay portion of this piece almost floats in space, suspended by the glass
underneath in the same way I feel we are suspended in life by our spirit inside us.
Inside the bottle? I feel spirit is in everything, even inside the bottle whether you can see it or not.
I am still here
Clay, terra sigillata, sager fired
I am inspired by old and ancient things.
I feel at home in dusty antique shops and the ancient Egyptian galleries of museums.
I try to replicate a weathered feel to my clay pieces. I feel as humans
we "weather" a great deal in our lives and continue to survive and live on.
I also believe that after we are gone the memories other people have of us keep us alive.... in essence "we are still here".
Diary Figures
Clay, raku fired
In this series I am playing with type and texture as decorative motifs.
The letterforms on the clay surface fascinate and excite me.
Look Deeper
Clay, raku fired
This piece is about looking deeper into life and oneself.
I believe very few people really know themselves or are fully self-accepting.
While creating this piece, I contemplated my own depths and tried to like everything I found.
Purchase inquiries, please contact mhalseyart@me.com for further information.