Visions In Clay 2019

Denise Woodward-Detrich
My work is made in response to the proliferation of mass-produced objects that saturate our daily lives and is driven by my ability as an artist to create one of a kind works exploring utility. Utilizing examples found in nature my works explores mechanisms deploying sustenance in the context of surrounding environments.
My wall vases are a new body of work inspired by the experience of being in nature and finding unexpected compositions tucked away in small intimate areas such as under logs, at the base of tree trunks and at the intersection of rocks & moss. I am fascinated by the codependence of the surrounding environments in which plants decide to root. These unexpected places and moments highlight the importance of multiple micro & macro environs which living organisms need to flourish. Within the wall vase I am drawing a parallel between those moments happened upon in nature and creating similar experiences for the home through functional objects. I am inspired by the poetic analogies that can be drawn between ecosystems found in nature and the “ecosystem” of the home.
The surfaces of my forms draw analogies between skin and the landscape and between function and implied movement. The interplay of these elements speaks to the connectivity between the body, environment, form and function. My forms draw on the interaction between an object, its function, the user, and the experience of use. The surfaces of my work are inspired by and refer to my local surrounding such streams and riverbeds, landscapes and gardens, hay bales and hillsides, and flora and fauna. The scale of the work is intimate and asks the viewer to reflect on the intimate and unconsidered moments taking place in our lives every day.
Salt-fired white stoneware
18” x 7” x 4”