Joy Krauthammer, Artist Statement

JOY KRAUTHAMMER

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

Earth and Fire

Sources of recent inspiration come from earth–ground swells and crevices, rocks, mountains and canyons –vistas of my own San Fernando Valley environment.

I express in clay my fondness for earth’s natural creations. I respond to the clay. The clay is responsive to me. I move and work from within the pot to help give the clay a life. To liberate the material.

My pots are organic and intense statements expressing the fullness and vitality of life. They are structurally controlled, true to the center of the wheel, yet freely altered in exploration. They burst forth with energy, form, texture, color, and pattern, integrating to wholeness. They are round, full, rough and sensual pots. They are raw and oozing. They are made from impressions of stones, dried cactus, bark, acorn, pine needles, pine cones, rice hulls, sea shells and my fingers pushing out the clay, giving it freedom.

Stoking wood, feeding fuel to the kiln, my pots receive marks from the flash of flames, ash and the wind.

I love digging my own pit with friends by the beach and rived bed and filling the pit with different fuels: gathered wood, cow chips, straw, pine needles, saw dust and sea weed, all adding an air of spontaneity and mystery to the firings.

I love the force of throwing salt into the kiln; the sodium reacting with silicate upon the surface of the clay body.

I love Raku.. I love the surprise, the crackles, the black, the red copper, the abalone; my personal involvement with the fire, smoke, weed and water. The unknown.

My original fascination with the clay came from watching the flowing creation of a vessel through the loving hands of James Crumrine, my Queens College instructor in the Fall of 1968. My soul's passion continued happily to the touch in my own hands, while also being exciting to my eyes.

Clay, this common earth substance reaches back and connects to the timeless quality of ancient vessels. My clay is a direct link of the contemporary cultural time with our history. My vessels reflect the religious traditions of my family and used in ritual ceremony.

I have created art to reflect my emotions, values, and attitudes; a personal connection with the past and the present -- the way I experience and communicate with life in joy.
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Joy's ARTs story:
http://www.joys-art.blogspot.com/
http://joys-poems.blogspot.com/2010/04/blog-post.html

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1985
 
May you be blessed to discover in joy, your passion, and share it.
 - Joy Krauthammer


Ivdu Et HaShem B'Simcha
Joy Krauthammer ©


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1 comment:

  1. hi joy i just googled jim Crumrine because I,too, was a student at QC in 1965 to 1969- and also remember J Holstead- very dear memories- in 1970- i also spent a year as a studio asst at Greenwich House and like you went on in 1975 to get an MSW.

    so hello from long ago.
    be well, berthirsch@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete

Hi,
Thank you for visiting and reading about my ARTS life that I have love.
I would love to hear from you. Feel free to leave a COMMENT.
BlesSings,
Joy

About Me

My photo
Joy Serves G*d in Joy as a passionate performing percussionist, poet, publisher, photographer, publicist, sound healer, spiritual guide, artist, gardener and Gemini. "Ivdu Et Hashem B'Simcha" -Psalm 100:2 ....... Joy Krauthammer, active in the Jewish Renewal, Feminist, and neo-Chasidic worlds for over three decades, kabbalistically leads Jewish women's life-cycle rituals. ... Workshops, and Bands are available for all Shuls, Sisterhoods, Rosh Chodeshes, Retreats, Concerts, Conferences & Festivals. ... My kavanah/intention is that my creative expressive gifts are inspirational, uplifting and joyous. In gratitude, I love doing mitzvot/good deeds, and connecting people in joy. In the zechut/merit of Reb Shlomo Carlebach, zt'l, I mamash love to help make our universe a smaller world, one REVEALING more spiritual consciousness, connection, compassion, and chesed/lovingkindness; to make visible the Face of the Divine... VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILE and enjoy all offerings.... For BOOKINGS write: joyofwisdom1 at gmail.com, leave a COMMENT below, or call me. ... "Don't Postpone Joy" bear photo montage by Joy. Click to enlarge. BlesSings, Joy