Clay Kidnapped Me
Clay and I found one another a number of years ago. Having worked myself out of job being a working, going to school, teaching my own children mom. My son and daughter had found satisfying, successful lives of their own. With retirement on the horizon, I began to search for not a hobby exactly but a “side hustle”. Something to really challenge me. Something to hold my interest and keep my mind busy and hopefully healthy.
Having a lifelong love of art or at least since my French teacher in high school shared her love for art, I had been seeking art ever since. Any time I came near art gallery or art museum, I was all in to visit.
My sister Vickie and I traveled to Italy. I had been to Italy but not to the Vatican. I thought I had no interest in the Vatican, but she insisted. It was beautiful and intriguing but did not “speak to me”. I found the plaster replica of the Pieta ordinary. So, I considered skipping the St. Peter’s Basilica to enjoy the sunshine outside.
My sister insisted that I must at least “check it out”. We walked through the door to stunning, serene chapel. My sister tapped me on the arm. “There’s the Pieta!” Tears and a sweet, serene feeling engulfed me. I could hardly believe that I, a girl who loved the Culture Days of my long ago teacher, lead me to an experience I will will never forget!
A subsequent trip to Daufauskie Island, SC gave me the “clay bug.” At first, I took several classes on both the “wheel” but it was “handbuilding” that true enjoyment. Through handbuilding I found a means of expressing my love for nature and the out-of-doors. I never use molds as each leaf, cone, or twig I use to make impressions leads to a natural, expressive look.
As my young daughter had grown up, I had begun to look more closely at the progress made towards women’s rights. When Ruth Bader Ginsberg died, I made my first ever Dynamic Women sculpture. The more I sculpted, the more I learned about many other women whose efforts helped bring women to where they are today. I had never even heard of several of most influential women’s accomplishments.