Collection: JANICE CORMIER

ARTIST STATEMENT

I am fascinated by the collaboration of basic elements of nature that come together in creating ceramics: earth, fire, water, air. There is also something visceral about working with my hands in clay. This human practice of shaping the earth with our hands has been around for thousands of years — perhaps because it reminds us of who we are, why we are here, or that we are part of Nature.

In my artistic practice, I draw from my interests in psychology, human biology and ecology. I am concerned with questions of human empathy and compassion: how they intersect in the human–Nature relationship, and how they help us remember or re–create an emotional bond with nature where it is lost. My sculptural work serves as a physical and conceptual exploration of related themes such as connection, home, and sense of belonging to place.

I value the slow and contemplative process of traditional hand building methods. This gradual and intuitive approach allows me to create organic and biomorphic forms. Collecting wild materials for inspiration and exploration in the studio is intrinsic to my artistic practice. I experiment with foraged clay, rocks, and other natural materials. The resulting sculptural forms and tactile surfaces reference elements of the natural landscapes that inform my work. Through form and surface, I seek to honor the natural beauty and qualities of the materials — to bring the earth to life, and to connect us to it.

Biography