Associate Artist:
Marjorie Robbins
My experience working in clay began six years ago as a student at The Clay Studio. Previously, I spent years as a painter in the medium of watercolors, after which I developed an interest in puppetry and theater arts. I formed a puppet theater company, which allowed me to engage in the creation of original puppets, scripting, and story telling, that led to a career in puppetry performance. I have continuously been interested in the discovery of movement with inanimate objects and its articulation of gesture towards a desired expression.
I come to clay with a certain sensibility enhanced from my previous artistic experiences. The same impulse exists for me, a search for movement with a freshness and spontaneity. While staying close to traditional forms, gesture embodies the line and movement, and the vessel interacts with space, keeping the object alive. In creating a small cup, my aim is to have an audience participate in the artistic experience as they touch, search, and explore their place in the function of the piece. My goal is to continue exploring traditional vessels as it moves towards a freer sculptural form, expanding my own sense of aesthetics. I am interested in the use of color on the object and its interplay with light, dark, and shadow. I am also interested in exploring different atmospheric conditions, especially wood firing and understanding the interaction of glazes on these surfaces. Now being a member of the Associate Artist Program gives me the availability of time and space to be actively involved in this artistic journey.
