+ barrett stanley: work in clay +

barrett stanley
artist statement

My current work in clay is a conversation with the abnormal. These pieces explore the gray areas where life intersects with the unknown; a territory where regular folks mingle with psychics, vampires, Bigfoot, and Santa Claus. I use wheel-thrown functional pottery as well as hand-built vessels and wall-mounted “slab paintings” to express these ideas, sometimes incorporating text into the imagery to either clarify or obfuscate the meaning. I enjoy watching viewers' reactions to the work, which usually begin with a laugh that quickly fades into an uneasy silence. These pieces are meant to provoke the imagination and, if possible, raise the hairs on the back of your neck a little.

In addition to my clay work, I have recently returned to drawing on paper. For the last several years most of my drawing has been done on clay pieces; I create preliminary sketches directly on the bisque-fired clay itself and rework them into finished images without the use of separate drawings. This approach leaves no “paper trail” of my working method. The instant gratification of working on paper attracts me, and I am enjoying the immediacy of this medium.

Another interest I am currently exploring is digital art designed specifically for the Internet. The techniques involved in making my digital drawings and animations are far removed from those I use in my other work, and it is exciting to be involved in a medium which is still so new. I feel that the Web will eventually become one of the most important venues in the world for creating and viewing art.

-barrett stanley, 2006