Melody Tiemann - Melody Tiemann's Artist's Statement

Sculpture Statment

As with fairytales and fables, dreams are imaginary alternate worlds that convey underlying darkness and lessons to be learned. The sensory impressions left by dreams unite our experiences, memories, and the absurdities of daily life, and can change how we relate to and view the world. My artwork is often derived from the feelings and images that linger after dreaming.

Surrealism creates a connection between the realms of the unconscious and conscious experiences, often through juxtaposing incongruous imagery. In combining humor with disquieting themes, my sculptures become tableaus that explore human nature, specifically the desires and fears of my unconscious. The familiarity of an object, such as a dinner plate, when spiked, creates a disturbing narrative the viewer will imply through his/her own experiences.

The processes and rhythms of working in clay facilitate the connection between conscious and unconscious experiences, such as allowing the hands to work intuitively while the mind is focused on theory. In addition, the versatility and malleability of clay allow for the achievement of a variety of forms and surfaces that express the qualities of surrealism I am seeking. Although process is important, my choice of materials is ultimately determined by their suitability to the emotions and ideas I want to convey.

Functional Statement

Wrapping my fingers around a handmade cup brings me both comfort and happiness, much like curling up in a quilt that my grandmother made. I love how both can connect you with your senses and bring about nostalgia. It is with this in mind that I make pottery for daily use.

My forms combine my love of the organic and the structured. The fluidity of a rim combined with the darting of the foot creates pots that are often irregular and sometimes precarious. They are designed to invite the user, but to also make them aware of how the form rests in the hand or on the table.

My surface designs, of lines, textures, and patterns, are inspired by looking at flowers in the garden, researching organisms under a microscope, leafing through old wallpaper samples and digging through fabric scraps. I love combining the abstracted natural and organic elements of the drawings with the more structured slip patterning reminiscent of textiles. By layering the drawings with patterning and color, I hope to evoke a sense of nostalgia, for a place or time, thereby creating a favorite object for the user.

In addition to the surface design, I delight in juxtaposing glazed areas with raw clay. On the interior of a pot, the glaze has a specific function, but on the outside next to raw clay it has another function: to assault the senses. For me, it triggers my imagination and sense of touch. The exterior of the pot becomes the waxy feel of flower petals against a cotton quilt.

home Gallery Artist's Statements CV Bio Links Contact				Sculpture Statment As with fairytales and fables, dreams are imaginary alternate worlds that convey underlying darkness and lessons to be learned. The sensory impressions left by dreams unite our experiences, memories, and the absurdities of daily life, and can change how we relate to and view the world. My artwork is often derived from the feelings and images that linger after dreaming. Surrealism creates a connection between the realms of the unconscious and conscious experiences, often through juxtaposing incongruous imagery. In combining humor with disquieting themes, my sculptures become tableaus that explore human nature, specifically the desires and fears of my unconscious. The familiarity of an object, such as a dinner plate, when spiked, creates a disturbing narrative the viewer will imply through his/her own experiences. The processes and rhythms of working in clay facilitate the connection between conscious and unconscious experiences, such as allowing the hands to work intuitively while the mind is focused on theory. In addition, the versatility and malleability of clay allow for the achievement of a variety of forms and surfaces that express the qualities of surrealism I am seeking. Although process is important, my choice of materials is ultimately determined by their suitability to the emotions and ideas I want to convey. Functional Statement Wrapping my fingers around a handmade cup brings me both comfort and happiness, much like curling up in a quilt that my grandmother made. I love how both can connect you with your senses and bring about nostalgia. It is with this in mind that I make pottery for daily use. My forms combine my love of the organic and the structured. The fluidity of a rim combined with the darting of the foot creates pots that are often irregular and sometimes precarious. They are designed to invite the user, but to also make them aware of how the form rests in the hand or on the table. My surface designs, of lines, textures, and patterns, are inspired by looking at flowers in the garden, researching organisms under a microscope, leafing through old wallpaper samples and digging through fabric scraps. I love combining the abstracted natural and organic elements of the drawings with the more structured slip patterning reminiscent of textiles. By layering the drawings with patterning and color, I hope to evoke a sense of nostalgia, for a place or time, thereby creating a favorite object for the user. In addition to the surface design, I delight in juxtaposing glazed areas with raw clay. On the interior of a pot, the glaze has a specific function, but on the outside next to raw clay it has another function: to assault the senses. For me, it triggers my imagination and sense of touch. The exterior of the pot becomes the waxy feel of flower petals against a cotton quilt.


Melody Tiemann