Artists
Karen Clark Antrim
ceramic sculpture
Artist's Statement
I have been potting and sculpting clay for the last thirty years. I am equally challenged and gratified by the hand building process involved in the creation of pottery and sculpture.
During the last twenty years I have been sculpting animals, and of late, ponies and horses of all shapes, sizes and personalities. They have been created because I have a fondness, admiration and fascination for these great animals. Each horse enjoys an elevated status, and reveals a multiplicity of traits, rooted in historical tradition, realistic interpretation, and imagination.
Depending on the type and character of each horse created, I decide which type of clay and firing technique will best suit the animal. I use earthenware, porcelain, stoneware, and raku clay bodies. The clay is coiled for the horse’s body and the legs are pinched by hand until the horse assumes the appropriate position. I continue to sculpt the horse until the true equine spirit emerges.
Large horses require about forty hours to create. Upon completion, the surface of the clay is burnished with a smooth stone until shiny. The sculpted horse is dried, fired, and then glazed. Firing techniques vary with the desired artistic outcomes. Earthenware horses are fired in a sawdust kiln. Porcelain horses are fired using either horsehair, raku or saggar firing techniques. And raku clay is fired in either a pit or in a raku kiln. Horsehair is usually applied for the mane and tail after the firing. Each horse offers a special challenge, a new adventure, and is indeed one of a kind.
Rescue Pony, as seen in the title of a few of my pieces of artwork, refers to a pony that has been slightly injured in some way during the challenge of the raku firing process. The pony has then been thoughtfully repaired, and holds the title of "rescue".
Karen was born in St. Louis, Missouri and educated at the University of Iowa. She holds a BA degree in Art and an MA in art education.
She has thirty-two years of experience teaching art at the elementary, middle and high school levels. During the last few years she has been employed as a ceramic consultant to the Webster Groves School District and has been an Artist in Residence at the elementary level.
Fine Arts Teacher of the Year Award - Metro South Arts Council, St. Louis, Missouri 2005
Greater St. Louis Art Association, Juried Member
Volunteer: Education Committee
The Best of Missouri Hands Missouri Artisans Association, Juried Member
volunteer: Student volunteer recruiter
Collectors of Selected Ponies
Sharon Hand, St. Louis, Missouri.
Jane Hogg, St. Louis, Missouri
Miriam Press, St. Louis, Missouri
Ann Goddard, St. Louis, Missouri
Exhibitions
"Ponies of Tang" Compônere Gallery, St. Louis, MO 2009
Updated: 2010.01.30
©2009 Componere, Inc.
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