ARTIST      STATEMENT BIOGRAPHICAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS ORGANIZATIONS COLLECTIONS TO SEE      SHOWS GALLERIES INSTALLATION CONTACT

Susan Fox Hirschmann 4810 Tabard Place Annandale, VA 22003-4053 Phone: 1-703-978-1480 Email: artpottery@earthlink.net

ARTIST STATEMENT

Years of varied art studies made me realize that all life is a learning continuem. Over the years, I became aware that each step in creating art was integral to the next step. The culmination of years of study has been the synthesis of art, design, clay, painting, and fiber into mixed media art forms. I have matured, new interests in the outdoors and in exercising, be it hiking, running, resistance training or karate, also have influenced my work. The work now has movement, a certain lyricism and energy appears to have evolved. My inspiration is also provided by nature: the rhythm of ocean waves, the sand on the beaches, the vibrance of a New Mexico sunset, and the depth of the Caribbean's colors are all blended in my work. Design, color and texture are important. Painting now takes on the form of airbrushing with multiple glazes, thereby achieving complex colors. Like nature's land and sea scapes, my designs incorporate natural fibers, elevating the clay form into a new dimension. It is like the rhythms of the water, the sky and the grasses transformed the shore elements to be part of them. They combine to form a "onesness", a complete design. I actually paint rhythm into the clay and fiber. But mostly, I hope to convey my joy with the creative process.

May the viewer imagine, dream, explore and enjoy!

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BIOGRAPHICAL

The creation of art has been my life-long passion. My childhood, only steps from a South Jersey beach, cultivated an early love of the ocean, the dunes and the exquisite beauty of the sea. Years later, ironically, I would return to the earth in my chosen art form. My youthful creativity was expressed in drawing and painting, while my college studies were in art history and watercolor. In graduate school, my focus was interior design and fine-arts, still somehow wandering through the art world, in search of direction. I found clay at 30, and knew the search had ended.

I received a BA at American University, with graduate studies at George Washington University, and the Corcoran School of Art, all in Washington, D.C.

I studied pottery, and spent years refining my pottery wheel throwing skills. In addition, architectural ceramics has been a special interest of mine. Fiber work, largely off loom weaving, reed dying and papermaking have been self-taught. I enjoy using textural natural materials, such as palm tree bark, grapevines, and other wild plant life in my work, as well as some sheep's wool, yarn, and metal. Being conscious of our earth's limits, I reuse, recycle and tread lightly, when using natural plant fibers. For the past 20 years, I have exhibited at fine art and craft shows, mostly in the East, South and Mid-West U.S. I have designed larger pieces for numerous private commissions in office buildings and homes. During this time, my travels to New Mexico, the California Coastline, and Puerto Rico have greatly influenced my work. In nature there is a rhythm of earth, sky and water, that I try to capture in my art forms.

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Features "Ode to the Orioles Basket"

The Crafts Report
featured artist (two occasions)

Niche Magazine

Virginia Artisans Directory

Sunshine Artist Cover Photo

Numerous Promotional Show Postcards and Posters Nationwide

Numerous Newspaper & Magazine Articles
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ORGANIZATIONS

American Craft Council

The Michigan Guild of Artists and Artisans

Pyramid Atlantic Papermakers

Craft Emergency Relief Fund

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COLLECTIONS

White House Collection of Ornamental Crafts
Washington, DC

Decorator Show house - Lansing, MI

Bank of Canada collection

Decatur House Museum

Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC

University of Michigan, School of Business

Many Pieces Donated for Charitable Auctions

Numerous Private, Commercial & Residential Commissions
Worldwide
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INSTALLATION

Commissioned work is a specialty of Susan's. She designs and creates mixed media wall art that is specific to each residential or office interior, color coordinating the work to compliment the space. Design fees and prices are unique to each artistic endeavor. All hanging systems are easy to install. The commission shown, "Geometrix" was designed in porcelain and handmade paper for a 15' x 17' wall.

E MAIL  Susan for additional information