Touch

Artist: Syma

Older Adult Site: Co-Op Village NORC

Class: Practicing Studio Artist 

Material: Air-dry paper clay life mask; by hand with ink, pencil, oil stick, and found newspaper on painted wood panel.

Artist Statement: “My art-making is my favorite way to respond to personal life events, wishes, dreams, and worries. Clay and mixed media have been my media of choice for nearly 5 decades. With a degree in psychology and art, I am currently exploring references to artworks created to assist personal or community transformations.

During the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, I did not leave my home at all. My kitchen table became my studio. When asked to teach an online sculpture course, (FACES AND MASKS) for the Sculptors Alliance, I explored the possibilities of air-dry paper clay as a dust-free alternative to traditional mud-based clay. This self-portrait is the result of my preparatory experiments on my kitchen table. Playing around with different arrangements using my hand and my face, I realized that what I missed most was a nurturing touch...”

When this artwork was exhibited at the Carter Burden Gallery, gallery visitors were invited to use a QR code to link to my website, for COVID-19 safe participation.”

Size: 14 x 14 x 4 inches. Date: 2021