Beth Kamhi, Sculpture/Mixed-Media
In the "From the Secret Life of..." series, I employ the form of a hand built ceramic tree trunk to explore the tension between life’s opposing elements, such as birth, rebirth and decay. The outer skin of each log is rugged, solid and masculine. The bark enfolds on an inner, imagined space that reveals a more delicate, feminine core. This core discloses embellishments such as embedded text, fused glass and decorative decals and written poems or journaling. This juxtaposition of contradictory ideas and surfaces forms the cornerstone of my work.
Some of the works are built for functional use and raku post firing reduction; others are built for electric kiln and delicate china decal firings. When creating for raku, I often use two different clay bodies on each piece to create a fantastic structural reaction to this extremely rapid firing I never know exactly how each piece will react to 40 minute of gas firing at 1800 degrees and then quickly pulling the red hot pieces out of the kiln, and placing them in a metal bin with combustibles to continue the post fire reduction process for the surface detail and the many craggy splits, crevices and carbon infusion on the clay.
Contact Information
Beth Kamhi, #101
www.bethkamhi.com
info@bethkamhi.com
(630) 951-1184
