High fired ceramic Oars are part of the Sailmaker series. I am exploring with glazes and other organic materials to achieve an entropic, corrosive look while maintaining the elegance of the piece. Still juxtaposing primitive with contemporary and aiming at giving the sculptures an archaeological appearance.
These images show some of the areas of installation at the exhibit.
The sculptures are either wood or soda fired. I added flashing slips, copper, iron, oyster shells, and some glaze to get the rich results.
My intent is to make the objects appear as if from an archaeological dig or found at the bottom of the sea after hundreds of years.
They represent our passage through time.
Working on Finding our Past. walls on side of underpass off Highway 1 at Porter and Bay Avenue Exit in Santa Cruz, California. Clay and cement, Two walls each 110 feet long. 1996. This Sculpture won the Environs Enhancement Award from Cal Trans in 1997 and the Santa Cruz Archaeological Society Presidential Award for artistic effort and contribution toward archaeological awareness
These are images of the construction of the Arch. It is in Aptos California. Created in 2004
Click on link below to hear interview with Ruth Copland with me about my work, art, and the art process. Interview begins at 52:30 minutes
http://bit.ly/1dHS3Cw
This is a video showing how simple it can be to make a large ceramic piece. Just have fun with it.
Santa Cruz County
2013 Artist of the Year
Susana Arias
“The Sailmaker” Series
July 19-September 22, 2013
Santa CruzMuseum of Art and History
705 Front St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
“Passage”
Soda Fired Ceramics and steel
60″x46″x7″
photo by rr Jones
The Santa Cruz County Arts Commission is pleased to announce
2013 Artist of the Year Susana Arias
Profile Performance
Friday, May 24, 7:00 p.m.
Museum of Art & History, Santa Cruz
I will be giving a talk at MAH Museum of art and History in Santa Cruz, California, about the different events I’ve put together and the new series I’m working on “sailmaker”. How it came about, and the process of developing a series.
Photo by r.r. jones
Susana Arias has been named the 2013 Artist of the Year by the Santa Cruz County Arts Commission. Susana, a nationally-recognized artist, is the County’s 27th artist to be so honored. The high level of artistic production in Santa Cruz County is acknowledged through the Artist of the Year Award. Recipients must live in Santa Cruz County and have a national and/or international reputation, as well as having contributed to the cultural enrichment of the local community.
Join us for a Profile Performance on May 24 at the Museum of Art and History (MAH). Susana will be discussing her work and process, and attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to a work in-progress. Admission is FREE to the public; seating is limited, and available on a first-come, first-served basis the night of the event. The following afternoon at the MAH, Susana will be leading a hands-on workshop where participants of all ages will have the opportunity to make a clay bird. The birds will become part of a community sculpture that will be included in Susana’s exhibition at the MAH in July.
Susana’s work was on exhibition at the Pajaro Valley Arts Council, March 10 to April 14. Her work will also be on exhibition at the MAH from July 19- August 18, 2013. Please visit www.scparks.com for more details about Susana Arias and the Artist of the Year award.
Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works Parks, Open Space & Cultural Services Division 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95062
I was honored by Santa Cruz County “2013 Artist of the Year”. This is the first exhibit related to this honor. It celebrates all the Artists of the Year from past years and gives me a little extra space to show my work and present events, public art, exhibits and series of art works from my career.
watch video about the firing process
watch video describing the conception of “Sailmaker”
I started a new Mural with 3rd grade students at my neighborhood elementary school.
It is so much fun to do art with children.
We are painting Eucalyptus trees and will make monarch butterflies in clay to add to our mural.
We only use red, yellow and blue so all the colors are mixed by the children.
Here are some photos of our progress to date. We will make the ceramic butterflies next week.
These are sketches to commence my new series of sculptures.
The Sailmaker series
