Beth Cavener Stichter | sculpture
āI choose clay to be the raw visceral material for my work, because its roots are wrapped around my past. I have always linked the materiality of flesh and the memory of it with clay. It has an incredible sensitivity to touch. Not only is the inert nature of the material alluring with its ties to the primitive and raw, but its voice spans a wide range of sensual, violent, and careless textural possibilities. It is intimately tied to our natural surroundings, cultural history, and a direct record of my physical presence. Every intimacy with the material is preserved."Ā āĀ Beth Cavener Stichter
"There are primitive animal instincts lurking in our own depths, waiting for the chance to slide past a conscious moment. The sculptures I create focus on human psychology, stripped of context and rationalization, and articulated through animal and human forms. On the surface, these figures are simply feral and domestic individuals suspended in a moment of tension. Beneath the surface they embody the impacts of aggression, territorial desires, isolation, and pack mentalityā¦"Ā Continue reading Bethās Artistic Statement.
Object Lesson: Apathy
stoneware, black porcelain slip, glass tank, water, steel Ā Ā
tank: 30 x 22 x 30 inches 2003
Object Lesson: Dissension Ā
stoneware, rope, block and tackle, barrel
goat: 45 x 24 x 36 inches 2003
Study for Self-Doubt Ā
stoneware, yellow porcelain slip
24 x 16 x 8 inches 2004Ā
The Inquisitors
stoneware, green porcelain slip, barn-wood crates constructed from found materials around the Archie Bray Foundation Ā
figures: 65 x 80 x 28 inches 2004
One Last Word Ā
stoneware, lavender gray porcelain slip cast iron gear from the Archie Bray Foundation Brickyard
24 x 28 x 18 inches 2005
Megrim Ā
stoneware, antique wooden and iron yoke, rope, forged iron rings, pulleys, rusted steel stand
goat: 30 x 45 x 18 inches 2005
Remember Me Ā
stoneware, antique brass hook Ā
11 x 10 x 5 inches Ā Ā 2006
Study for "Hare Leaping Over Nothing"Ā
stoneware,Ā rope, antique bronze hook Ā Ā
34 x 11 x 29 inches 2008Ā
Humiliation by Design
stoneware, steel, cast iron gears, rope
the handle to the right turns the cast iron gears, slowly rotating the figure on the center shaft
figure: 38 x 58 x 21 inches mechanism: 82 x 83 x 52 inches 2009
Your Eyes Have Their Silence
stoneware,Ā sticks, whiskers
13 x 12 x 8 inches 2009
A Rush of Blood to the Head
stoneware Ā
figures: 71 x 56 x 18 inches w/ pedestal: 80 x 72 x 41 inches 2009
Triomphe
stoneware,Ā leather belt, antique bronze sleigh bells Ā
(wall piece) Ā Ā 22 x 42 x 16 inches 2009
Is it me?
stoneware Ā
(wall piece) Ā Ā 36 x 44 x 12 inches 2009Ā
Husk
stoneware, wooden box Ā
34 x 19 x 13 inches 2009
A Second Kind of Loneliness
stoneware,Ā paper pinwheel,Ā internal mechanical breathing device Ā
every 8 seconds, a breath is releasedĀ from the goatās mouth, causing theĀ pinwheel to spin slowly Ā
figure: 64 x 107 x 22 inches w/ pinwheel: 64 x 117 x 22 inches 2009
Render
stoneware, wooden peg Ā
21 x 18 x 8 inches 2009Ā
Bolt
stoneware, cast iron bolt Ā
32 x 11 x 6 inchesĀ 2009 Ā
Study For Hare in a Net
Tipping Point
porcelain,Ā hemp net
Tipping Point: antique brass nautical scalesĀ edition of 8 Ā Ā
individual hare: 24 x 20 x 8 inches 2009Ā
The SanguineĀ (The Four Humors)
stoneware, mixed media
52 x 31 x 19 inches 2010
The MelancholicĀ (The Four Humors)
stoneware, mixed media
77 x 14 x 19 inches 2010
The CholericĀ (The Four Humors)
stoneware, mixed media
45 x 45 x 11 inches 2010
The PhlegmaticĀ (The Four Humors)
stoneware, mixed media
75 x 30 x 17 inches 2010
Bloom
stoneware, vintage handmade lace
installation: 144 x 144 x 12 inches 2010
Anywhere but Here
stoneware, antique iron hook,Ā dyed rope, wooden wall pedestal Ā
41 x 24 x 9 inchesĀ 2010
Study for a Netted Hare (Lavender) Ā
lavender porcelain, antique hook, dyed rope
14 x 7 x 8 inches 2010
The White Hind (The Bride)
stoneware based,Ā mixed media sculpture
68 x 50 x 18 inches
The Adoration (from Van Eyck)
stoneware based,Ā mixed media sculpture
168 x 36 x 16 inches
Study for The Adoration (from Van Eyck)
stoneware based,Ā mixed media sculpture
40 x 14 x 24 inchesĀ
The Question That Devours
stoneware
64 x 35 x 25 inchesĀ
The Sentimental Question
stoneware with Ceramic Glaze
50 x 35 x 17 inchesĀ
L'Amante
stoneware with ceramic glaze
45 x 60 x 44 inches
In Bocca al Lupo
stoneware based,Ā mixed media sculpture
56 x 84 x 24 inches
VisitĀ Beth Cavener Stichterās website for more work and a look into her materials & techniques.
Images from claireoliver.comĀ and followtheblackrabbit.com
