Local Artist
Ann Berger - Sculptural Stoneware Clay
On the Northern California coast, about 2 hours north
of San Francisco, sits my haven, my home, my studio.
Twenty feet up from the roiling Pacific Ocean, I create
clay sculptures while surrounded by a natural, beautiful
and inspiring community.
As a clay hand-builder, my work is quite sculptural focusing
on organic and architectural shapes with a touch
of whimsy. All pieces are creative impressions.
My artistic training has touched on many points of the
compass. As a college student I majored in Theatre Arts;
following came weaving and jewelry-making - with a focus
on lost wax casting and fabrication design.
The construction of my ceramics employs slab, coil
and small units of stoneware clay pieced together
and melded on the inside of the piece only - this way
I am able to retain the textures I so admire.
My design process evolves from both firm ideas
with sketches, as well as vague concepts for which bigger
risks are taken and rewards given. I build both sculptures
and sculptural vessels that are large, exuberant, colorful
and enhanced with wildly varying textures.
All pieces are original; there will never be a "copy"
because each sculpture is truly "one of a kind."
I am a member of Gualala Arts in Gualala, California,
and served as its Dolphin Gallery Coordinator from
1990 to 1995. Other memberships include the North
Coast Artists' Guild, and the Mendocino Art Center.
I enter many juried shows during the year and my work
has been featured at Marin Society of Artists' in Ross,
Marin County, Gallery One in Point Reyes Station, Luther
Burbank Center in Santa Rosa, as well as the Sebastopol
Center for the Arts, the Mendocino Arts Center
and Arches Gallery in Healdsburg, California.
I am currently represented by the Dolphin Gallery
in Gualala, California.
© copyright 2010 - all rights to the images are retained by the artist
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