https://marjaspearman.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-01-07 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fadca8536358572f10dcaaa/1610053158046/Chantal+Minis.jpg Contact Page for Artist Marja Spearman An unframed photo of a string of small “Chantals” in different primary color glazes. I made a plaster mold using the original maquette, and slip cast a number of small sculptures for sale during the West Austin studio tours. It also allowed me the opportunity to show people how molds are made and used. https://marjaspearman.com/work daily 1.0 2021-01-08 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5f9b60a5e3274f39e45bf0cf/1610052306408/Be-Fitting+Close-Up.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman - What happens if a write a short photo story here This is a close-up of the work “Be-Fitting,” angled to show detail and its rainbow colors: red, orange, yellow, green blue and purple. The camera lens zoomed in to just one of the central elements, the green one. To its left, the now unfocused yellow, orange and red elements, and to its right, the washed out blue and purple ones. Children seeing the work and the primary colors of the smooth, glazed surfaces are often reminded of the color tone differentiations seen on their xylophone, and they wonder if the work produces sound. It does not, except that it may resonate. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5f9b611992380d53b2947ad2/1610052343902/Be-Fitting+Austin.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is my work “Be-Fitting” sitting on steel racks, outside my workshop in Austin, Texas. The camera angle creates somewhat of a ripple effect, due to the similar bends and curves in each element, as if the statement “union oui ou non” is written in long hand, all “letters” connected. The photo only shows a portion of the 1100 sq. ft., one story residence which was built in the early 20th century. The siding of the building is white, the gray shingled roof has a small dorm which forms a portal over the red front door, which is flanked by two tall windows. No on the photo is the old oak tree in front. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5f9b6144b12c5e30f457052a/1610052376321/Be-Fitting+Elements.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is unframed, the background being identical to the white background of the website pages and shows only the first three elements of this work, throwing a shadow as if sitting on a white base, from left to right, spelling “uni”, the red, orange and yellow elements. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fdd1741830f51307d33900a/1610052263503/Be-Fitting+City+Hall+Austin.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman . https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5f9c8291558840303e2492fa/1610052429619/Control+Yourself.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This shows three, two-core unit, stacked, cinderblocks, made out of white clay. On this photo, the bottom two stand slightly skewed, but set horizontal, and the third one is positioned vertically, on top. Leaning up against them is a large sledgehammer, also cast out of white clay. The objects reflect in the white background, white like the background of the website pages https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5f9c8461174d7e723a96fd16/1610128624048/Forget+Me+Knot+Austin+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman The 1000 Forget me Knots shown on this photo, were installed along three real estate properties on W. 31st Street in Austin, Texas. The workshop, the gallery and a private sculpture garden were open to visitors of the West Austin studio tour in 2013. The knots are all similarly positioned where the yellow topped ends of the blue knot are pointed in the same direction, but where the landscape demands a slight curve, the ends also start to curve, leading the eye along the paths formed, “running” around trees, bushes, rocks and along the sidewalk. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fda3c4937569830d02ec714/1610052553195/Forget+Me+Knot+Alamo.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This shows a portion of the same 1000 Forget me Knots. All of them installed in Alamo, California during the Covid pandemic and much enjoyed by many passers-by. The image shows the light blue and yellow, true colors of the forget me not flowers, but some - grouped together amidst the other ones -have a darker blue color, but the green and wilted purple ones are not captured on this image. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5f9c85176f43391e93d8bae8/1610052516656/Forget+Me+Knot+Austin+2.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This shows the same installation leading further down the street, curving like a garland into the distance. The knots are sometimes one row deep, other times multiple rows deep. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fa9cf0d2057b138b4965826/1610052586730/Forget+Me+Knot+Close-Up.png Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is unframed of just one sculpture, one knot, it throws a very light blue shadow on the white background of the webpage. One yellow end of the knot is visible on the right side, the other end turned so that the yellow cap is not visible. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fdbaa285ef612545458953a/1610128660408/Coming+Undone+1+.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of the same, red sculpture, described previously. The work looks dramatically different from every angle. This particular angle reminds me of a ribbon quickly being moved left to right and left again. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5ff11460a6a0ae63d6f83f37/1610052627982/Coming+Undone+2.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of the sculpture, which is glazed in a warm, spicy red, it reflects into the white background. The sculpture reflects a knot which is coming apart. It makes a loop and a half, like a corkscrew around a hollow core. The edges of the “ribbon” are squared, and the ends are each glazed in two colors of triangular shapes. From certain angles it may give the illusion that one can enter into the work. This particular angle reminds me of a mirror version of the number 2. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fa9cfe5f6d39911889a26a1/1610052649689/Coming+Undone+3.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is another unframed photo of the same, red sculpture. Each angle excites me. It is like looking at a different piece. This angle reminds me of a graphic representation of ram’s horns. It is hard to make a sculpture be interesting from all angles, usually one side shows weaker than the others, but not here. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fa9d0a1b874e907d319e9b2/1610052706246/Airborne+3.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of the same work from yet another different angle, all three photos of the work show a reflection of blue on the white background of the webpage. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fda3e8cd77b933fb71f425f/1610052690172/Airborne+2.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of the same work from a different angle. The camera angle shows the curves formed inside of the tip of the balloon due to the stress of the knot on the material. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fdbaa44b8db7a4f8a3292c3/1610052672527/Airborne+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of the sculpture named Airborne. It is a very large, realistic knot in the tip of a balloon. The flower-like tip is tilted upward above the knot and the bottom portion represents just a rectangular sliver of the whole balloon. The work is glazed in light blue. Adults always wonder what the work is about, likely because of its very large size compared to reality, but kids often immediately know that it represents a balloon. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fa9d15b64a757513a2f4dcf/1610052750886/Convictions+2.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This photo is a close-up of the noose, where I opened it to expose the more complex inner portion of the knot. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fa9d0fe8657be665e3e4d36/1610052734306/Convictions+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of the whole noose, a complex “slip and slide” knot. The work has a clear, matte, glaze with small strokes of a lighter underglaze here and there. The knot is tall and narrow and on this photo without its base, the color of the clay reflected in the white background of the webpage. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5ff0f6ee17af6f5d194286d4/1610052795340/Borderline+2.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of the work “Borderline.” The sculpture is glazed in black. It is a true, large, representation of the double barbed wire knot, showing the four sharp ends of each wire, two pointing upwards and two down. The other ends of the knot are cut off. The work is reflected in the white background of the webpage. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fdbaa8bc7cee556d336e4a3/1610052775293/Borderline+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is also an unframed photo of the work “Borderline”, from a different angle, the work is reflected in the white background of the webpage. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5fa9d31a44651c560226cfb6/1610052816639/Descendant+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This photo is a close-up of the head-down, eyes-closed, descending baby. The baby is realistic, but larger than life-size, positioned much like it would in the womb, hands by its face, its legs pulled up and in. The umbilical cord drapes down over the right arm and leads back up to join with the column. The baby’s head merges into the bottom portion of the column and its feet do the same at the top. In essence, the baby forms the knot in the column, which is twisted or lobed, much like an umbilical cord. The top and bottom capitals between which the column runs, are not shown here. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5faaff4603716f74a555b71c/1610052846556/Convictions+3.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is a sketch on graph paper, using neon yellow and pink felt-pen colors, and writing instruments, like ballpoint pens and pencil. A quick, rudimentary drawing of the very bottom of the knot. The numbered bulges are references to follow the rope upwards while building the sculpture in clay. The image is flower-like. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5faaeaac420aac6e825ec79a/1610052869245/Chantal+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of a nude, female torso, larger than life size. The 6” maquette was created without the use of a model. The torso stands for stamina and endurance. The right shoulder turned upward, the left thigh in a forward position creates a slight twist in the hips. The work is glazed in a matte, bronze/black color. The sculpture is named after my mom’s caretaker. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5faaf4cdbcacd639eb12f0a1/1610052892946/Male+Torso.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman An unframed photo of a robust, larger than life-size, nude male torso, seen from the front with its mirror image in the background. Starting from the middle of the chest, the left shoulder, shoulder blade and neck form a wing like structure pointing upwards. The maquette of this sculpture was made during several weekly sessions in class with a nude model. I lost several male role models in life. The wing represents the fleeting moments. Both front and back views are reflected in the white background of the webpage. The sculpture is glazed in black. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5faaf524743c9312ba3886cd/1610052914534/Female+Torso+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman An unframed photo of a strong, larger than life-size, nude female torso, seen from the front. The maquette of this sculpture was made during several weekly sessions in class with a nude model. The left thigh is cut down in an angle., lending strength to the pose. The color of the glazed sculpture is gold. The sculpture is reflected in the white background of the webpage. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5faaf60cd7b46e79f4dd8976/1610052949249/My+Side+Of+The+River.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of “My side of the river”, a life-size, seated nude female on a rectangular tall base. Her left foot on the top of the base and her right leg downward along the front. Her left arm holds on to her left shin and her other hand leans on the corner of the base behind her back, giving a lift to her right shoulder. Her facial features are Black, and the sculpture was glazed in black. She was created shortly after I had moved to Austin, during which I realized how segregated the community felt after I had moved there from the West coast. The maquette was created in class with a nude female model in the same pose. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5faaf71332954a6903bda758/1610052975482/Self+Portrait+1.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is an unframed photo of a self-portrait in white clay, a bit larger than life-size, my head slightly turned towards the left and my eyes closed, as if listening to an inner world. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5faaf79306fbfc7f40d6716b/1610053000535/Self+Portrait+2.jpg Home Page for Artist Marja Spearman This is another unframed photo of the same self-portrait from another camera angle. https://marjaspearman.com/about-1 daily 0.75 2021-01-09 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5ff8a45459f47c201fd9738d/1610063941107/Descendant+2.jpg About This is “Descendant”, while the building of the baby, face toward the camera, is in progress. The work is standing on a high sculpture stand, plastic wrapped around its bottom, and its shoulder resting on a piece of wood to give the clay time to dry a bit while carrying the weight of the body. The piece ends with the first portion of the twisted column. In the background is a window with shelves with small moquettes and ideas, and on the left side of the work in progress is the life size drawing of the entire sculpture, used for measurement reference. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f7e30762f51e72b1a91d62a/t/5ff8a45459f47c201fd97390/1610053112236/Marja+Spearman+2013.jpg About