Cathy Broski

Artist Statement

My work is steeped in archetypal and personal symbolism. Figures, houses, boats and pottery are all vessels to contain things we hold dear, and sometimes those things we would cast off. I chose these forms to work with because they have several levels of meaning I find intriguing to explore. The surfaces reflect my experience and attitude.

I love the idea of found objects, because of their wear and marks of their journeys. I see people in much the same way. When I go to a museum or a home and see these objects put into a special environment they are reborn. To accomplish this in my own work, I use a layering technique.

By using the figure as a three-dimensional canvas, the eye will travel completely around the surface. This helps to enhance the pattern or surprise in a story. Each piece begins on the potter’s wheel or with slabs. The pieces grow with the application of coils or additional slabs. When each piece is completed, I carve the surface and let it dry. The base color is applied and fired. Once the first firing is complete, I apply and wipe off a combination of terra sigilattas, slips, stains and glazes, then fire again. This process is repeated until I achieve the desired effect.