Image Magazine Article

Issue 97

“CLAIRE CURNEEN STARTS EACH of her sculptural ceramic works in the same way, with a small piece of clay. Squeezing it between her fingers, pushing and pressing it into the palm of her hand, she flattens it into a small disc. These discs are the building blocks of her figures. By pressing and squeezing them together, she begins to construct a hollow form in much the same way a potter will build up a coiled bowl. She starts with the feet, slowly adding layers of clay, making sure that those at the bottom are slightly thicker, to take the sculpture’s weight. As she makes her way up from legs to torso and neck, the clay becomes thinner, the process faster. Finally, she crowns the head with a thin disc of clay, smoothing it until the seams disappear…”