So, without any further ado, we are pleased to introduce our first eArtColumn artist,
KATHY WAGGONER, a gifted ceramicist.
Kathy in her studio at SCIART
Q. When did you fall in love with the arts?
KW: At a very tender age in the lap of my Grandmother who entertained me by
drawing pictures. I thought the drawings came out of the end of the pencil and
I wanted to do it too, of course. She always encouraged me by providing paper,
crayons, paint and her time.
Q. What inspires you?
KW: Strong, intelligent, tender women inspire me to be more than I am and to
create a visual documentation of the female experience. My aesthetic inspiration
comes from the precious artifacts of our ancestors and the indigenous art forms
of native cultures.
Q. What is your definition of art?
KW: Self expression with purpose. Communication with a particular point of view.
Q. What is your favorite shape?
KW: A shape confined within a delicious, voluptuous curve.
Q. What has been your favorite museum exhibition?
KW: The
Pierre Bonnard Exhibition at the Renwick in
memorable. The large canvases were shown within the intimate rooms of the gallery
echoing the intimate scenes of the artist's wife in the bath. The vibrant color
and brush strokes magically lit the space. Slides could never do his work justice.
Q. Do you have a memory of your first museum visit?
KW: The
American culture and artifacts. I was probably between 5 and 8 years old.
Magic is how I remember it. I didn't want to leave.
Q. Do you collect art?
KW: My personal collection is mainly made up of the work of artist friends.
I have traded my own work for the abstract paintings that grace my walls.
I have a beautiful collection of both sculptural and functional ceramic work
again the admired work of friends.
Q. Where were you born?
KW:
returning 2 or 3 times.
Q. Schooling?
KW: I had 12 years of Catholic education at 8 different schools. I attended
and I have my Masters in Art from Cal State Northridge.
Q. Tell us a little about your family.
KW: I am the middle daughter of five children and the mother of four,
two girls and two boys and the grandmother of four.
Q. What are you currently reading?
KW: The Mists of Avalon is my current favorite nightly read,
The Tao of Abundance is waiting in the wings.
Q. Any of your own exhibitions you would like to talk about? Or a favorite?
KW: A favorite? That's a tough one. Of solo shows, I would probably say my
last one at Accolades Gallery
in
always hope each successive exhibition is of greater quality than the last.
My friends came to celebrate with me and the gallery director was a pleasure
to work with. Of group shows, the exhibition of selected graduate students
(with an emphasis on ceramics) from CSUN, UCLA and USC in 1999 at the
It was a peer group experience that was both supportive and inspiring.
In the near future we will be seeing more of Kathy's work here at SCIART in the
Arts grant from the
beautiful works of functional art-custom tiled benches in the garden.
Kathy Waggoner was the chosen artist. In 2003 Kathy received and completed
the commission for the garden wall and fountain tiles for
Saint Mary Magdalene Catholic
Church in
That same year her work was featured at the Tierra Solida Gallery of Santa Barbara
juried by Otto Heino. She was our obvious choice for the benches.
The tiles are completed, Roxie Ray-Bordelon has matched the Forum of The Arts grant,
now we just need to raise the money for the installation!
Anyone feel like helping us tile the benches?
If so, contact Michele DePuy Leavitt at michelesciart@earthlink.net.
