Beth cavener born 1972, also known as beth cavener stichter, is fulltime professional studio artist residing in the u. She digs at human psychology with subtly personified creatures in apparent states of fear, conflict, and submission. Juried by a roster of acclaimed artists, including such talents as cynthia consentino, beth cavener stichter, richard notkin and sergei isupov. Cavener is best known for her fantastical animal figures, which embody the complexity of human emotion and behavior. She received her mfa in ceramics from ohio state university, was a resident artist at the archie bray foundation for two years, and had a recent solo exhibition the huntington museum of art, in huntington, wv. Rose and i went on a secret mission over the weekend. Artist beth cavener explores the extremes of human emotion and psychology through the articulated forms of animals. On the surface, these figures are simply feral and domestic individuals suspended in a moment of tension. In beth cavener stichters angstridden menagerie, deepseated fears of vulnerability and victimization often surface in a symbolism of cringing and coweringinvoluntary, animalistic contractions of the body that betray ingrained habits of anticipating physical or emotional pain. The sculptures beth cavener creates focus on human psychology, stripped of context and rationalization, and articulated through animal and human forms.
Beth cavener, also known as beth cavener stichter, is an american artist based out of montana. Beth cavener follow the black rabbit personal portfolio. Visualsundae is a collection of top drawer art and design, an assemblage of interesting ideas. Made out of raw clay, beth cavener stichters works of art all have a rough touch that is not often typical of such sculptures. To believe caveners work is about animals is like saying that melvilles moby dick is a story about a whale.
Born in pasadena, california, cavener recently relocated to helena, montana, where she has built a collaborative studio, called studio 740. Beth cavener encases human emotions in forest animal forms. Disturbing animal sculptures inspired by the darkest human. She digs at human psychology using her subtly personified creatures in apparent states of fear, conflict, and submission. I am excited to finally have a few things available in a more affordable price bracket for all the wonderful people who have been fans and supporters throughout my career.
There are primitive animal instincts lurking in our own depths, waiting for the chance to slide past a conscious moment. The daughter of a molecular biologist and art teacher, beth cavener has pursued the connections between art and science throughout her career. Beth cavener stichter uses clay and the medium of animals to express human emotions. Beth cavener s sculptures pry at those uncomfortable, awkward edges between animal and human. Video garth clark interviews ceramic sculptor beth cavener. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected. Beth cavener stichters come undone at bam greets you at the top of the stairs as you enter the exhibit, its gray stoneware wolf crouched coughing up feathers, fabrics and ribbons. Democrat, republican, homeless bum, soccer mom, pot head, walmart shopper, abuser, drunk, snob, absent dad, etc. I immediately recognized the humanity of the expressions in the subtly anthropomorphized animal figures. She has exhibited internationally including crafts alliance, garth clark gallery and gallery materia.
Julyaugust 2012 sculpture magazine beth cavener stichter. Beth cavener stichter 1972 ohio ceramic artist beth cavener stichter draws on the artistic gifts she inherited from her mother and the scientific curiosity she inherited from her father to produce her incredible sculptures. Renowned scholar garth clark interviews beth cavener about her latest exhibition at peters projects in santa fe, new mexico. Its rare to feel as if an animal can possess you inhabit your body, mind and spirit as if it were a new lover exploring.
Cavener, previously represented by garth clark the highly influential curator, scholar and gallerist has been working for several years on this highly anticipated exhibition, which crystallizes themes. Beth cavener stichters come undone exhibit nancy hightower. Beth cavener stichter is activelives in california, ohio. The jason jacques gallery is honored to be beth cavener s exclusive gallery. Beth cavener stichter s come undone at bam greets you at the top of the stairs as you enter the exhibit, its gray stoneware wolf crouched coughing up feathers, fabrics and ribbons. Beth cavener, beth cavener stichter the marks project. Beth cavener stichters lifesize animal sculptures express more emotions than a greek tragedy 17 x 46 x beth cavener stichter ceramic sculpture 20 the american artist beth cavener stichter sculpts clay in real size animals that seem to show anthropomorphic expressions while they are in situations where they are vulnerable or in danger. The construction of these pieces is painstaking and meticulous.
Ive been in the conceptual weeds for a couple of months trying to find my way to forms that speak to me, and straining against my technical boundaries. Cavener went home to be with the lord on sunday, jan. Beth cavener stichter, garth clark gallery garth clark. Beth cavener stichter s amazing clay animal sculptures trigger a strange and unnerving empathic response in viewers with their subtly anthropomorphic eleme. The twisting shapes of oversized predatory cats, foxes, goats, and other animals are meant to depict the internal and external human struggles of fear, anger, love. Render by beth cavener stichter on curiator, the worlds biggest collaborative art collection. Beth stichter artist, fine art prices, auction records for. The julyaugust 2011 issue of sculpture magazine features new considerations of realistic animal, plant and human and abstract form, as well as time, place, and space, including interviews with klara kristalova and rene rietmeyer and articles on beth cavener stichter, eylem aladogan, gregory barsamian, and ginny ruffner, plus new public art.
She was awarded the emerging artist grant from the american crafts council and an ohio arts council individual artist fellowship. Oct 02, 2012 such unempathetic narratives splice the complexity of the human soul into simple, reductionist labels. Jason jacques gallery presents the other, its inaugural exhibition of work by american artist beth cavener. When i first stumbled across beth cavener stichters work, i was floored. Cavener addresses controversial, potentially embarrassing subject matter head on and in direct opposition to the. Sep 12, 20 when i first stumbled across beth cavener stichters work, i was floored. We introduce art and design to stimulate your mind and awareness. Mar 29, 2016 the daughter of a molecular biologist and art teacher, beth cavener has pursued the connections between art and science throughout her career. Stichters work morphs that wall of labels into the hall of mirrors through the gaze of lamante, a surreal jackrabbit. These sculpture are made from stoneware on various metal frames. Beth cavener stichter s come undone exhibit nancy hightower. She strips human psychological expression of context and shows them in uncanny detail. In caveners work, animals not only express humor, they also. Extremes of human nature explored through handbuilt stoneware.
Washingtonbased artist beth cavener sculpts humansized animals from clay and other materials in both dramatically overt and subtly ambiguous displays of emotion. Its rare to feel as if an animal can possess you inhabit your body, mind and spirit as if it were a new lover exploring all your real and artificial selves. As humans, we always try to have a certain level of composure, hiding behind a mask of humility, shame and pride. The subtle, honest and dramatic nature of a creature caught in the moment is also caught in the remarkable sculptures of beth cavener stichter. Animal sculptures by beth cavener stichter published aug 31, 2012 beth cavener stichter creates beautiful thoughtprovoking animal sculptures out of blocks of clay. From attaboy, annie owens, and yumfactory, hifructose showcases an eclectic mix of underground artists, pop surrealists. Ceramic sculptures by beth cavener stichter juxtapoz. Beginning of a dialog window, including tabbed navigation to register an account or sign in to an existing account. A classically trained sculptor, her process involves building complex metal armatures to support massive amounts of clay. Walter gropius master artist series, huntington museum of art. Beth cavener stichter creates beautiful thoughtprovoking animal sculptures out of blocks of clay. Press and publications beth cavener follow the black rabbit. Garth clark, human, the art of beth cavener, fresco books sf design, llc. Video garth clark interviews beth cavener at her new exhibit.
Ceramic sculptures by beth cavener stichter juxtapoz magazine. The jason jacques gallery is honored to be beth caveners exclusive gallery. Beth cavener stichter is a sculptor and installation artist working in helena montana. Sep, 2015 artist beth cavener explores the extremes of human emotion and psychology through the articulated forms of animals. Magazine ceramic sculptures by beth cavener stichter in. Stichter prefers to use soldate 60 from aardvark clay, because not only is the inert nature of the material alluring with its ties to the primitive and raw, but its voice spans a wide range of sensual, violent, and careless textural possibilities. Beth cavener, also known as beth cavener stichter, is an american artist based out of.
Beth cavener stichters amazing clay animal sculptures trigger a strange and unnerving empathic response in viewers with their subtly anthropomorphic eleme. Washingtonbased artist beth cavener sculpts humansized animals from clay and other materials in both dramatically overt and subtly. Like melvilles novel, her work is a thinly veiled discourse on animal nature embodied in humans and human nature symbolized by animals. Specializing in rare books, signed books, outofprint books, used books. Cavener, previously represented by garth clark the highly influential. Hung from ropes or pinned to walls, the anthropomorphic sculptures are infused with juxtapositions that depict the extremes of both hum. Dec 22, 2008 her risktaking, explorer attitude and selfdeprecating good humor really got me fired up to get out of my own way in the studio and forge a path to my own unique creative process. An interview with artist beth cavener who captures human. Veronika gunter, 500 figures in clay, curated by leslie ferrin, lark books, 2004. By using animals as her vehicles, cavener attempts to lay bare the darker aspects of humanity, from carnality and selfloathing to insecurity and apathy. Extremes of human nature explored through handbuilt.
Beth cavener stichter while some people already view typical animals as savage creatures, beth cavener stichter takes it to a whole new level. Mar 01, 2015 the sculptures i create focus on human psychology, stripped of context and rationalization, and articulated through animal and human forms. Mar 12, 2010 walter gropius master artist series, huntington museum of art. May 11, 2012 the subtle, honest and dramatic nature of a creature caught in the moment is also caught in the remarkable sculptures of beth cavener stichter. Beth cavener stichter, a washingtonbased artist, sculpts humansized animals from clay and other materials aiming to make them almost anthropomorphic in order to portray the two. Beth cavener stichter beth cavener stichter addresses controversial, potentially embarrassing subject matter head on and in direct opposition to the reputation of her chosen medium, clay.
Hung from ropes or pinned to walls, the anthropomorphic sculptures are infused with juxtapositions that depict the extremes of both human emotion and animalistic behavior. Their work was featured in numerous exhibitions at key galleries and museums, including the jason jacques gallery and the peters projects. Sculpture clay wolf sculpture come undone animal sculptures ceramic artists artist art installation art art museum inktober. Beth cavener explores human psychology in intensely expressive clay sculptures of animals. Join facebook to connect with beth stichter and others you may know. Animal sculptures by beth cavener stichter daily design.
Discover interesting facts about beth cavener stichter on artnet. Trapped detail by beth cavener stichter artstack art online. Collectibles a bic style red flower sculpture by royal jarmon x case studyo march 19, 2020. I became a big beth cavener stichter fan, and a few other artists in there were really impressive i loved the. The ceramic animals she handbuilds demonstrate an humanlike sense of understanding with their sensitive gazes and anthropomorphic eyes. She then cuts the piece into 30 to 160 sections, hollows out each section to 14 thickness and, then, reassembles them before firing. Thomas cavener obituary klamath falls, or herald and news. See more ideas about animal sculptures, sculpture art and sculpture. Beth cavener stichter biography beth cavener stichter on.
Sep 14, 2012 beth cavener stichter beth cavener stichter addresses controversial, potentially embarrassing subject matter head on and in direct opposition to the reputation of her chosen medium, clay. My latest issue of sculpture magazine came in the mail yesterday, the cover displaying the powerfully unsettling work of beth cavener stichter. Kathleen whitney september 28, 2015 add comment trapped, 37 in. Beth stichter artist, fine art prices, auction records. Read 65 posts by beth cavener and get access to exclusive content and experiences on the worlds largest membership platform for artists and creators. Her focus for many years have been on vertebrate animals. Beth caveners sculptures pry at those uncomfortable, awkward edges between animal and human. Beth is one of the most admired, most talked about. Beth cavener, also known as beth cavener stichter, is fulltime professional studio artist residing in the u. Garth clark interviews ceramic sculptor beth cavener on vimeo.
Full of texture and natural beauty, there is a majestic quality about each animal that is not tarnished by its savageness. Beth cavener stichter builds her solid stoneware sculptures on metal armatures, often with 2,000 or more pounds of clay at a time. Aug 31, 2012 beth cavener stichter creates beautiful thoughtprovoking animal sculptures out of blocks of clay. Cavener creates these animals in forms all too human, to embody the consequences of human fear, apathy, aggression, and misunderstanding. Exhibition catalogue for one person exhibition at garth. The sculptures i create focus on human psychology, stripped of context and rationalization, and articulated through animal and human forms. Our mission was to get down to the city nyc to see the new beth cavener stichter showon tender hooks at the claire oliver gallery.