Jane Kaufmann (Durham, NH)
Sweet Dreams, 2008
Clay
4×4 ½ x 6 in. (approx.)
“I work every day in my attic studio making sculptures out of clay. After firing the pieces once in an electric kiln, I raku them in my driveway. Raku is a method of firing where red hot pieces are taken from a kiln with tongs and thrown in pine needles to smoke the clay. Firing this way is physical and exciting and I enjoy it a lot.
“I make whatever comes into my mind. I am not influenced by what is currently fashionable in art magazines. I get my ideas from the newspaper, books, my friends, Harper’s magazine, tabloids, and anything else that I like. I believe and I do not believe everything I read. To me things are simple and clear.
“I feel it is the artist’s duty to address what is going on in the world. I think the artist should do this so the work can be understood by everyone. Sometimes I write what my pieces are about directly on them just in case a person doesn’t get the point. I believe that artists can help save the world—and I want to be part of that.”