Clay Celtic Crosses

I don’t have much training in clay and wanted to approach it without preconceived notions, so the experiments here reflect that naïveté. I was drawn to the medium and the process itself. Working with clay speaks of the four basic elements in the world around us - Earth, Water, Air and Fire. Earth as clay, water to shape the clay, air to allow room for shape to take form, changed by fire into something new and enduring. My inspiration comes from my travels and time spent in Ireland, Scotland and the life changing impact of living in the wilderness. These pieces are fired in a furnace called Dante and are a reflection of my current mindset, imperfect but resilient to exploration.

– Chuck Hoffman

For questions about this work, please CONTACT CHUCK.

Stitched Paintings

I began these small stitched paintings because, unlike the large paintings that Chuck and I do together, they were something I could work on in small bites of time…between classes, before vespers, or after a workday. I could sit in front of the fire and I could put it away or pick it up as I had time.  

They are part of a larger body of work based on archetypal shapes. The daily rhythms of Holden influenced all of these. Archetypal shapes are found in all parts of the world throughout time and they mean a similar thing for all people. The 5 archetypal shapes are the circle, the equilateral cross, the square, the triangle and the spiral. My fascination with these 5 shapes and their ability to communicate continues to interest me artistically and I find that nearly everyone can relate to these shapes in some way.

– Peg Carlson-Hoffman

For questions about this work, please CONTACT PEG.