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Apr 18
Tuesday
Arts and Poetry, Community Articles
Elemental Expression – Mindy Moore

Shambhala Touching the Earth Collective

Every month, we offer a space for one of the Collective’s members or friends to share their work, art, or passion…

Artist Statement

The elements of earth, water and fire are intrinsic when working with ceramic materials. Clay is a wonderful, luscious, malleable, strong substance.  Its essence is the basis of my exploration whether sculptural or functional in nature. Clay can become so soft that it turns to liquid and yet when dry, can hold virtually any shape. Between those extremes, it can be made to look rocky, soft, smooth, hard, rough, sand‐like. Even after over 40 years of working with this material, I still marvel at those possibilities.

Fire is necessary to bring the clay piece to its fruition. Being up close and personal to the fire, as with raku firing, removing hot pieces from the kiln to further process the glaze is a very elemental experience. Without fire, clay would be porous and could disintegrate back into the earth from where it came. With fire, clay becomes permanent and hard like a rock. The method and temperature of the fire, the glazes used and nature of their application all contribute to the outcome.

“Mountain”

Walking through the woods at Kejimkujik National Park; standing on rocks along the seashore at Polly’s Cove; sitting at a window at Dorje Denma Ling in Tatamagouche with a vista that stretches miles out toward the Northumberland coast and PEI beyond; hiking through the Sonoran desert of Arizona, staring up at giant saguaro cacti and traversing mountain ridges under deep blue skies and warm sun; watching clouds and fog roll into Halifax Harbour; looking out a window in north end Halifax through tree branches, onto houses. Ordinary yet extraordinary feasts for the eye and the mind’s eye. They are only some of the inspirations behind the ceramic wall pieces that I have worked on over the past several years. It is all about process with these various forming and texturizing methods — stretching, pulling, pinching, poking, pounding, sculpting — that I create these clay wall pieces.

When making more functional forms, whether using the potter’s wheel or forming through hand-building techniques, my approach has a spontaneous quality to it. I like to be open to the moment and see where certain shapes may lead themselves. With every piece, I am in conversation with clay.

#1  “In Solitude, Together”, #2  “Baker’s Dozen”, #3 “Now”, #4 “Vases”


Mindy Moore
Halifax, Nova Scotia
February 2023

Bio

Mindy Moore’s work is spontaneous and earthy. She loves the luscious malleability of clay and the textures inherent in its properties.

Educated at Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts (BFA, Ceramics) then continuing to study in New York City, Mindy has been directly influenced by Henry Gernhardt, David MacDonald, James Makins, Betty Woodman and Byron Temple, who guided her journey.

Mindy lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia with her husband/photographer Marvin Moore, where she has a home studio. She was instrumental in establishing the art program at the Shambhala School in Halifax and for the past 23 years taught the art program to students in grades 6-12. She retired this past June, allowing her to return to the studio full-time.

All Photos by MarvinMoorePhotography,

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1 response to “ Elemental Expression – Mindy Moore ”
  1. The beauty of the art is only surpassed by the loveliness of the artist, our niece.


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