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Sculpture by Marie Blazek

Artist's Statement

I have worked with the clay medium for many years. My sculpted forms tend to originate on the wheel. I anticipate the contours of the final, tentative product; I provide its circularity while allowing for necessary transformations. Once the piece or pieces are off the wheel, I begin to reshape and "see into" the construct; e.g. with The Terrible Two, I threw two large round forms for the bottoms (literally), joined them at the knee position, then created thighs, buttocks, etc., layering a slab of spine across the top. The constraints of beginning with the circular form both challenge me and keep me from intellectualizing the form excessively.

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Artist's Biography

I first delved into the world of clay at UT Austin. After a short residency in Mexico, D.F., I moved to Berkeley, California where I studied in the tradition of Marguerite Wildenheim. Later, I moved back to Texas to the Peaceable Kingdom School near Navasota and helped to build a pottery studio and kilns. I developed a series of weekend, pottery workshops with Richard Cabral of the University of St. Thomas. I continued to study in Houston with Gary Huntoon at the MFA School.

I left the PK School to apprentice to Ismael Soto in Blue, Texas, where I greatly polished my throwing skills and others. Leaving Blue after a year, I worked in Austin sharing Steve Sprinkle’s studio. I began the business end of marketing and surviving. (I rode my bike four miles a day to the studio whenever my ’51 Chevy pickup wouldn’t start.)

Upon marrying, I worked as a teacher’s aide at the Ceramic Department at Lamar University. I then accepted an NEA Potter-in-Residence position at the Star of the Republic Museum in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas. There I built my first salt kiln and bore my first child, John Brazos. Completing the residency, I moved back to Austin to another studio and another child, Jacob. Finally, we moved to Bastrop, Texas, where Jordan was born. Soon thereafter I opened Blazek Studio on Main Street which I operated for nineteen years: 1980 to 1999.

Upon the graduation of my youngest, I moved out to the Big Bend region where I helped organize the Marfa Studio of Art. I am currnetly expanding my studio space there at 106 West Washington and constructing a pour room and new kiln area. My professional goals are to refine my sculpting and mold-making skills and continue to produce utilitarian work as time permits.

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Resumé

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Contact Artist

Marie Blazek -- Blazek Studio
Box 725
Marfa, Texas 79843 (USA)
Tel. 432.729.1884
E-mail: marie.blazek@tsos.org
Website: www.marieblazek.com

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