Artist Interview: Sarah Jane

Artist Sarah Jane opening up kiln in Haiti

Ceramic artist Sarah Jane has always been a creative person, growing up with parents who both enjoyed tactile activities such as gardening and cabinet-making. However, it was not until her freshman year of college that she discovered her inclination to be an artist while taking an art appreciation class. Since that time, she has been heavily involved with the artist community, and is currently working and living at the Grünewald Guild, a gathering of people dedicated to exploring art and faith while forming deep and meaningful connections with one another. In addition to her independent studio practice, Jane is the Program-Coordinator at the Guild, which involves scheduling classes, teaching classes, and facilitating the Guild's annual traveling art exhibit. Just as faith and community are important to the Guild, they are also important to Jane. Art is not simply a career for her, but a way to walk with others.

Reclining Goddess

Though Jane works primarily as a ceramicist, she does not allow herself to limited to one medium or method of creating. She also creates mosaics and installation pieces, and explores both functional and sculptural ceramics. Moving between different categories allows Jane to create from all aspects of her being. For example, when she is looking to convey a specific concept, she tends to do installation pieces, but if she is not feeling pulled towards conceptual work, she will create functional vessels. Many of the sculptural pieces that Jane creates are female figures called goddesses, and she often creates them for specific people. While creating them, Jane keeps in mind certain characteristics of the recipient, incorporating them into the sculpture as a way of honoring the person.

Resonance

In a way, the installation pieces that Jane does also have people in mind, but instead of one specific person, most of her installations are aimed at groups of people. Before becoming part of the Grünewald Guild, Jane worked at a gallery for a time, and, though she did not care too much for gallery work, she loved seeing people come into a space and interact with the art. This inspired her to do works of art that invited the same kind of response that was created when people and art shared an environment. Some of her recent installations focus on the idea of interdependency, and how people cannot dwell alone as individuals, even if, in places like America, that is the cultural ideal. Everyone is connected to one another and to God, meaning that if one person rises or falls, all the people around them are affected as well.

Saggar-fired White Stoneware

Despite the strong spiritual significance of Jane's work, she does not tend to create overtly Christian art, as she wishes for her work to invite dialogue with all people regardless of whether or not they have a faith background. The idea of allowing others to carry their own beliefs while still acting in faith has influenced other aspects of Jane's work as a Christian artist, such as work she has done abroad in Haiti. Jane carries a deep respect for other cultures and religions, and thus has some misgivings about the way missionary work tends to be approached, as it can often result in the introduced culture attempting to overtake the native culture, even if done unintentionally. However, when a Christian organization approached Jane about the possibility of traveling to Haiti to teach ceramics, she accepted the job, as the specific goal of this organization was to create more employment opportunities for the Haitian people. Rather than trying to alter an aspect of a person's identity, this project strove to provide tools and skills that could be further honed and used to give someone meaningful employment. Since the last time Jane visited, about fifty people were employed in ceramic art.

Commonage

When asked what advice she would give to those who hoped to be artists in the future, Jane mentioned that one should not be too hard on oneself. Part of being an artist involves creating one's own path, as there are not as many clearly defined steps as there are in some other careers. Even though success may not come quickly, it does not mean that one is not doing what he or she should be doing. Surrounding oneself with a community of other creators can be vital, as these people will see the value in one's artistic endeavors, and affirm her calling. Lastly, Jane recommended saying "yes" to opportunities, especially when starting one's career path. One never knows what will serve to influence her artistic journey.

Artist's websites:

http://www.sarahjanesstudio.net/

https://www.facebook.com/Sarah-Janes-Studio-13576974182/

https://instagram.com/sarah_janes_studio/

http://www.grunewaldguild.com/