Ceramic Sculptures
by Claudine Burns-Smith
 
   
   
   
 

When I grew up in Paris, France, my father would talk to us about ancient civilization and fascinate us with stories. Later I spent many months in Southern England and collected old Celtic legends about the man-made hills, white horses and ruins in the region. I also visited Stonehenge and other sites such as the standing stones of Carnac in Brittany.

 
 
Click on any image for a lager view.
 
 
 
 
Dreaming of the Green Eagle
mixed media 20" diameter
Meeting Under the Yum-Yum Tree
mixed media 20" x 20"
Wheel of Life
mixed media 20" x 20"
 
   
 In 1972 I moved to Colorado and I started studying the folklore of the Southwestern tribes and the symbolism of their designs. During a stay in Mexico, I started to weave and to make baskets and pottery in an effort to understand the culture better. I visited Olmec ruins and became very interested in their low relief stone carvings. I especially liked the sharp edges defining the figures and designs. At the same time, I became interested in the theories of Carl Jung and attended lectures on world mythology by Joseph Campbell at Colorado College. 
 

 

 
 
Click on any image for a lager view.
 
 
Biostone
terracotta 6'
Brown Goddess
paper pulp 9'
Bird Bath
terracotta 4'
 
   
 
Janus
terracotta 5'7"

Head (closeup)
terracotta 30"

Moon Face
stoneware 6'
 
   
 

This interest in cultural and personal mythology is reflected in most of my work. Recent pieces consist of a series of wall totems and another of bird baths, which include the added element of cast faces. My current work is focused on the outdoors and I would like to people the woods and other settings with large figures and insects of dream proportions. I work with clay or with cement on an armature. Being able to manipulate the material with my hands is essential to me. I rarely plan pieces ahead of time; instead I start with a general idea and let the shapes and my imagination dictate the imagery and the composition. My ambition is to transform my environment into a sculpture garden that will welcome and intrigue visitors.

 

 
 
Click on any image for a lager view.
 
 
Heads
2' to 3' without columns
Wall Totems
terracotta 7'5"
 
  
 
 
 
Algerian Woman
terracotta 6'
 

Pot
terracotta 20"

 Bird Pod
terracotta 5'5"
 
   
 
burns.smith.ceramics@gmail.com 		 
   

Exhibition History

2008- gallery 195, New Haven, CT
2006- Wilbur and King sculpture show, Madison, CT
2006- Baldwin Gallery, solo show, New Haven, CT
2006- City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
2005- Wilber and King sculpture show, Madison, CT
2005- International Art Center, Bridgeport, CT
2004- City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
2004- Mill gallery, Guilford, CT
2004- Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, CT
2003- City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
2003- Wachuset College, Gardner, MA
2002- City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
2002- Marie-Louise Trichet Gallery, Litchfield, CT
2002- John Slade Ely House, CWA, New Haven, CT
2001- Xiaoshi, Ningbo, China
2001- City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
2001- Moira Fitzsimmons Gallery, Hamden. CT
2000- City Wide Open Studios, New Haven, CT
1998- John Slade Ely House, New Haven, CT
1997- Audart Gallery, New York, NY
1997- Chris Butler Group, Branford, CT
1996- Three Sculptures on the Vision Trail, Special Olympics, New Haven, CT
1996- Moira Fitzsimmons Gallery, Hamden, CT
1996- John Slade Ely House, New Haven, CT
1996- Mill Gallery, CT currents, Guilford, CT
1995- American Craft Museum, New Britain, CT
1994- Lyman Center, Southern CT University, CWA, New Haven, CT
1994- Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, CT
1993- Mud Gallery, New Haven, CT
1993- Birobidjan Museum, Birobidjan, Russia
1992- Mill Gallery, Guilford, CT
1992- Artspace, New Haven, CT
1991- Mill Gallery, Guilford, CT
1991- Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, CT
1990- Oneta Gallery, West Hartford, CT
1990- Stamford Museum, CT Art, Stamford, CT
1990- John Slade Ely House, New Haven, CT
1989- Warwick Museum, Warwick, RI
1987- Ward-Nasse Gallery, New York, NY
1986- Faber Birren National Color Show, Stamford, CT
1985-86- The Changing Face of Liberty, New Haven, Hartford, New York
1973-85- Various national, regional and local shows in France, Colorado and the East Coast

Private and corporate collections in the United States, France, Canada, Russia and China.

.