The Price of Freedom

Sarah Shore

My adventure as an artist began when I was young. My parents encouraged my artistic focus. My father would bring home sheets of used computer paper for me to draw on. My mother would take me to art shows at her job at Marycrest College. Growing up in Davenport Iowa, I participated in summer art programs and camps. I enjoyed the exploration of ideas and skills. Due to how my schools were funded I had limited art education. It was not until I reached college that I was able to focus on my areas of interest and develop my skills. I am going to date myself and tell you I was fascinated by the movie Tron, the original one. Computer graphics was in its infancy and often in the computer science departments in colleges and universities. I was lucky enough to pursue computer graphics in the art department of my undergraduate education at Marycrest College. Between that and painting, I was primarily a 2D artist. When I moved to San Antonio I returned to college and became a teacher. I was lucky to teach for 27 years with NISD. During those years, I began exploring other mediums. Ceramics became my medium of choice. I continue to enjoy learning new techniques. I have retired from teaching full time. I continue to teach with the Young Artists Program with UTSA Southwest. I don’t think I’ll ever stop teaching or learning. I hope I have been able to encourage my students just as my parents did with me. I began developing my ceramics studio in 2009 with the purchase of my first ki ... view more »

My adventure as an artist began when I was young. My parents encouraged my artistic focus. My father would bring home sheets of used computer paper for me to draw on. My mother would take me to art shows at her job at Marycrest College. Growing up in Davenport Iowa, I participated in summer art programs and camps. I enjoyed the exploration of ideas and skills. Due to how my schools were funded I had limited art education. It was not until I reached college that I was able to focus on my areas of interest and develop my skills. I am going to date myself and tell you I was fascinated by the movie Tron, the original one. Computer graphics was in its infancy and often in the computer science departments in colleges and universities. I was lucky enough to pursue computer graphics in the art department of my undergraduate education at Marycrest College. Between that and painting, I was primarily a 2D artist. When I moved to San Antonio I returned to college and became a teacher. I was lucky to teach for 27 years with NISD. During those years, I began exploring other mediums. Ceramics became my medium of choice. I continue to enjoy learning new techniques. I have retired from teaching full time. I continue to teach with the Young Artists Program with UTSA Southwest. I don’t think I’ll ever stop teaching or learning. I hope I have been able to encourage my students just as my parents did with me. I began developing my ceramics studio in 2009 with the purchase of my first kiln. I explored various ways to fire my work. Learned about alternative firing methods and created forms unique to my aesthetic. I have been influenced by Native American forms, Asian décor and Mexican majolica designs. I am very eclectic in my production of work. I was the lead artist for Centro Cultural Aztlan’s 14^th Annual Las Mujeres de Asztlan. As lead artist I help recruit new artists who have not exhibited with CCA. I recently have begun creating busts. This new form allows me to create political connections to our current world. I have been participating in local art fairs since 2009. I have begun to pursue juried shows and galleries. I was recently accepted in the Art League’s 93^rd juried show. I look forward to what is next to come.

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Artist Medium: Clay

Artist Statement of Work

Tell us about your work (style, approach, philosophy, subject and/or theme):

As I began my career as a potter, I began with the basics. I was predominantly hand building and thus focused less on utilitarian and more sculptural. I was greatly influenced by Southwest Native American’s coil pot process. I was able to form, burnish, and fire the pots. As I learned how to fire my work in sawdust, I began experimenting with the form. I truly believe that artists do not live in isolation. They are greatly influenced by artists from the past and their contemporaries. The expansion of the internet has made it possible to connect with artists from all over the world. As I expanded my studio, I began to explore utilitarian forms of cups, plates, and bowls. These forms became blank canvases. I used my painting skills to create colorfully wild themes. As I progressed as an artist, I explored different ways to apply glaze. But all along I would go back to my first days of hand building and firing in sawdust. I will work in low fire and midrange clay in my studio. Most recently I’ve been creating bust using templates. The busts are my way of pursuing political statements. Ultimately, I am influenced by the science of clay. When I was a computer graphics artist, I was fascinated by the science of technology. I am influenced by the history of clay. I am attracted by the social aspects of clay. For myself it will always be about the learning.