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MARGARET ALLEN

I began my formal training in the arts with many others of my '60's generation studying weaving, dying, spinning, and even one official class in basket weaving, which I loved.  Many formal elements in art such as repeat pattern design, truth to materials, or consistency with the nature of media in art, craftsmanship, and freshness combined to create values that have continued throughout my career in art.  Fabric of all kinds is a source of passion in my life along with clay.  I later got my M.F.A. in ceramics from Claremont Graduate School and have worked over 30 years with clay.  When I consider why these two media satisfy my soul, I realize that over time, the inherent personality of clay and fabric have become known to me in ways I love anticipating and also being surprised by, much like an old friend who continues to amaze you.  I am definitely a sculptor,have really very little interest, for my own voice, in flat things.  Claes Oldenberg has always been a very inspiring artist to me along with many others of the so called "Pop" artists.  Besides my raw, earthy mentors in clay like Voulkos and Soldner, I was always smitten by Robert Arnesson's work, particularly in the way his voice was both humorous and serious at the same time.  As time goes by and gravity and arthritis become new factors, I find myself returning to fabric with interest in illustratingsome of the same images I have played with in clay.  As our world becomes more and more "genericized," I love working metaphorically with familiar objects and trying to get to their essence--what they are beyond the way they look.  The journey of discovery I enjoy through that process is what keeps me alive. 

Dead Bug, Ceramic and crocheted fabric