Suzy Birstein - Ceramic Artist

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2008 Academy Awards

See Contact page for Upcoming Shows & Events

	"My DeLovely Fever" Tap to the Muse Solo Exhibit, Seymour Art Gallery, May 13 - June 9, 2008 Featuring 9 life size ceramic Muses, tap film, & "Motion Pitchers"
	Suzy with work entitled Your lips were like a red and ruby chalice... Dimensions: 65 x 15 x 15 inches
	This series began with the Muse, "Who are you really and what were you before?" in the persona of King Tut and Ganesh. The torso and head survived the kiln, but the base broke into 1000's of pieces while loading the kiln! A voice inside cried, "Columns. Nine Greek columns. Nine Muses." That week while driving to tap, the columns appeared in a shop window. I immediately fell in love with an elephant column, which I knew would be perfect for Ganesha. From there, my mind was open. Each ceramic character would be inspired by its found column. I would glaze, paint, patina the ceramic and surface the column so the figure reads as one. There was a "divine rightness" to finding columns on the way to tap, as I had commissioned the legendary Jim Hibbard to choreograph a solo for me tap dancing amidst my sculptures. This idea was awakened by dance sequences in the musical "There's No Business Like Show Business". In the film Donald O'Connor dances around a courtyard decorated with stone fountain figures that come to life after he kisses Marilyn Monroe. In my film, I come to life with dance, upon the completion of my sculptures. The talented David Henderson and Kate Henderson (filmmaker and photographer) created my performance art film. Original music was by Canadian composer Ed Henderson. The Dual Nature of my work has been an ongoing theme and so it seemed only natural to be inspired by two songs: The "DeLovely" Cole Porter fused with the sultry sound of Elvis singing "Fever". "Fever" is about Passion; an impassioned intensity which happens on all levels, all cultures, all times. You can go either way with that kind of intensity. My voice takes that "Fever" and makes it "DeLovely". The Muses are open-handed, ready to receive and offer, to come alive and be impassioned in the most positive sense. This would be my dream for our world.

	The African Queen Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

Notorious Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

Moon lights up the night... Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

You can tell at a glance... Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

But she's only a dream... Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

Get the sweet beat... Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

A Night in Tangiers... Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

Who are you really and what were you before... Detail of front view (left), front and back views (centre), detail of back view (right)

Academy Award "Motion Pitchers" Oscar Gifts
Included in "Everybody wins at the Oscars" gift baskets for top nominees for 2008 Academy Awards
Limited edition of 80 one-of-a-kind pieces more

Motion Pitchers

» see Oscar Page for more

"Duets"




available at www.jonathons.ca

"Message in a Bottle: Uncorking the Genie to Inspire"

Spirit Bottle: 'Remembering DeLovely/DeMelanie'

Sisters: My heart belongs to Daddy

Sisters: My heart belongs to Daddy

Sisters: My heart belongs to Daddy

'Samothrace meets Saltimbanque'

'Tea for Two'

'Diego's Divas'

"Message in a Bottle" is an exhibit of Spirit Bottles and larger works both on the wall and free standing. Works have been inspired by gods, goddesses and icons of ancient and contemporary cultures: Statue of Liberty, Frida Kahlo and Ganesha.

These bottles contain a genie that inspires and informs the larger pieces. They are handbuilt with lowfire sculpture clay and surfaced with colourful underglazes, glazes, acrylic and iridescent paints.

Each sculpture has a message often employing poetry and music relative to these objects and their images. I have loved making this body of work. It feels like a continuous beginning.

The spirit bottles inspired the creation of the following Duets, Masks and footwear...

BC/Tajimi Exchange "In the Palm of the Hand"
Oct. 19 - Nov. 15th 2006

Oh, to be a mermaid fair - wearing a teacup in my hair

Oh, to be a mermaid fair - wearing a teacup in my hair

Gallery of BC Ceramics, Vancouver and Tajimi Japan, Aug. 2005

BC In a Box Gallery of BC Ceramics, Vancouver
			featured in "500 Animals in Clay" 2006
The Potters Guild of BC is celebrating its 50th Anniversary with a series of travelling exhibits. "BC in a Box" will travel to 6 venues in BC. » more

"Transformations: The Potters Guild of BC @ 50"

Accordion Angel

Accordion Angel

"Potsketch" Exhibit
"Potsketch", fundraiser auction and exhibit to support the Clay Studio of Missoula, in Montana

Artists clockwise from top left: Suzy Birstein, Akio Takamori, Boomer Moore and Garth Clark and Paul Booth.

Potsketch

Potsketch

	"Tete a Tete" Solo Exhibit at Silk Purse Gallery, W. Vancouver Tete a Tete: An Intimate Conversation between Sculpture and Painting Suzy's figurative ceramic sculptures, originally inspired by the paintings on her collection of handbuilt tableware, have now inspired a series of Monotypes, Miniature Paintings and mirror mounted Masks. Her exotic evocative images continue to embrace the power of the Ancients while reflecting a Contemporary off-beat Spirit.