ARTIST STATEMENT
My work meditates on points of transition and connection. Grounded in technical, tangible processes, I prioritize material integrity to develop a formal language rooted in abstraction. I highlight material memory through surface manipulation, such as the imprint of fingers in clay coils or the variation in wood’s grain as layers are carved away. These physical, often time-consuming processes create space for an intimate dialogue with the form during its creation. In this practice, I introduce secondary materials and explore potential for my body to enact a completed apparatus through movement. I seek points of entry for materials to pass through. Physical barriers, such as the friction of twine passing through a small opening and the limitations of my reach, inform a movement score. For instance, in Affinity I, my body serves as a stabilizing weight for the wood post as I eventually anchor the string in my mouth, suspending the sandbag in the air, and establish a point of contact to my abdomen. A quiet tension builds as these lines are drawn in suspended moments of connection between body and form. The narrative and formal quality of these pieces intentionally employ ambiguity to strike an emotion that is both deeply personal and broadly accessible.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sarah Weiner is a multidisciplinary artist working in ceramics, fiber arts, animation, and mixed media performance. Her work meditates on simple gestures to encapsulate themes of longing for home, connection, and belonging. Influenced by experimental movement, puppetry, and post-minimalist aesthetics, Sarah has developed a storytelling language rooted in abstraction. Raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, Sarah earned her BFA in Sculpture & Integrated Practices with a minor in Ceramics from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. During her time at Pratt, her work was exhibited in multiple shows, and she led the Ceramics Club, creating a space for students from various disciplines to explore and experiment with ceramics. After graduation, she worked in production pottery at the Brooklyn Navy Yard before relocating to her hometown of Homewood, IL. Currently, Sarah is expanding her studio practice and reconnecting with her community by organizing art programs in the south suburban library district. Her dedication to both her craft and community engagement highlights her commitment to fostering creativity and connection.
© Sarah Weiner