Louie Gizyn
Fiber

As one who expresses herself primarily with my hands, composing an “artist’s statement” can prove to be no easy task. Clay and cloth, rather than words, are elements of my daily conversation.

I majored in art since kindergarten and received my Bachelor of Arts degree in 1976. For the past thirty years, I have created and built fanciful figurines, full of color and whimsy. Whether large or small, each character is individually designed as a one of a kind piece. The head of each character is hand-pinched out of stoneware clay. The head is then fired, sanded, painted and varnished. The body of each figure is constructed with a skeletal armature of wood and wire, or welded steel rod. The bulk of the body is sculpted with fiberfill and cloth. The costuming then begins. Color is the breath of my work. When choosing fabrics, I try to maintain a balance between deliberation and spontaneity.

The “death-defying” feats of everyday life and its cast of thousands are an inspiration. A fascination with circus entertainers and mime also captures my attention. Mime, like many art forms, presents a visual statement to an audience. Gesticulation and stance tell a story. For me the human figure is not only a vehicle of design but of communication as well.