Paula Wenzl Bellacera

Artist Statement:

“The spontaneity and plasticity of the clay medium makes hand building sculpture a process of discovery -- full of surprises. My approach is a collaboration where the clay and I work together to discover hidden shapes and reveal emotions and personalities through animal forms.

Humans have domesticated and interacted with animals for millennium. How have we been influenced by these species? Did we learn to cock our heads when puzzled from our canine friends, or did they learn from us? Who is the teacher, and who is the mimic? Recognizing that we share traits and emotions with our animal kin makes them a delightful study in ourselves. I choose to work with animals that inhabit my immediate environment rather than exotics because they are much more familiar.

Just as friends and acquaintances have their own distinctive traits and behaviors, each of my sculpted animals has personality and expresses a unique character. In this work, my intention is to present the best of humanity through our animal friends and to help us laugh and love our differences and ourselves.”