Beth Cavener Stichter | sculpture

“I choose clay to be the raw visceral material for my work, because its roots are wrapped around my past. I have always linked the materiality of flesh and the memory of it with clay. It has an incredible sensitivity to touch. Not only is the inert nature of the material alluring with its ties to the primitive and raw, but its voice spans a wide range of sensual, violent, and careless textural possibilities. It is intimately tied to our natural surroundings, cultural history, and a direct record of my physical presence. Every intimacy with the material is preserved.” — Beth Cavener Stichter

“There are primitive animal instincts lurking in our own depths, waiting for the chance to slide past a conscious moment. The sculptures I create focus on human psychology, stripped of context and rationalization, and articulated through animal and human forms. On the surface, these figures are simply feral and domestic individuals suspended in a moment of tension. Beneath the surface they embody the impacts of aggression, territorial desires, isolation, and pack mentality…” Continue reading Beth’s Artistic Statement.

Object Lesson: Apathy

stoneware, black porcelain slip, glass tank, water, steel   

tank: 30 x 22 x 30 inches
2003

Object Lesson: Dissension  

stoneware, rope, block and tackle, barrel

goat: 45 x 24 x 36 inches
2003

Study for Self-Doubt  

stoneware, yellow porcelain slip

24 x 16 x 8 inches
2004 

The Inquisitors

stoneware, green porcelain slip, barn-wood crates constructed from found materials around the Archie Bray Foundation  

figures: 65 x 80 x 28 inches
2004

One Last Word

stoneware, lavender gray porcelain slip cast iron gear from the Archie Bray Foundation Brickyard

24 x 28 x 18 inches
2005

Megrim  

stoneware, antique wooden and iron yoke, rope, forged iron rings, pulleys, rusted steel stand

goat: 30 x 45 x 18 inches
2005

Remember Me

stoneware, antique brass hook  

11 x 10 x 5 inches   
2006

Study for “Hare Leaping Over Nothing” 

stoneware, rope, antique bronze hook   

34 x 11 x 29 inches
2008 

Humiliation by Design

stoneware, steel, cast iron gears, rope

the handle to the right turns the cast iron gears, slowly rotating the figure on the center shaft

figure: 38 x 58 x 21 inches
mechanism: 82 x 83 x 52 inches
2009

Your Eyes Have Their Silence

stoneware, sticks, whiskers

13 x 12 x 8 inches
2009

A Rush of Blood to the Head

stoneware  

figures: 71 x 56 x 18 inches
w/ pedestal: 80 x 72 x 41 inches
2009

Triomphe

stoneware, leather belt, antique bronze sleigh bells  

(wall piece)   
22 x 42 x 16 inches
2009

Is it me?

stoneware  

(wall piece)   
36 x 44 x 12 inches
2009 

Husk

stoneware, wooden box  

34 x 19 x 13 inches
2009

A Second Kind of Loneliness

stoneware, paper pinwheel, internal mechanical breathing device  

every 8 seconds, a breath is released from the goat’s mouth, causing the pinwheel to spin slowly  

figure: 64 x 107 x 22 inches
w/ pinwheel: 64 x 117 x 22 inches
2009

Render

stoneware, wooden peg  

21 x 18 x 8 inches
2009 

Bolt

stoneware, cast iron bolt  

32 x 11 x 6 inches 
2009  

Study For Hare in a Net

Tipping Point

porcelain, hemp net

Tipping Point: antique brass nautical scales 
edition of 8   

individual hare: 24 x 20 x 8 inches
2009 

The Sanguine (The Four Humors)

stoneware, mixed media

52 x 31 x 19 inches
2010

The Melancholic (The Four Humors)

stoneware, mixed media

77 x 14 x 19 inches
2010

The Choleric (The Four Humors)

stoneware, mixed media

45 x 45 x 11 inches
2010

The Phlegmatic (The Four Humors)

stoneware, mixed media

75 x 30 x 17 inches
2010

Bloom

stoneware, vintage handmade lace

installation: 144 x 144 x 12 inches
2010

Anywhere but Here

stoneware, antique iron hook, dyed rope, wooden wall pedestal  

41 x 24 x 9 inches 
2010

Study for a Netted Hare (Lavender)

lavender porcelain, antique hook, dyed rope

14 x 7 x 8 inches
2010

The White Hind (The Bride)

stoneware based, mixed media sculpture

68 x 50 x 18 inches

The Adoration (from Van Eyck)

stoneware based, mixed media sculpture

168 x 36 x 16 inches

Study for The Adoration (from Van Eyck)

stoneware based, mixed media sculpture

40 x 14 x 24 inches 

The Question That Devours

stoneware

64 x 35 x 25 inches 

The Sentimental Question

stoneware with Ceramic Glaze

50 x 35 x 17 inches 

L’Amante

stoneware with ceramic glaze

45 x 60 x 44 inches

In Bocca al Lupo

stoneware based, mixed media sculpture

56 x 84 x 24 inches

Visit Beth Cavener Stichter’s website for more work and a look into her materials & techniques.

Images from claireoliver.com and followtheblackrabbit.com

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