Sandy Abrams
Working oftentimes in an unconventional manner, I am an artist that uses a variety of materials to create non-functional sculptural objects that often echo a direct connection between the natural world and to my life’s experiences.
Two major influences for my work have been Joe Hogan and my work in ceramics. Coming from a ceramics background, the vessel form has always been one of my interests, for it suggests containment or concealment and these two words are weighed in much of my work. Joe Hogan, an internationally known willow maker from Ireland, introduced me to willow basket making. During this time I became acutely aware of how I especially enjoyed working with my hands using natural materials that were a renewable resource and environmentally friendly. Process is the key word in the making of my art. Whether it is the frequent motions of twining, felting, stitching, punching holes, or tying knots, a sense of centeredness is created by such repetitious work. In fact, many times these periods become quite meditative – a wholesome break from the busy urban life of Los Angeles, for while I humanize the material, it naturalizes me.
