User:Jo Grishman

I am a collaborator with nature, often using found objects in my clay sculpture. My greatest inspiration is my motherhood and nature. Working with clay is a tactile, spiritual interaction. It's a dance as the image emerges and takes on a life form of it's own. The story gradually reveals itself and not always upon completion of the piece. It is a gradual unfolding....... I have seen myself as an artist since a child, always drawing and creating imaginary worlds. I was born and raised in New York City, then moving to Maryland to raise my family. I've been involved in various group exhibits throughout the Maryland area before relocating to Portland. My passion for family and nature has been nurtured and blossomed since moving to Portland where I finally feel at home. I am an artist exploring a multitude of medium, predominantly sculpture, to express myself. My exploration of media reflects personal exploration. Journeying through the layers of memory is very important. Process is an integral part of my artwork. By physically touching the surface and manipulating the medium, I am creating a dialogue, thus allowing an image to evolve and take on a life of its own. That process is then continued as I try to draw the viewer into that dialogue. As I reach a deeper understanding of myself by losing myself in the process, I hope to touch each viewer on a personal level.

please visit me at http://jogrishman.blogspot.com/ to see what I am currently involved in.

http://jogrishman105.googlepages.com/home