Details
| First Name | Barbara |
| Last Name | LaPoint Stelzer |
| Nickname | Aba |
My Ceramics
| In the studio I like to do | Handbuilding, Throwing on the Wheel, Sculpting, Slip casting, Everything to do with Ceramics |
| Pottery Wheel | An electric no name but half standing poster which is great, but I learned on a kick wheel |
| Clay body | Stoneware, Porcelain |
| Clay Brand | G&S mainly, some wild clay, self made paperclay, paperclay porcelain, Audrey Blackman |
| Kiln Type | Electric Kiln, Raku Kiln, Pit firing |
| Kiln Atmosphere | Oxidation Atmosphere |
| Temperature | 1200-1280C |
About Me
| Introduction | I am originally from upstate New York, where I grew up on a vegetable farm. I always wanted to be an artist and teacher in some way. I learned to throw clay when I was 14, on an old self made kick wheel at a restored village near my home. We did wood firings and learned to harvest local clay, and I fell in love. Later I went to college where I eventually got my BFA in sculpture but cultural anthropology was also a strong minor. We had a strong ceramics program and so my sculptural focus was mainly in installation work where I could incorporate as many materials as I wanted. Then I went to West Africa for 3 years in Northern Senegal with the Peace Corps, then later Burkina Faso and a stint in Mali. I met my future Austrian husband there and we continued our life outside of Salzburg. I was an art teacher at the Waldorf school and am currently at the Educational University. I also finished a Master in Teaching in ESL and recently became a Master sculptress here in Austria focusing on wood and stone carving. But my love stays sticks with clay. |
| What I Love about Ceramics | Natural materials in general speak to me, but the process with clay is an intimate and tactil one that speaks through my hands into my whole body. The process of making in general throws me almost immediately into a state that people call “flow”. The rhythm of wedging, centering myself while throwing, or the freedom of intuitive play. Clay teaches me patience, craftsmanship, chemistry and allows me to speak my voice in a country that I am often misunderstood. I have lived my life since 22 on foreign soil, speaking foreign languages and changing myself life a chameleon to adapt. Therefore digging and working with local clay has helped me to root myself into my life here in Europe, and speak my voice which goes beyond language. Ceramics allows me to paint, carve, model, form, mould, replicate and construct literally anything I can dream of. And it is a hell of a lot faster than working with stone or bronze, although they too have qualities. Also, I am a total process geek. |
| How I started with ceramics | I spent years at college always with the ceramic folks even though I studied sculpture (studios right next to each other). Back then I worked a lot with ceramics, helped build kilns and even stayed up nights helping with the reduction firings. But I didn’t want to limit myself to one material. Since I came to Europe of all the art forms I learned, I kept coming back to clay. I started teaching so I could get use of a kiln, but never got much time to work myself. I finally was able to buy a workshop from a retiring potter which was like a gift from the Gods. I haven’t stopped since. Now I am trying to make my practice more environmentally friendly. |
| What inspires me | Nature, Biology, culture |
