Artist of the day: Anna Freeman

I was instantly taken by Anna Freeman’s work when it turned up in my mailbox. Not only are her works terribly evocative of the beauty of the clay material, but her subject matter is moving and puts the viewer in a place where they can’t hide or avoid the issues she presents.

Here’s a bit from her artist statement:

“My work draws attention to a range of issues, including food-borne pathogens, monoculture, irrigation and water shortage, the use of corn for fuel production, and colony collapse disorder in honeybees: a syndrome that has caused massive die-offs of these vital pollinators. Through my work, I hope to generate a deeper contemplation about the sources of our food, its processing, and its impact on the environment and our bodies.”

Take the time to have a look through the work on her website. She’s created an interesting dynamic between presenting the charged subject matter in a material that is a part of the debate – the land – and serves up her subject matter relating to food on the objects themselves upon which we eat. There is also some great tile work and make sure you find the delicate slipcast “waste” pieces, they’re some of my favorites.