I am interested in presenting a fresh perspective from which to look at what we think we already know and understand. My art is successful when it encourages a viewer to approach a piece for closer inspection, but then surprises the viewer with something they did not expect to see after their first glance. Sometimes this comes across in a whimsical or fantastical way by merging two very different subjects into one new subject, or by juxtaposing two unlikely or mismatched elements. In those cases, I employ subject matters that are non-threatening and easy to approach to engage a wider audience.

More often, however, I choose subject matters that are more confrontational. I am not interested in creating things that are always pretty and pleasant to look at. I want my art to challenge the viewer's comfort zone--to stimulate a reaction, initiate dialogue.

Most recently, my art has become a tool to help examine our society's current take on humankind's place within the larger ecosystem and our tendency to feel disconnected from the physical environment we live in. Media and consumerism play a huge role in defining what we believe our place to be. Therefore, references to the media, consumer products, and technology will often show up in my work. With ever-changing technology, new medical procedures, and a host of material products to buy, it is easy to become distracted and to forget we are still animals--human animals--who are susceptible to the same threats of environmental degradation--polluted waters, poor alimentation, global warming--as all other organisms. I use the human figure to address these relationships. Our bodies--the interiors just as much as the exteriors--are playing fields where these relationships are determined. Through this exploration, I attempt to reveal what has previously been concealed and/or omitted, either because it is not pretty, or pleasant, or acceptable in standard social discourse. My intention is for my work to make a statement about how we choose to live our lives, and to have an impact on people's future decisions.

Bio

Margot has recently returned to Asheville from California, where she devoted much of the past 5 years to restoring wetlands, rehabilitating marine mammals, and educating others about bay ecology. Past experiences at the Odyssey Center for Ceramic Arts, Penland, and a local summer camp long ago cemented her love of Western North Carolina and have lured her back. She is happy to once again be part of the Odyssey community as a student and studio assistant--an opportunity she is using to deepen her exploration of clay and the human figure. She received a BA in Non-Western Art History from Wesleyan University in 1998.