Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Terpstra.
Anne, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve always been involved in the creative arts – as a writer, photographer, scenic carpenter/painter, stage/production manager – but a cross-country move and a subsequent transition to being a stay-at-home parent pushed me away from my creative center for a bit. Pottery was the thing that brought me back.
I took a wheel-throwing class about ten years ago as a way to get out of the house and do some hands-on work, and I enjoyed the process so much that I never stopped.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My work always begins with the wheel. I love the act of throwing – the hum of the motor, the sensation of clay sliding through my fingers, the crescendo of a shape rising from an inert mass. Narrowing my focus to this one physical action is quite meditative.
I’ve thrown mainly high-fire pieces, but I also explore the more unpredictable worlds of raku and saggar. I like clean, simple forms that allow the interplay of glazes to tell a story. I will alter a piece occasionally, but usually at the wheel, and in a way that keeps an organic sense of movement.
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think it’s a mixed world for artists today. The commodification of our society and the ease of cheap goods make it hard for artists to compete financially, but in the past few years, there has been some pushback against mass production. More customers are seeking out the handmade, the unique. The internet allows us to reach a much broader audience and facilitates the existence of supportive communities that couldn’t exist otherwise.
Chicago has many artistic outlets – we’re fortunate that way – but there’s always more that can be done, particularly in giving our children a chance to explore the creative world. I know art/music/theater classes are often the first thing cut when a public school has funding issues, but it’s a loss for our kids and for a generation of future artists.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
My website aeterpstra.com hosts a pottery store and lists any shows I’m currently scheduled to attend. Visitors to the site can also explore my online photography galleries and find out more about my work as a novelist – two other passions of mine. I can be found on Instagram – @aeterpstra and on Twitter – @anneeterpstra.
Contact Info:
- Website: aeterpstra.com
- Email: aeterpstra@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aeterpstra/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012224141827
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/anneeterpstra
Image Credit:
Anne E. Terpstra
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