Maureen Carlson Prior Lake and Jordan
www.weefolk.com
maureen@weefolk.com
www.maureencarlson.com
www.weefolkmaureen.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/MaureenPeckCarlson
maureen@weefolk.com
www.maureencarlson.com
www.weefolkmaureen.wordpress.com
www.facebook.com/MaureenPeckCarlson
Artist Statement
I’ve long been captivated by stories, but I first became fascinated with Story Boxes when I sat in on a class called Habitats that was taught by my friend Nancy Hoerner. She viewed her creations as "houses" for her alter egos. Each of the things that she put into the house was part of the complex story for that character. I loved the storytelling part of the project, and decided to create some simpler boxes that focused on an idea or a problem, and then tell the story from that point of view. These became my Story Boxes.
The first box that I created was one called Playing it Safe. It was art self-therapy of a sort, as the problem that I was working on as I created this box was the fear that lay behind my perfectionism. It might be hard for some of you, who may be familiar with my work through my clay character books, to understand that I deal with fear. But it's true. That particular burden has been part of my story for a long time, and it felt WONDERFUL to explore it through art. I was hooked. What I especially loved was that no one could tell me that I got it wrong if I was telling my own story. Ah … the light bulb moment. There's a strange truth that happens when one is creating art from the soul. If it has authentic energy then the creative voice comes through even if the piece is not technically perfect. However, if there is no voice, then the piece succeeds or fails on its own perfection. Wow. That's a powerful, and freeing, concept, and one that I try to remember in all of my work. If I am not passionate, or at least curious, about an idea, then I don't carry through with it. This is because I know that the critical life energy, that only I as the creating artist can put into it, will be missing. And I'll risk once again getting caught in that fearful, spinning cycle of redoing it again, and yet again, until it is perfect. BIO EDUCATION: Maureen began life in rural Michigan, where the K – 8 one-room rural school prepared her for a lifetime of creative listening and paying attention to the world around her. After high school in Elsie, MN, she spent 3 years at Michigan State University, and then completed her final year at Cleveland State University, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelors Degree in Education. She taught 5th grade for one year in Berea, Ohio, then spent the next few years discovering a “real-life” education with husband Dan and daughters Jenelle and Renee. In 1977 the family moved to Prior Lake, Minnesota. ARTIST: Maureen Carlson has been creating mixed-media figures in clay and cloth since the 1970's, with her primary medium being polymer clay. From 1979 to 1991 she sold her clay characters, dolls and puppets at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival and other Twin Cities area venues. Recently, after many years of creating artwork whose primary purpose was instructional, she has begun once again making original artwork to sell at shows and through teaching venues. At the July 2010 Owatonna Art Festival she received an Award of Merit. VIDEO AND BOOK AUTHOR: In 1989 she and her husband, Dan, produced their first teaching video, titled Mug Dwellers and Wee Folk. This video allowed Maureen to reach an international audience, and eventually led to the production of 9 more instructional videos and DVD's. Her first how-to book, FIMO FOLK, was published in 1991, and was followed by 11 more with publishers Hot Off The Press, Design Originals and North Light Books. Her first North Light Book, How to Make Clay Characters, has sold more than 100,000 copies. Seven of her book titles are currently available at WeeFolk.com as well as at booksellers Amazon and Barnes and Noble, among others. MAGAZINE HOW-TO AUTHOR: She has written numerous magazine how-to articles for magazines including Aleene’s, Crafts, Crafts’n Things, Southwest Crafts, Better Homes and Gardens Santa Claus Magazine, Handcrafts Illustrated, Polymer Cafe’ and Crafts for Kids. GIFT MARKET DESIGNER: A line of licensed figures, the Pippsywoggins™, was her entry into the gift market, and was followed by the Friar Folk™, Sister Folk™, “Wishing You …” ™ Fairies, Winged Messengers™ and Angel Folk™. The Sister Folk™ and Friar Folk™ are currently licensed to Abbey Press. CRAFT MARKET PRODUCT DEVELOPER: Her line of What a Character™ and Designer push molds for polymer clay, licensed to American Art Clay Company, have a world-wide circulation. She and Dan are currently producing their own line of flexible push molds under the What a Character trademark. In 1995 she was chosen Craft Designer of the Year in a national competition sponsored by Loctite Corporation and Craft and Needlework Age Magazine. TEACHER: Maureen travels across the USA to teach classes in dollmaking and sculpting, with venues having varied from Craft Trade Shows such as HIA, ACCI and the Ben Franklin Shows, to specialty conferences such as the Bead and Button show and the International Polymer Clay Association. She has also taught classes and seminars at various polymer clay guild retreats and at teaching centers, such as Seivers School of Fiber Arts in Washington Island, Wisconsin. Her current schedule is posted on her website: http://www.MaureenCarlson.com TELEVISION PERSONALITY: She has appeared on the Carol Duvall Show on HGTV as well as on Aleene’s Creative Living Television Show. RETREAT FACILITATOR: Since 1999 her focus has been Maureen Carlson's Center for Creative Arts, a retreat and teaching facility located in Jordan, MN. The Center draws students from across the United States for classes and retreats centered around sculpting, dollmaking, polymer clay, creativity, spirituality and personal discovery. STORYTELLER: In addition to telling her story through her artwork, she also does StoryClayTelling at libraries, birthday parties, corporate events, schools and festivals. This interactive event features the audience as the storytellers with Maureen as the magician who pulls it all together with pertinent questions, delegating of responsibilities and creation of the accompanying clay character. LIFE THEME: When asked about her goals for the next turn in her journey, Maureen says that it’s to explore more fully her recently written mission statement, which is reflect, celebrate and affirm the sacred magnificence of all human beings through storytelling and the visual arts. |
Choices
Stackables
in a Private Collection 15 inches tall Polymer Clay, Metal Rod, Acrylic Paint, Alcohol Inks Interactive pieces, which invite the viewer to touch, change and reveal hidden parts of a sculpture, are a recurring theme in my work. Figurative artwork, with it’s invitation to “come play with me”, is an especially powerful means by which to communicate. Combining the figure or doll aspect with the interactive elements allows me to create serious yet playful artwork that I often think of as toys for adults.
 Storybox #15:
She Stopped Biting Her Nails Once She Remembered That In Her Root Cellar She Had A Mask To Fit Every Occasion 24 inches x 24 inches x 6 inches Wooden Box, Apoxie Sculpt, Polymer Clay, Paper Clay, Acrylic Paint, Fibers We all wear masks, whether consciously or unconsciously. Oftentimes we are told that wearing masks is calculating and deceitful, but I believe that masks are mere reflections of the various parts of ourselves. Just as I function at different times as Mother, Wife, Daughter, Employer, Writer, Friend, Artist and Gardener, I am also at various times the Innocent, the Angry One, the Sad, the Flirt, the Belligerent and the Indifferent. It seems to me that recognizing our masks, and becoming comfortable enough with them to be able to choose which to wear, and when, is one of the important steps towards becoming whole. |
