Debbie Burk: Bide and Seek
Debbie Burk: Bide and Seek
Sept. 16 — Oct. 26, 2024
Artist Reception & Talk: Saturday, Oct.26 @ 1:00pm
Artist Statement:
The physical body, the clay, and the kiln are protagonists and antagonists in the metaphorical drama that is my process of making. I am compelled to create visual work that is deeply theatrical; work that is significant enough in size and volume to dominate a gallery space or that is filled with such detail as to draw one in closer. Each work is a valuable segment of an inner narrative so that the echo of the life of the artist is reflected in each piece, creating a sense of inquiry into the story behind the work.
The art I make is designed to push boundaries or to defy gravity, testing what the limits will bear: a small, delicate foot supporting an unexpectedly large form, or a sculptural twist that creates a tension of balance. So, in the same way that one will strive to win a verbal debate, I wrestle with the concept of not dominating the clay, but winning it over to my side in this conflict.
As in a stage production, my forms and surface treatment become critical components in this visual drama. They may take on the role of prop, stage set, actor or observer, as they exist to create a cohesive narrative. Like a theatrical production, I want the work that I create to evoke an emotional response – joy, wonder, surprise, curiosity, tension. Boredom is not an option.
My body of work has been birthed out of a lifetime of experience. The joy and the struggle in the making is my homage to the celebration of life and shared experiences. It reflects places of remembrance, experiences, and relational dialog. The transient nature of time, life and those fleeting moments that make up shared experience is a compelling force in the making of art that will live beyond me. The clock is ticking!
Exhibition Statement:
In art and life, in creativity and spirituality, in the emotional, the mental and the physical, we search and wait, wait and search. All achievements, failures, advances and retreats embody elements of this ebb and flow. BIDE AND SEEK is an artistic exploration of this cyclical process. My newest work explores story-telling as a result of process-driven work.
The exhibition includes new work created specifically for this exhibition, as well as past work that explore those concepts. BIDE & SEEK is the mindful attention to the birth of an idea and the process of germination of that vision into a new work. The BIDING…sitting-waiting with each piece as it takes shape – the becoming of what it will be. The SEEKING…inspiration, adaptation, vision and revision as each work as it emerges as a finished piece.
Bio:
Debbie Burk is an artist and educator with a BFA and an MFA in Ceramics both from Governors State University. She is currently working as an Adjunct Professor of Art at Governors State University in University Park and Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, and maintains studios at The Union Street Gallery in Chicago Heights.
Her artwork is primarily hand-built ceramics with an emphasis on the vessel as it relates to sculptural forms. Her aesthetic is informed by nature, especially the way wind and water move and affect of the movement of objects they influence. Organic forms emerge in the making with a strong naturalistic presence, a nod to the fantastical and strong sense of narrative. Other work includes, drawing, painting, mixed media, encaustic and creative writing.
Debbie lives in Frankfort, IL with her husband, Jim. They enjoy family, travel, music, art, board games and good food. They have five grown children with families that provide good reasons and opportunities to travel out of state, finding new places along the way to explore.
Instagram: @daburk
Website: www.deborahburk.com
