About

artist statement

Pleasure and beauty are internal bodily experiences that can create a sense of reciprocity as one enters into a relationship with the external world. The amorphous sculptures I create suggest finding beauty in unrecognizable form while exploring a sense of familiarity. The sculptures, allocentric in nature, hold an affinity to life outside of one’s human body. 

Beads swoop and hang, our bodies empathetically relate to this sense of gravity, relying on sensorial language. Sharp beads reference hair, or grass, something soft made of many sharp parts, creating tension. The sphere shaped beads are a means to adorn, celebrate and commemorate. Beads blend aspects of high and low craft. The repetition of my meticulous process lends itself to traditional craft practices. Historically, beads represent commitments, beliefs and principles, and are present in every culture.

Strands of individual parts are woven together to create a unified whole. My work speaks of humanity as a collective, systems and connections.  Each hand-formed bead is charged with touch and serves as a quiet act of resistance. When we come together we have the capacity to create beauty and power. I am interested in a notion of community that expands past anthropocentrism, and aligns with a deeper notion of connectivity in the world as a whole.

Bio

Brooke Armstrong is a ceramic artist interested in creating sculptural forms from processes tied to traditional craft. Brooke grew up in a rural mountain town in the Adirondack Park in New York State. She received a BA in Communication with a minor in Art from SUNY Potsdam. Brooke attended the University of Colorado as a Post-Baccalaureate specializing in ceramics. Brooke earned her MFA from The University of Montana. She has attended residencies at The Mendocino Art Center in Mendocino, CA and The Red Lodge Clay Studio in Red Lodge, MT. She is currently an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas in San Antonio.

Contact
Brooke Armstrong
E-mail: armstrongbrookej@gmail.com
Instagram: brookejarmstrong