About Deb Clay
I believe in the power of creative action. As an always-developing writer and artist I grow by experimentation, exploration and interaction in different media. Learning has always been a light in my life.
The past few years has seen my attention turn to my creativity. While my education was in Social Work, my early working life was in retail work with time off for family. Retail work was what I grew up in, what I knew. Writing was my support but at that time I didn’t believe it could support me financially or otherwise light my way. As my kids got older I began to take various classes and workshops in different art forms – clay, stained glass, painting, metal work and print making. They gave me a new vocabulary. In further explorations of expression and creativity I studied desktop publishing and web design. Now I have creativity as a business partner.
Out of earthword studios, I build sculptures in clay and/or metal and create art books. inevitable fire print.web design evolved out of my quest to authentically express who I was as an artist in business. I offer a style of print and web design I call design guidance, working with clients to help them find their voice on paper and on the world wide web. Currently in development: dlclay.com, an art inspired website with blog "no risk, no art".
I first worked with Fenna in her role as president of the Calgary Stroll of Poets early in 2004 when I was hired by the Stroll to do the layout and design of their anthology “synthesis”. In 2005 I helped to produce their anthology “percolate”, and "Poetry in Motion" in 2006. In May of 2005 I launched if press with Fenna’s poetry chapbook “Songs My Shadow Sings Me”. Co-hosting Toward the Light with Fenna has allowed me to connect and grow as part of a community of creatives and make a small difference in the world.
Artist Statement
My art is my voice.
Being a writer and an artist lets me speak in different languages. My art is one voice for me, another way of telling a story or offering poetry without the words. By exploring different styles and mediums I can access different voices, languages and viewpoints, take the viewer into places that suggest or identify the things that move us (and move in us).
My art is an exploration.
There are many landscapes to be explored - inside and out. They can be watched for in subtleties of color and light. They can be felt in nuances of texture and design. They can be listened to in the voices they gather together. They can be walked into and explored, taken up and tasted, gathered up and read aloud, listened and danced to.
It is about voice and exploration. Beauty and Awe.
It is about movement, music, landscape and hands creating prayers out of clay, paint, paper or whatever can be found in the course of daily living. To create small things of Beauty.
peace and light
namasteDeb Clay