I see these two sisters as sentries, deciding who or what may approach. Stylistically, these works are a pastiche of styles and characters that I have encountered in my art-historical studies. There is a bit of Roman sculpture in the legs that end in animal feet. There is also a nod to Japanese sculptures of Wisdom Kings (Nio) and, in particular to one Buddhist guardian named Fuso Myoo who is often depicted with dark skin. 
 
At C.R.E.T.A. Rome, I was able to work with a dense black stoneware clay that absorbs and holds light. The clay itself seemed to suggest strength and internal energy. These pieces are meant to reflect a contemporary feminist vigilance that is both fierce and humorous. 

 

BIO
Trisha Kyner is an artist from the United States, based in Baltimore, Maryland. She holds degrees from the University of California, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and University of Montana.  Her ceramic work has been shown across the United States, as well as in France and India. She co-directs the collaborative art group Grendel’s Mother with her fellow artist David Friedheim. She is an Associate Professor at the Community College of Baltimore County.

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