Carrie Olsen
I fell in love with sculpture after watching the process during life drawing when a local orthopedist made a portrait in clay. I was entranced. It is a very sensual and flexible medium, and I love the challenge of using different materials. Sometimes I feel my consciousness has disappeared and suddenly there is a form I was not aware of creating. The human form has always an my obsession. I want my sculpture to tell a story. I want people to be curious about the medium and the source of inspiration.
Sculpture has been a therapy for me, and many pieces reflect those stresses and joys as well as my response to the changes in the world around us. I work out the frustration of the feelings of helplessness in changing the course of politics, wars, tragedy, poverty. Recently I have rediscovered my love of painting, something that can be done out of the Texas sun. It pulls at a different part of my imagination and is not as physically tiring.
$1000
MOTHER
Artist Statement
When my children were young, I was torn with the feeling that everyone wanted something from me. My children wanted attention. My husband was in a depression. I was working full time. The piece called "Ties that Bind" evolved during that time when much of my sculpture reflected my frustration with not being able to delve into my obsession with art. It still is a sort of therapy for me. My kids are grown and survived my obsession quite well.. The piece called "Why Not?" reflects a sweetness I see in my grandson. He lives with his mother and often calls me when he feels lonely and can readily wrap me around his little finger.
Warrior In The Rain, 2024