Saratoga Clay Arts Center’s Schacht Gallery presents “Resonance,” a solo exhibition of sculptural wall works by NY artist Sarah Heitmeyer. The exhibition will open on October 7th with an opening reception from 5-7pm and continue through November 11, 2023.
About her work, Sarah states, “ I return to the water’s edge to feel my mind empty before me, releasing a swell of intentions to drift and find resonance with the tide. Water gives form to energy we cannot see; the wind, the tide or an applied force that grows and reflects. The movement gives my eye something to focus on, while my mind takes a breath.
“I recreate these moments through ceramic wall tile. This reminds me of what we seek in sanctuaries; a quiet space to process and consolidate thoughts, step out of our habitual norm to reflect and find hope.
“I am fascinated with applying logic to rippling currents in water. Merging the ornamental design of tile, including repetition and symmetry, with the realism of photography creates depth. I play with how much pattern intersects our perception of an image. Pattern functions as a vehicle through space, offering markers for perception and revealing a subliminal tendency to seek order and repetition, which is elusive in nature.
“To capture these moments, I use digital, craft, and studio production based techniques. Digital technologies’ potential for photo realism offers a level of exactitude not commonly found in hand made objects. This invites the viewer closer to find intangible moments frozen in ceramic materials. My processes of computer-aided design, mold making, slip casting, press molding, and glaze formulation allows me to offer a quiet, immense moment to find yourself within.
Sarah Heitmeyer is a ceramic artist specializing in decorative wall tile. Her current work is based in emulating a calming, beautiful moment for viewers. Sarah received national recognition through an emerging artist award from the National Council on Education of the Ceramic Arts in 2019.
She received her MFA at the State University of New York at New Paltz and BFA from Alfred University. She completed a post baccalaureate program at Colorado State University, residencies at Flower City Pottery in Rochester, NY and the Wellsville Creative Arts Center in Wellsville, NY, and an internship at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass Village, CO. Sarah exhibits her work nationally, including at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, PA, Radius Gallery in Missoula, MT, the Women's Studio Workshop in Rosendale, NY, the Page Bond Gallery in Richmond, VA, the Archie Bray Foundation in Helena, MT, the Dorsky Museum of Art in New Paltz, NY, and Pewabic Tile in Detroit, MI, Carbondale Clay Center in Carbondale CO, and Peekskill Clay Studios in Peekskill NY.
She has worked for ceramic studios such as KleinReid, Kala Stein Design, ModCraft Tile, and Fall Kill Creative Works, as well as in digital design and fabrication labs such as the Hudson Valley Additive Manufacturing Center and Polich Tallix.
She is an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz teaching computer aided design and works in her studio in Fishkill, NY.