Featured Artisans
SCULPTOR CARVES DETAIL INTO HER MOLDED BIRDBATHS
By Gladys Blews Wilson
Jun 10, 2008, 11:25

Kathy Martinez looks back on 30-years as a potter/sculptor and sums her experience up in one word – evolution.

“I began making my own rubber molds in the basement 30-years ago using clay and hydro stone. I had no formal training but I wasn’t afraid to follow my instincts. It seemed important to keep up with trends and be ready to learn new art forms to meet the demand,” Kathy says

What was popular 30-years ago isn’t what people want today. In fact, her art has gradually evolved as she learned more sophisticated techniques. She hasn’t minded the changing styles of indoor and outdoor décor. Being creative, she loved innovating and currently finds her niche working with terra cotta.

“Terra cotta is the earthy looking pottery that is fired at a temperature around 2000 degrees while porcelain fires in the 2600 degree range. Seventy-five percent of what I sell is terra cotta. Mostly birdbaths and wall decorations.”

Her work has a southwestern flair to it. She makes the “press molds” that will give her birdbaths their major shape. The molds take their name from the fact that clay is pressed into the open faced mold and when it’s partially dry – what potters call the leather stage, Kathy removes it from the mold and hand carves the detail the sets her designs apart. No two are identical and she makes the birdbaths in many sizes and shapes to fit into various kinds of gardens.

Listening to customers she’s discovered that some want small birdbaths that are more decorative than functional. They may want them set in metal frames rather than on stone pedestals. Certain kinds of gardens lend themselves to setting the birdbath into the ground. You will find many styles at Kathy’s booth.

“I’m excited about coming to Shaker Woods for the first time and I’ll demonstrate carving the partially dry clay. In this way, I show the most creative part of working with clay.”

Some of her wall hangings resemble suns and moons with faces carved into the center
Her most intricate wall sculptures are three-dimensional birds.

“I mold them in pieces so that when I join the pieces, I can choose to perch them or make them appear to be flying. The birds are close to life-size and I set some of them into a clay-molded tree stump or interesting branch. I study trees and base my designs on what I see in the woods.”

Even as she prepares traditional sculptured terra cotta designs for Shaker Woods, she is experimenting with porcelain. Her first pieces are translucent and she is designing them to accommodate candles or small electric light bulbs.

“I hope to have a few of the new porcelain lights with me at Shaker Woods and if people like them, I’ll add more porcelain to my line.”

Kathy’s partner Mark Hyman will also come to Shaker Woods. Visit their website mudgarden.com for a preview of their work, but know that pictures don’t do the work of these crafters justice. You will have to come to Shaker Woods to see for yourself.

One of a kind Mudgarden earthenware birdbaths and sculptured wall art range in price from $42 to $250.

Find her in Booth 201.



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