Drift Wood Sculptures
by aManda Greene
Artist Statement
My main teacher is the Earth.
My inspiration is drawn from her patterns, textures, and from specifically how the patterns interact with each other, sometimes in a subtle way sometimes drastic to create unique expressions that last anywhere from moments to centuries.
In my work, I co-create every step of the way, in an improvisational dance between my imagination and nature.
Many of the material I use I have found and collected from different places around the world. I am mindful of what I collect and only take what is abundant or I feel a special connection. (I talked to it, ask permission and listen) Some pieces want to stay others are happy to go.
When working on a piece, I find natural mediums provides the perfect element of restriction that forces my creativity to reach and to be in the present moment. My favorite pieces to create are those that inspire me to do something I haven’t done before. They make me think & try new ways and research new methods. The best is when I get it wrong and discover something new in the process.
My Personal Statement
To be human is to create. It is how we connect, how we transform. How we make meaning & how we interpret and make manifest the challenges and joys of our human experience. Art and Culture have always played a pivotal role in my understanding of the world.
My mother and uncle were artists. Throughout my life, my mother has sculpted with clay, cast with bronze, did graphic design, directed and produced documentaries. My uncle was a self-taught 3D digital artist and musician, composer. He was a pioneer in the new 3D technology. He passed far too young and left a diverse legacy of work.
Being raised by immigrant artists in the Bay Area, spending sundays at the beach BonFire for my mom’s pottery class, or volunteering at the Academy of Science painting leaves for the Dinosaur exhibit.
Making art and visually exploring the world was my baseball and thanksgiving. The magazines on the table were National Geographic and Ethnographic photography books. The message was: create and explore. So I did. Once I passed my angry confused adolescent phase, life took me on various journeys, creations and people were always a part of it. The encouragement to create and explore has led me to a profound love of our earth, her creatures & our people.
aManda drawing Durga for a children's book.
