Pulling teeth: MFA Thesis - Ceramics

Abstract

This thesis elucidates how humor and pain influence the formation, development, and expression of self. By exploring elements of color, form, and psychology, and referencing the works of Clayton Bailey, Peter and Sally Saul, and other artists of the California Funk Movement, this research delves into the complex relationships between contrasting emotions tied to compulsive behaviors and intrusive thought patterns. Through examining personal psychology and creating imagined worlds with recurring symbols, this study employs levity as both a distraction and a narrative tool. This approach allows for a nuanced investigation into the interplay of humor and pain in shaping human experiences and self-expression. But is it all really that serious?