FISCHER, MARY
TEXAS
TEXAS
The focus of my work is architecture. I look at buildings in the wild and in books. They get jumbled in my head and sorted out by my hands. The buildings started as boxes. Lids became roofs. Feet and chimneys appeared and things go on from there, changing from season to season.
There are no special techniques or attempts to disguise how pieces are put together. Surface treatments and forms change over time as different things capture my interest. The timelessness of indigenous, especially desert, architecture is an abiding influence, as is the use of concrete by contemporary architects.
The making of houses is largely intuitive, but in order to get the "right" proportions, I sometimes make paper models. It is easier and quicker to make a piece out of paper and then use the model as a pattern to cut pieces out of clay. Building with extruded pieces is like playing with Legos. The more pieces you have to play with, the more you can move things around until the right combination appears. Some works include multiple pieces that are not attached so that playing can continue, arranging and rearranging as fancy dictates.
EDUCATION:
1965
Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, North Texas State University, Denton, Texas.
1982
Begin ceramics classes at the Dougherty Art Center, Austin, Texas.
1987
Continuing ceramics classes at the Southwest School of Art and Craft, San Antonio, Texas.
WORK:
1966
Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force
1974
Resigned commission.
1975 - 2001
Draftsman/Cartographer for Travis County, then for environmental consulting companies in Austin, Texas.
RECENT
2007
Art and Architecture, Live Oak Art Center, Columbus, Texas
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Iota, Dallas, Texas
EXHIBITS:
2006
5th Annual Sul Ross State University Ceramic Invitational, Alpine, Texas
Day of the Dead Show, Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
Change of Venue, Poissant Gallery, Houston, Texas
Iota, Dallas, Texas
2005
State of Texas - Clay, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
30x5 Annual Ceramics Invitational, Akar Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
On a Whim, Poissant Gallery, Houston, Texas
2004
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
15th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
2003
6x6 An Exhibit of Handformed Pottery, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
Crafthouston 2003: National, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas
2002
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
Crafthouston 2002: Texas, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas.
2001
16th Annual Clay Symposium and Exhibit, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
Origins in Clay II, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
Made in Texas - REgional Clay: State of the Art, New Braunfels Museum of Art and Music, New Braunfels, Texas
2000
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
There are no special techniques or attempts to disguise how pieces are put together. Surface treatments and forms change over time as different things capture my interest. The timelessness of indigenous, especially desert, architecture is an abiding influence, as is the use of concrete by contemporary architects.
The making of houses is largely intuitive, but in order to get the "right" proportions, I sometimes make paper models. It is easier and quicker to make a piece out of paper and then use the model as a pattern to cut pieces out of clay. Building with extruded pieces is like playing with Legos. The more pieces you have to play with, the more you can move things around until the right combination appears. Some works include multiple pieces that are not attached so that playing can continue, arranging and rearranging as fancy dictates.
EDUCATION:
1965
Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, North Texas State University, Denton, Texas.
1982
Begin ceramics classes at the Dougherty Art Center, Austin, Texas.
1987
Continuing ceramics classes at the Southwest School of Art and Craft, San Antonio, Texas.
WORK:
1966
Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force
1974
Resigned commission.
1975 - 2001
Draftsman/Cartographer for Travis County, then for environmental consulting companies in Austin, Texas.
RECENT
2007
Art and Architecture, Live Oak Art Center, Columbus, Texas
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Iota, Dallas, Texas
EXHIBITS:
2006
5th Annual Sul Ross State University Ceramic Invitational, Alpine, Texas
Day of the Dead Show, Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
Change of Venue, Poissant Gallery, Houston, Texas
Iota, Dallas, Texas
2005
State of Texas - Clay, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
The Works Gallery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
30x5 Annual Ceramics Invitational, Akar Gallery, Iowa City, Iowa
On a Whim, Poissant Gallery, Houston, Texas
2004
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
15th San Angelo National Ceramic Competition, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
Obsidian Gallery, Tucson, Arizona
2003
6x6 An Exhibit of Handformed Pottery, Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
Crafthouston 2003: National, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas
2002
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
Crafthouston 2002: Texas, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas.
2001
16th Annual Clay Symposium and Exhibit, San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
Origins in Clay II, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas.
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
Made in Texas - REgional Clay: State of the Art, New Braunfels Museum of Art and Music, New Braunfels, Texas
2000
Wally Workman Gallery, Austin, Texas
