Elizabeth Bennett
About
Hey! I'm Liz and I grew up in Springfield township. I currently have one more year of college left before earning my degree in Jewelry and Metalsmithing at the University of Akron. In the spring of 2014 I studied abroad to South Korea for a total of four months, which was my first experience out of the country. It was an amazing opportunity to build lasting connections and friendships, and it has greatly impacted my life, my desire to learn, and my drive to create and grow. I have made life long friends and kindled an even stronger desire for knowledge and travel. I am excited to be back in the studio and to create new works of art. I would say that most art moves me in some way, and I draw anytime I cannot be in the metalsmithing studio. I didn’t know that I liked metal until I did pewter casting in Introduction to 3D Design. From there I took sculpture and learned how to weld, and then metalsmithing- where I fell in love with creating art with metal. I am still trying to develop and perfect the craft and conceptual side of my projects, and I am enrolled in an Independent study this summer to explore that more. This past semester I was accepted into the 79th Annual Juried Student Exhibition at the Myers School of art, and I also had the pleasure of having pieces in the NASAD Accreditation that took place at the Myers School of Art with work presented in the fields of jewelry and metalsmithing, sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking. More of my metal work can be seen in the exhibition at the Hower House, which will be up through the end of summer. |
Artist Statement
I have found that who I am cannot be pinned down with one approach to my art. I am very drawn to geometric forms, and have become inspired by the Art Deco movement for this reason. These works are made with restrictions, and are executed decisively. This translates into my practice. The precise forms represent my need for perfection and control I often feel I do not have in many areas of my life. My interest in craftsmanship is directly related to how I push myself to constantly improve, problem solve, and keep developing my ideas.
I need to keep my hands busy. When I am idle, I become depressed and through my art I can re-focus my energy into something tangible. With my natural pieces, I work intuitively, expressing my ideas while reacting to the materials, which allows me to let myself create organically. These works are about expression and give me the opportunity to explore more figural forms. By articulating these forms, I can work through the innate ideas I have.
I feel compelled to manifest my ideas into a physical, and often functional, space. I make work because I have to have an outlet for the numerous ideas racing in my head. I need to cope and distract myself, and constantly constructing pieces with my chosen materials satisfies that drive to create. I try to balance the duality of restriction and expression through what I create. I believe that is apparent through the technical achievement shown in my pieces. I have discovered that my geometric and natural bodies of work are completely separate, but still related, and work together to describe who I am.
The two bodies of work are related in that they both serve a purpose for me. The opposite themes help me to balance myself mentally and also serve to carry out my creative urges. I strive for discipline and control, but at the same time need an outlet and the ability to express my less rigid approach to art making, and it is this juxtaposition that describes who I am as an artist. In the future I plan to continue developing both bodies of work as they are equally important to me.
Contact me!
Visit my Facebook, Linkedin, or send me an email.
I have found that who I am cannot be pinned down with one approach to my art. I am very drawn to geometric forms, and have become inspired by the Art Deco movement for this reason. These works are made with restrictions, and are executed decisively. This translates into my practice. The precise forms represent my need for perfection and control I often feel I do not have in many areas of my life. My interest in craftsmanship is directly related to how I push myself to constantly improve, problem solve, and keep developing my ideas.
I need to keep my hands busy. When I am idle, I become depressed and through my art I can re-focus my energy into something tangible. With my natural pieces, I work intuitively, expressing my ideas while reacting to the materials, which allows me to let myself create organically. These works are about expression and give me the opportunity to explore more figural forms. By articulating these forms, I can work through the innate ideas I have.
I feel compelled to manifest my ideas into a physical, and often functional, space. I make work because I have to have an outlet for the numerous ideas racing in my head. I need to cope and distract myself, and constantly constructing pieces with my chosen materials satisfies that drive to create. I try to balance the duality of restriction and expression through what I create. I believe that is apparent through the technical achievement shown in my pieces. I have discovered that my geometric and natural bodies of work are completely separate, but still related, and work together to describe who I am.
The two bodies of work are related in that they both serve a purpose for me. The opposite themes help me to balance myself mentally and also serve to carry out my creative urges. I strive for discipline and control, but at the same time need an outlet and the ability to express my less rigid approach to art making, and it is this juxtaposition that describes who I am as an artist. In the future I plan to continue developing both bodies of work as they are equally important to me.
Contact me!
Visit my Facebook, Linkedin, or send me an email.