Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Cale Wilson.
Mary Cale, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in a tiny town outside of Savannah, Georgia, where there wasn’t too much to do (unless you were into sports, hunting, or fishing) so I spent a lot of time playing outside, learning to play music, reading, drawing, and being creative. Unfortunately, I didn’t have art in school until middle school, but my parents got my art and music lessons. I am very grateful for them. My mother had studied art in college (briefly), so I spent a lot of time playing in her old art supplies. When I went off to college, I knew I wanted to study art and never looked back! I was lucky enough to have an excellent undergraduate art education at the University of Georgia. Fast forward, I came to San Diego to pursue my MFA in Ceramics at SDSU and now am teaching in that same department.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
In my work, I usually combine ceramics in an interdisciplinary fashion. My ceramic pieces are typically coupled with paintings or other objects. When I am in the studio, I often think about an anecdote or story, working intuitively to discover the work. I like telling stories (albeit loose ones). In most of my work, I play with my identity and experiences as a woman from the American South. I think a lot about the culture of the South – both past and present, good and bad – and try to funnel these dualities into my work. Objects are an essential part of the language of my work – usually, those found in the Southern home, such as furniture, dishes, heirlooms, and wallpaper. These are the elements of the world I grew up in, and reflect the objects I will one day inherit. I like to think of the heirloom as a metaphor for the idea of heritage. Although at times serious, play and humor are essential in my work; they reflect life, and what it is to be human.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
I know everyone says this, but being an artist is hard. I can’t really tell whether it has changed over time. Unfortunately, San Diego is an expensive place to live, but I think San Diego has a good variety of venues for artists. There are many ways to support the arts: buy more art, donate to local arts organizations, think about who you vote for and whether or not they support the arts, expose the next generation to art. Those are just a few ideas.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I show my work in various venues throughout the country. I recently exhibited at the Clay Studio National at the Clay Studio in Philadelphia. I have work on display at Franco-Moragrera here in San Diego. My work can also be seen on my website at www.marycale.com, and you can follow me on Instagram at @marycale to see more of my process.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marycale.com
- Instagram: @marycale
Image Credit:
Mary Cale Wilson
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