The Unbound Mind, a Foxy Collaboration

The “Unbound Mind”, or “the fox piece” as we affectionately call it (detail above), was our 3rd collaborative piece. Both Rob and I were fully enthused about working together, our collaboration had been so exciting, so fertile and this piece was going to be THE opportunity to try out all of those ideas that had occurred during our first 2 collaborations but weren't suited for those pieces. We talked over every element and each time the piece became more complicated and contained far too many expectations for one ceramic mosaic.

We could hardly contain our creativity, our excitement to make a larger piece. A piece with which we could take risks with color and composition. A piece that was both design AND art and employed our skills with carving, relief, glaze painting and all of this in service of an idea which we were and are still passionate about.

For a moment think about how in a painting or photo, we as artists generally use the composition to focus our viewer. We usually make the subject the central focus and create a story to support this person or thing or idea. Of course this is an over simplification, but go with me here.

My experience has shown me however, that there are moments in life - poignant moments - when everything is equally alive and important and there isn't just one main focus. I’ve experienced this often in nature - I’m out there walking and I stop to look around and everything is pulsing and I can feel the raw magnificence of life throughout. Nothing is “framed” nor the focus nor the subject…every part is of equal importance. THIS is the experience we intended to capture, this transcendent yet ordinary moment where everything feels connected and sacred and beautiful. For the moment everything is both ordinary and extraordinary and the mind opens. (thus the title)

One might think that the fox is the subject, yet it isn’t anymore than the log or little birds (in white) nestled in the tree. The whole scene is the subject and we wanted each component to shine in its own way. We actually tried making foxes of 4 different colors and styles in order to find the right glaze composition to create the effect we sought (see above). Each fox was pretty cool in its own right and worked within the piece but only the orange one aligned with our concept.

Here are some more process photos to show how this piece came together. It took about 6 months of working in fits and starts as time allowed outside of commissions and frankly, we belabored it too much and took far too much time at every stage! However, we really enjoyed the process and learned a lot so it was worth it.

Developing the drawing (fox tail rattle keeping good company)

the gray part is dry but unfired, buff colored is bisque fired awaiting glaze

Right around this time, we feared we'd made a load of crap. It was not at all clear that it would work so we kept our eyes on the details and making each part interesting.

grouting the piece

Yes maybe we were overly exuberant, maybe we tried to put too much into one piece, maybe we took a ridiculous amount of time to work on it, but we had a great time making it and in the end were pleased with the result .

Finished and framed, The Unbound Mind, clay, glazes, grout, thinset. 38” x 56” x 2-3/4”

photo by Lubosh Cech

Last spring we sold it to a family in Lake Tahoe who loves it and really appreciates it in its entirety. Here it is en route and the clients hanging it.

Thanks for reading my post, if you would like to see our first 2 collaborations, see the links to these posts:
Our first: https://steemit.com/art/@natureofbeing/spirit-owl-the-beauty-of-collaboration
Our second: https://steemit.com/art/@natureofbeing/awakening-garden-creativity-born-from-confinement

All photos and artwork are the property of Ruth Frances Greenberg and Robert Streff and may not be used without permission.