Susan Stamm Evans
ARTIST STATEMENT
"I try to express the small gestures of quiet emotions, for it is in those private moments of introspection that we are the most connected to ourselves and akin to others."
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
SUSAN STAMM EVANS
BORN: 1952, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Accurate and expressive, the figurative sculptures of Susan Stamm Evans convey a gentle beauty. Her indoor and outdoor bronze sculptures gracefully portray intimate moments, often of personal reflection. Stamm notes that “I try to express the small gestures of quiet emotions, for it is in those private moments of introspection that we are the most connected to ourselves and akin to others.” The work of connecting to others and to oneself underlies the thoughtful and intimate postures of her subjects.
The “Together” series depicts the anticipation of touch between two pairs of lips that almost meet and notably demonstrates a kind of tenuous restraint in a relationship. Her “Quietude” works describe interactions of mutual support, where situated back to back, each figure sustains the other. The singular figures in this series project a range of qualities, at times fragile other times strong, but always naturally graceful and intent.
A recent exploration into fracturing and editing the features of her portraits creates greater complexity as to what these heads communicate. They lack specificity, eyes, hair, and ears. Stamm is intrigued by the silence this cropping elicits, stating that “Information is withheld, and there is an engaging mystery in that.” Writing for the Albuquerque Journal, Dottie Indyke observes, “Possessing no forehead, no eyebrows or eyes, they can be interpreted only through the expression in their mouths, which are shown with parted lips that seem to have just inhaled a quick breath.”
The topography of Stamm’s sculpture is home to a distinct mark making, like crosshatching and cross contour line drawing. This shared texture and the presence of similar physiognomy unifies her work and provides her figures with the potential to relate universal human qualities. Even the humble, unadorned dresses worn by her female subjects appear to emerge from the figures in an effortless, quiet manner and seem to suggest gender more than particular identity or personality.
Susan received her BA from the University of New Mexico and MA in sculptural ceramics from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Her work has been represented in numerous exhibitions and with galleries throughout the mid- and southwest United States, including, the Museum of Albuquerque, The New Mexico Governor’s Gallery in Santa Fe, and the Craft Alliance in St. Louis, Missouri. Susan Stamm Evans was born in Albuquerque and resides in Santa Fe.
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee - MA, 1978
University of New Mexico - BA, 1975
Consortium of Colleges Abroad - Paris, France - 1973
Selected EXHIBITIONS
2010 Solo Show - Tory Folliard - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2010 Person Show with Dick Evans - The Edge, Santa Fe, New Mexico
2009 Invitational Show - SculpturePark 09 - Arts Council of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2009 Group Show - The EDGE Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2007 Solo Show - Joyce Robins Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2007 Invitational Show - SculpturePark 07 - Arts Council of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
2006 Solo Show - Tory Folliard Gallery - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2005 Solo Show - Joyce Robins Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2004 Group Show - Tory Folliard Gallery - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2003 Solo Show - Joyce Robins Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2002 Solo Show - Tory Folliard Gallery - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2002 Group Show - Museum of Albuquerque - Albuquerque, New Mexico
200l New Mexico Ceramic Invitational - The Governor's Gallery, Santa Fe New Mexico 2001 2001 Invitational Show - Crossman Gallery - University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
2000 Solo Show - Joyce Robins Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2000 Invitational show - Craft Alliance - St. Louis, Missouri
BIBLIOGRAPHY (SELECTED - EXAMPLES OF WORK REPRODUCED)
M.J. Van Deventer. "A Passion for Public Art" Edmond Monthly, (June 2007), p.83
Dottie Indyke. "The (Female) Thinker" Santa Fe/North, Albuquerque Journal, (August 5, 2005), P.S4
Kris Stewart. "Figurative Sculpture" Niche, (Winter 2004), p. 59
Rose Mary Diez. "Susan Stamm Evans" Santa Fean, (September, 2003), p.61
"Gallery Watch - Santa Fe, NM" Art & Antiques, (September, 2003), p.87
Alice Herrin. "A Portfolio of Sculptors" Southwest Art, (July, 2001), p.181
Manya Winstead, Santa Fe Living, "Santa Fe's Artistic Heartbeat" (Vol.6,Issue 1) 33
Suzanne Deats. "All About Life" Focus / Santa Fe, (April/ May 2001), p.36
Gussie Fauntleroy. "Porcelain Sculptor Experiments with Bronze" The New Mexican,
June 2, 2000, Pasatiempo Magazine, p. 26
William MacNeil. "Sculptor Prefers to 'Mold it Up, Not Down'" The New Mexican,
June 26, 1998, Pasatiempo Magazine, p. 36
Kathleen McCloud. "A Paradoxical Blend of Vulnerability and Strength"
The New Mexican, July 18 1997, Pasatiempo Magazine, p. 18
Liz Bensley. "Ambiguous Figures Invite Personal Points of View" The New Mexican,
February 7, 1997, Pasatiempo Magazine, p. 10
