• About us
  • Magazine
  • Submissions
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
No Result
View All Result
Ceramics Now
Subscribe now
  • News
  • Artist profiles
  • Articles
  • Exhibitions
  • Ceramic art
  • Interviews
  • Resources
    • Ceramics Now Weekly
    • 2025 Ceramics Calendar
    • Ceramics job board
    • Pottery classes
Ceramics Now
  • News
  • Artist profiles
  • Articles
  • Exhibitions
  • Ceramic art
  • Interviews
  • Resources
    • Ceramics Now Weekly
    • 2025 Ceramics Calendar
    • Ceramics job board
    • Pottery classes
No Result
View All Result
Ceramics Now
Home Ceramic art

Susannah Israel: Concert, 2019

July 21, 2022
in Ceramic art
Violoncello
Violoncello
Flute Player
Flute Player
Singer 1 (right)
Singer 2
Singer 3
Singer 4
Concert

Susannah Israel: Concert, 2019

Concert is a ceramic installation piece composed of four choral singers, a flute player and a cellist. Music has a profound spiritual effect on its listeners, which is depicted in the expressions and gestures of the sculptural ensemble. The installation was scheduled for the Oakland Art Murmur, but unfortunately it was locked down on the morning of the event and did not ever have a public viewing.

The full installation, the concept and the evolution of the grouped pieces have many sources. ”Coming together with purpose and some force” is the definition of the word concert, which I find provocative and engaging. My inspirations are broad-ranging, from the discovery of a beautiful child prodigy with a cello to Carl Van Vechten beating his fist on the knee of an adjacent concertgoer, overcome with passion by at the Sacre du Printemps(Rite of Spring) premier in Paris, a day in a one-hundred year-old California succulent garden, and the discipline and focus demanded of us by each of our muses.

The soloist in Violoncello is based upon a remarkable young musician named Ifetayo Ali, whose extraordinary gift was evident in her playing at the early age of six. I viewed her videos and interviews while constructing Violonello. Her astonishing ability, beauty, youth and poise captivated me immediately. Sculpting a cello player is an amazing education in music appreciation. Ultimately, the final form and style of the piece was determined by a lovely performance by Ifetayo at the age of 10 years old, playing beautifully with exquisite command of her instrument.

The flute player is based upon Bay Area musician and artist Kystal Nzoiwu, another remarkable musician whose flute playing holds its own with clarity and beauty in the eleven-instrument band Sun Hop Fat.

The four choral singers are drawn from many different experiences with the power of the human voice, which I have experienced firsthand from classical to jazz to gospel music. Their costumes are directly inspired by the dresses of the quinceañeras in the Fruitvale district where I live.

These were my muses during the six-month work period in my studio. While the full piece may not have been presented at a public event, the ideas and the work remain, acting together and with some force.

Photo captions

  • Violoncello, 2019, terracotta, engobes, 35x25x23in
  • Violoncello, 2019, terracotta, engobes, detail
  • Flute Player, 2019, detail
  • Flute Player, 2019, terracotta, engobes, 30x26x21
  • Singer 1 (right), 2019, terracotta, engobes 54x29x19
  • Singer 2, 2019, terracotta, engobes, 51x25x19in
  • Singer 3, 2019, terracotta, engobes, 50x24x17in
  • Singer 4, 2019, terracotta, engobes, 52x25x21in
  • Concert, 2019, terracotta, engobes, 54x108x70in
Tags: Susannah Israel

Related Posts

Alice Shields ceramics
Ceramic art

Alice Shields: Selected works, 2021-2024

April 28, 2025
Yuriy Musatov ceramics
Ceramic art

Yuriy Musatov: Selected works, 2023-2024

April 23, 2025
Philsoo Heo ceramics
Ceramic art

Philsoo Heo: Selected works, 2022-2024

April 14, 2025
Hanna Miadzvedzeva ceramics
Ceramic art

Hanna Miadzvedzeva: Selected works, 2019-2024

April 11, 2025

Comments 2

  1. Angela Verlaeckt Clark says:
    2 years ago

    You are amazing, talented and determined; your figures are strong, reflecting the strength your muse have communicated.
    thank you for sharing this with me.
    Angela

    Reply
  2. Susannah Israel says:
    2 years ago

    Dear Angela, thank you so much! I love the way you’ve described the qualities you value in the work. especially from a wonderful fellow sculptor. El gusto es mío, amiga.
    Susannah

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *





Latest Artist Profiles

Alice Shields ceramic artist
Artists

Alice Shields

April 28, 2025
Yuriy Musatov ceramics
Artists

Yuriy Musatov

April 23, 2025
Philsoo Heo ceramics
Artists

Philsoo Heo

April 15, 2025
Hanna Miadzvedzeva ceramic artist
Artists

Hanna Miadzvedzeva

April 11, 2025

Latest Articles

Anne Laure Cano and Jim Gladwin
Interviews

Translate: L’Ofici Ceramista – Two artists, a defunct factory, a museum and an archive

by Ceramics Now
May 8, 2025
The Whole World In Our Hands
Articles

The Whole World In Our Hands at The Stephen Lawrence Gallery

by Ceramics Now
May 6, 2025
Tontouristen Kollectiv
Articles

Tontouristen Kollektiv: What can be found in the gap between the different clay narratives?

by Ceramics Now
April 28, 2025
Sharif Farrag ceramics
Articles

Sharif Farrag: Hybrid Moments at Jeffrey Deitch

by Ceramics Now
April 16, 2025
Instagram Facebook LinkedIn
Ceramics Now

Ceramics Now is a leading independent art publication specialized in contemporary ceramics. Since 2010, we promote and document contemporary ceramic art and empower artists working with ceramics.

Pages

  • About us
  • Magazine
  • Submissions
  • Advertise
  • Contact

Subscribe to Ceramics Now Magazine

Join a vibrant community of over 21,000 readers and gain access to in-depth articles, essays, reviews, exclusive news, and critical reflections on contemporary ceramics.

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

© 2010-2025 Ceramics Now - Inspiring the next generation of ceramic artists.

  • Subscribe to Ceramics Now
  • News
  • Artist profiles
  • Articles
  • Exhibitions
  • Ceramic art
  • Interviews
  • Resources
    • Ceramics Now Weekly
    • Ceramics Calendar 2025
    • Ceramics job board
    • Pottery classes
  • About us
    • Ceramics Now Magazine
    • Submissions
    • Advertise with Ceramics Now
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result

© 2010-2025 Ceramics Now - Inspiring the next generation of ceramic artists.