CAROLINE DOUGLAS

Caroline Douglas is intrigued by stories of the mythic hero who travels inward and by the quality of spirit found in the art of primitive cultures. Evoking the dream world, comparable to a vision from a fairy tale, nursery rhyme or folk, Douglas’ animals are shamanic beings and wise healers. Douglas has a BFA, Ceramics, University of North Carolina; graduate level courses, University of Colorado, and Penland School of Crafts, North Carolina. She has taught workshops and participated in symposiums around the world including Morocco, Latvia, Serbia, Mexico and across the US. Her work is included in the National Museum for Women in the Arts and many collections in the US and abroad.

IN HER OWN WORDS

I became enchanted with clay when I spent summers as a teen at Penland School of Crafts in the mountains of North Carolina. Now, for over 40 years I have been working in clay … and it has healed me. In 2000, I sustained a serious head injury while I was decorating the gym for my daughter’s 8th grade graduation ceremony. The cherry picker I was in at the time collapsed and crushed my head. I tried many healing methods, many of which were effective to a point; however, being able to express my experience through art has been my main healing tool. The tactile nature of clay, the quiet time in the studio, the visionary journeys to realms to retrieve images, all contributed to my rehabilitation. As I changed the clay, the clay changed me. I feel I was given an opportunity to explore in a new way my experience with art.”