Shirley Hazlett

Artist Statement

The process of making art is inventive; chance is a partner.

When creating sculptures, I seek out garage sale and thrift store finds that call to me. Akin to John Cage's music-making through random notes, I arrange found objects until a sculpture reveals itself, conveying a pressing concept. Directed by the emerging sculpture itself, I combine, contort, paint and re-evaluate the found objects until a sculpture comes to light; something entirely new emerges from things discarded. Guided by the memory of sculptures by Betye Saar and Louise Nevelson, I construct.

When creating a painting, chance also is a factor. I set parameters of concept, size, media, and begin to paint, watercolor on paper, acrylic on silk, and more, allowing the paint itself to point to a resolution; I engage in a mental dialog with the materials and concept at hand until the final image reveals itself, with a little coaxing.

Whether sculpting with found items or painting, art is an extension of my being at a specific point and place in time.