Clockwise from Top Left:
Chocolate Bunny;
Cow with Butterfly;
Elephants;
Big Orange Flipper;
Max The Mule;
Little Hippos;
Lady Tau (1);
The Artist, Trinka Roeckelein
“As city footprints continue to broaden across the globe, the natural balance of space, energy and resources must adjust. The need for individuals, whether human or animal, to coexist tranquilly with one another
becomes more pressing and important.”
I am a sculptor working in clay to create both indoor and outdoor pieces, most of which contain an interpretation of a human or animal. My work focuses on the whimsy aroused by the increasingly complex coexistence of urbanity and nature or people and animals. Some of the pieces are totems or groups of unlikely combinations of living creatures into harmonious compositions – a peaceable kingdom of sorts.
As a native of Washington DC, I have witnessed the presence of wildlife increase within the “city walls” as their natural habitats are reduced. This coupled with visits to Botswana fuels my motivation. The African environment contrasts largely with my daily existence in DC. I am captivated by the animals … their shapes, sizes, movements, sounds … and the variety and vastness of the African bush. My sculptures aim to reflect elements from both surroundings.
I work in clay because of the way it feels, its tireless unpredictability and technical challenges, and the possibilities for surface treatment. I fire each piece repeatedly in order to build layers, each time adding more oxides, glaze or under-glaze, until I am pleased with the results. Each piece is one-of-a-kind, which underlines clay’s basic connection to the earth and compliments nature’s intrinsic “one-of-a-kindness".