Anita Feng

Ceramic artist, writer
Website

Thirty years of Zen and thirty-five of clay have inspired a technique that explores the fleeting nature of time and space, balanced in all the idiosyncrasies of the moment. Some elements of each sculpture are meticulously formed while other elements (such as robes, clouds or body parts) are swiftly thrown, tossed or squeezed. This movement and vitality expresses the very essence of Zen. Furthermore, Anita uses the raku firing technique to bring qualities of shimmering “thusness” to the surfaces, and to allow for the unpredictable yet very tangible artistry of fire. In imperfections such as cracks and other unintended results of the raku firings, Anita serves to honor these effects and ferret out the essential beauty behind the unexpected by highlighting the perceived flaws with gold or silver powder mixed with epoxy.

Thematically, Anita explores the iconic imagery of Buddha and considers how she might reflect the spitting image of peace and equanimity in our time and place using the utmost, all-terrain vehicle of common clay. As such, the work offers a synthesis of east and west, past and present — the ancient inheritance of meditation revamped in the modern vernacular.

Anita N. Feng’s major writing awards include an NEA grant, an Illinois Arts Council grant, a Washington State GAP award and the Pablo Neruda Prize.  She is an MFA graduate of Brown University’s Creative Writing Program.  Publications include two books of poetry, Internal Strategies, from the University of Akron Press and Sadie & Mendel, winner of the Backwaters Press Prize.  Individual works have been published by Ploughshares, Black Warrior Review, North American Review and Northwest Review among others.