Shay Church Artist Lecture at Library Gallery CSUS

During Shay Church's artist lecture in the CSUS Library Gallery, he went through a variety of subjects. The lecture was more like a conversation between him and the audience, covering his past works, experience as an artist and how artists can make a living through creating artwork. He produces a large amount of utilitarian ceramic ware and sells them through consignment stores, online, or in person at fairs. When he first began creating his large clay installations with wood structures, he did it for the passion and there was not money involved. But as he became more well known for his work, he was paid and commissioned to create these large works. The advice he had to give to all of us was to do whatever you need to do with your work to make money and at some point that will level out with your true passion to support yourself.



Towards the end of the lecture, he explained that he had spent about a week with other students that assisted him with making this installation of multi-headed horse. He reads fairy tales and myths with his daughter and this work was inspired by a creature from those readings. The structure is supported by wood beneath the clay. The clay is applied wet an as time passes, the clay will dry and crack off and reveal the wood beneath. His installations involve investigating decay, neglect and deterioration.