Carmen Ostermann
I am an artist whose work juxtaposes the beauty of the environment and the harm being inflicted upon it. Using clay, I build ornate depictions of birds being consumed by ecological succession from their habitats. I carve every feather, bill, and talon. I then engulf the birds with nodes that sprout and spread on their surfaces. These nodes are inspired by the ecological succession made up of flora, foliage, fungi and coral from the habitats of the selected species. The growths weigh down the birds paralleling the weight of trauma from environmental destruction, suspending them in a state of being devoured. The surfaces of the birds are an alabaster colour. All chroma has been drained from them, foretelling an ode of what may come to pass. The labor intensive nature of the work is a reciprocal offering of my time to the natural world. By building meticulously delicate sculptures I create space for contemplation about our relationship with the environment. Through using clay, a material that stops and survives time, I ask the audience to observe acts of annihilation and question what is worth preserving.
Upcoming Events
January 12, 2023 | Artist Talk | Worthington Art League
Title of Artist Talk: Carmen Ostermann | I am one of those animals
Type of Artist Talk: Worthington Area Art League Artist Talks: Carmen Ostermann
Location of Artist Talk: Worthington Community Center 345 E Wilson Bridge Rd Worthington, OH 43085 USA
Date of Artist Talk: January 12, 2023
Time of Artist Talk: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Link to Artist Talk: https://www.worthingtonareaartleague.com/upcoming-events/
https://www.worthingtonareaartleague.com/event/1135-4-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-3-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-3-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/?instance_id=117
Summary of Talk: Carmen will be discussing her studio practice and the methods in which her work juxtaposes the beauty of the environment and the harm being inflicted upon it. In this talk she will break down her process using clay to build ornate depictions of birds being consumed by ecological succession from their habitats. Ostermann will delve into the meaning of the ecological succession made up of flora, foliage, fungi and coral from the habitats of the selected species in her work. As well as the importance of labor intensive studio practice. This talk will also offer a sneak peak into the process of preparation for Ostermann’s solo exhibition “I am one of those animals” located in the main gallery of the Cultural Arts Center in Columbus Ohio from January 27 - March 4, 2023.
Artist Bio: CARMEN OSTERMANN (b. Edgewood, Kentucky) is a fine artist who was raised in the United States, Canada, Japan, and the Philippines. In 2015, she received her BFA in ceramics and sculpture at the University of Cincinnati. Afterwards she taught at the School for Creative and Performing Arts, Stivers School for the Arts and A+ Children’s Academy. Ostermann is the recipient of the Wolfstein Travel Fellowship (Frankfurt, Germany), the Margaret L. Gongaware Scholarship, and the Windgate Scholarship. She completed her MFA at the Columbus College of Art & Design in 2022. Her work has been featured in the Ohio Craft Museum, the Bridge Gallery, and the Beeler Gallery in Columbus, Ohio. Currently she is the Ceramics Professor at Capital University and the Administrative and Project Coordinator at the Columbus Audubon, blending her love of art, education and conservation.
January 27 – March 4, 2023 | Solo Exhibition: I Am One of Those Animals | Cultural Arts Center
Type of Exhibition: Carmen Ostermann Solo Exhibition
Opening Night: January 27, 2023 6pm - 8pm
Exhibition Duration: January 27, 2023 - March 4, 2023
Exhibition Location: Cultural Arts Center 139 W Main St, Columbus, OH 43215
Link to Exhibition: https://www.culturalartscenteronline.org/exhibitions/main-gallery/
Artist Website: www.carmenostermann.com
Exhibition Description: Carmen Ostermann is an artist who investigates the intricacy of ecosystems and the impacts of environmental destruction through delicate hand built ceramic and fiber sculptures. She seeks to reveal our interconnectedness with nature as well as the vital and urgent role we play in protecting it. Come experience her work juxtaposing the beauty of the environment and the harm being inflicted upon it at her debut solo exhibition at the Cultural Arts Center in January of 2023.