Cary Weigand

ARTIST STATEMENT

Born 6th generation in Hawaii, I received my BFA and MFA from the University of Manoa.

There are a handful of key points that have influenced my work. Growing up in Hawaii taught me to celebrate diversity –– I saw Buddhist, Baha'i, Hindu temples, Catholic, Christian, and other churches. I learned about Mana and Aina, which would later influence my relationship with water, the land, and clay.

The death of a loved one in my early 20s changed my outlook on life, pushing me farther from understanding society and struggling with a noisy internal world with internal battles. Growing up with dyslexia, I always felt I never really fit in and knew I needed to find an open path that did not present itself with a set of rules.

Finding clay gave me a voice for things I didn't have words for, a way to express inner battles, and the experience of individual power, such as love and spiritual awareness. 

Working in clay for over 30 years, you will hear me talk about the layers: Layers of Clay and Layers of Consciousness. These layers, both physical and metaphysical, are integral to my work. I see them both wrapped around my mind and the sculpture itself. I can see the rhythm and music in my work. Clay has allowed me to find my own way. Touching the earth and painting emotions of color, emotional and spiritual layers are all intertwined. These layers, like the layers of clay, build upon each other, creating a unique depth and complexity to my work.

The figures are vessels of spiritual power where I see the world through my heart, express it through my hands, and show me things I've never known.