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SUZANNE HERBERT-FORTON

Ceramic, Craft, Fiber, Visual / Media

Awards Received

Individual Artist

Prior to 2012

About the Artist

I am a fiber and ceramic artist whose artwork is inspired by Byzantine and medieval art. I stitch hand embroidered images set in architecturally inspired frames of hand built ceramics and found objects. Along the way I have engaged in a number of related pursuits. My circuitous career has taken me through weaving and metals studios, classrooms and theaters. That path has led me to a dual careers in teaching and theater. Both of these endeavors provide unique opportunities to make a meaningful contribution to larger collaborative, creative efforts. As a teaching artist I engage in visual arts residencies with students throughout Maryland. It is a joy to partner with educators to teach students new skills, and a privilege to learn what they have to teach me. Theater work has much in common with residency work. I have the joy of continually meeting and working with creative people. Costume work allows me to use all of my skills in the needle arts with an ever changing array of materials. I am blessed with a life that provides constant opportunities to create, collaborate, teach and to be taught.

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Artist's Statement

I blame it on my parents. It is their fault that I am interested in so many things. Mom taught me to sew as soon as I could thread a needle. From my dad I learned that you can never have too many tools. They both have a talent for taking old things and giving them new purpose. It’s their fault. They read Dr. Suess aloud. Mom made up stories. They encouraged me to imagine, to learn, and not to be afraid to be different. When we visited our grandparents, they took me to the Russian Orthodox church that my father grew up in. The church with the ceiling painted like the sky, with stars and angels. The place where I saw my first icons. Where there was wonder and beauty in the midst of so much coal dust. So here I am; embroidering warped illuminations and icons by hand in the 21st century. Using clay to construct architecturally inspired frames that owe as much to the dear Dr. Suess as to art history. Collecting bits of flotsam and jetsam and making frames out of the stuff. Recycling both stories and objects for our crazy times. Attempting to make sense from nonsense. Listening to my Russian grandmother whispering in my ear...

Featured Work

Photos

Another piece in the Virgin of the Sign series. This is intended as a light hearted musing on a life of creating that has not included creating life.
One of a series of images playing with traditional icon forms. The iron madonna has domestic talents, but is by no means domesticated. The work is hand embroidered with beading and appliqué on muslin. She is set in a hand built ceramic frame on a wood support.
hand embroidery, beading, buttons, appliqué, on muslin. Set in hand built ceramic frame on wood support. Lula was one of my great-grandmothers, who made a living as a seamstress. This is part of a series using the conventions of icons of saints.
This piece is a residency project created by students at Western High School. Students researched women who persisted in a wide range of endeavors to achieve their goals. Over a period of weeks, students created embroidered portraits of these accomplished women. The completed portraits were then assembled into a quilt. Their names, and a selection of quotes were printed on fabric and appliquéd in the borders of the piece.
This 'family tree' represents the diverse school community at Vansville Elementary . Students in second grade learned about traditional embroidery styles from cultures represented in the school community. Each student created a leaf to represent themselves. The leaves were then attached to the mural by the artist. The mural is installed in the school media center.
This piece is my version of an icon with a revêtément. Revêtément is a french term that literally means a reclothing. In art history, a revêtément is a decorative covering made to re-clothe a revered icon. These were typically made of embossed silver pieces. Here, I have used bottle caps and tin ceiling scraps.

Booking

All Artist in Education work is booked through Young Audiences, Arts For Learning of Maryland. You can read about my residencies on their website: https://www.yamd.org/artist/suzanne-herbert-forton/

For a ceramics residency an onsite kiln is required. The cost of materials is included in the cost of the residency.

I am available to travel anywhere in the state of Maryland.

Arts in Education

Audiences Types: Grades Pre-K – 2, Grades 3-5, Middle School (6-8 grade), High School (9-12 grade)

Online residency-Embroidery Across the Curriculum-Embroidery has connections across history and cultures. The artist will work with teachers to design an arts-integrated project focused on their needs. Students will learn basic embroidery techniques, geared to the grade level. They will design and create their own embroidered illustrations on cotton or felt. The final product can be an installation or individual works of art.

Embroidery Across the Curriculum- Embroidery has connections across history and cultures. The artist will work with teachers to design an arts-integrated project focused on their needs. Students will learn basic embroidery techniques, geared to the grade level. They will design and create their own embroidered illustrations on muslin or felt. The final product can be an installation or individual works of art.
Plant Dye and Embroidery - In the Plant Dye and Embroidery Residency, students will learn about historical and/or scientific aspects of dying fabric with plant dyes. The specific arts integration focus will be determined by the instructional needs of the individual school. Students will dye fabric with plant dyes and create embroideries on the dyed materials.
Ceramic Relief Sculpture- Students will design and create a relief sculpture mural with handmade ceramic tiles. The mural may have an art integrated theme incorporating science, history, or other curriculum objectives. Students will learn how this kind of sculpture has been used throughout history by many cultures. Students will learn how to create high and low relief and texture in clay. The completed work may be a ceramic mural installation or individual student works.
Mixed Media Residency - The artist will work with the art teacher to design an arts-integrated residency that addresses the specific needs of their students and curriculum. The Mixed Media Residency may include embroidery, ceramic relief sculpture, and/or recycled materials.