Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center

9341 Mill Street, Ben Lomond, CA  95005   831.336.3513

 

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Ceramic Sculpture by Laurie Hennig, member of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Art Center, gallery, shows, educational art classes, clay / ceramic workshops, clay, glass, fiber, oil paintings, digital art, watercolors, water colors, acrylics, abstract, surreal, fine art, charcoal, photographs, photography, music, acoustic, jewelry, lamps, gift shop

 

 

Dan and Laurie Hennig

Camp Climax Pottery

211 E. Grove

Boulder Creek, CA   95006

831.338.2098

eMail: Dan & Laurie

Camp Climax Web Page

 

At Left, "Foxy Lady".  Click on thumbnail to view larger image.

Ceramic Sculpture by Dan Hennig, member of the Santa Cruz Mountains, Art Center, gallery, shows, educational art classes, clay / ceramic workshops, clay, glass, fiber, oil paintings, digital art, watercolors, water colors, acrylics, abstract, surreal, fine art, charcoal, photographs, photography, music, acoustic, jewelry, lamps, gift shop

Visionary, idealistic and in love, Laurie Anderson and Dan Hennig were married while attending San Jose State University in California. It was 1968, and the smoke was still clearing in Berkeley as they took their B.A. degrees in Art and traveled abroad to explore the museums and art enclaves of Europe.  Adventure and opportunity led them to teaching positions in the Caribbean where for almost two  years the rhythm of life in the West Indies influenced their work and lives.

In 1972 they were lured back to California by the great resurgence of culture and the arts that had been taking place since the late 60's. Camp Climax Pottery was begun in a remodeled garage in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The decision to establish the studio at their home reflected their desire to integrate their lifestyle, allowing the environment of family and community to  effect the clay process. Their 20 plus year involvement with the Renaissance Pleasure Faire began at this time. Together they explored the playful mood of "the Faire" to develop their own wild style, incorporating wheel-thrown stoneware and porcelain, constructions and sculpture. Eventually their work and markets have expanded to include major craft shows and galleries throughout the United States and Europe.

Dan's "Rat on an Acorn"  at left.  Click on thumbnail to view larger image.

  Life size ceramic sculpture by Laurie Hennig, Santa Cruz Mountains Ceramic Artist  Life size ceramic sculpture by Laurie Hennig, Santa Cruz Mountains Ceramic Artist

Supplementing this experience has been an ongoing commitment to the arts in their own community, including; home and charter school ceramics classes, apprenticeship as well as involvement in the diverse and multi-ethnic music scene in Santa Cruz County. Sharing the vision has also taken form in events they have helped coordinate and produce. The Redwood Mountain Faire and Music Festival, the Metro Gallery in Santa Cruz and, most recently, the development and creation of the Santa Cruz Mountain Art Center in Ben Lomond.

Through their involvement in numerous cultural and service organizations they have helped to secure a place for the arts in their community.  The influence of working with Daniel Rhodes, a well known and respected ceramic artist and author initiated a new overstanding of clay. A quest is sometimes like stepping into the abyss and signals a need to move ahead. One is sometimes not aware of the challenge until a teacher like Daniel Rhodes brings attention to the basic elements, as revealed by the rocky surfaces of his stone guardians.

Front and back ceramic sculpture "Julia Butterfly" by Laurie; 36" tall

After years of covering the clay with glazes, Laurie and Dan now wanted to let it be what it was . . . stone. Suddenly they were viewing the planet in a whole new way, re-discovering the monolithic rocks of the Sierras and marveling at the multi-colored earth of the Southwest and even the very birth of our planet as it oozes as molten rock from a volcano to form an island in the Pacific. They returned to the studio to incorporate these new impressions. Soon these new rocky forms attracted creatures. The appearance of Iguanas, desert rats, turtles and other creatures signals the fresh respect that Laurie and Dan feel for the other beings that inhabit this planet, even if ever so precariously.  Laurie and Dan have always let the clay process reflect their experiences and  ideas to create ceramic objects. They have been effected by the discovery of pottery shards along the beaches of the Mediterranean, on the mesas of the   Southwest U.S, and in caves of Central America. Coming across the work of Laurie and Dan Hennig at a gallery or craft show will form a different impression.  However, the encounter can still evoke a response... and a sense of possibilities in the natural world.

Up Dan & Laurie Hennig Helene GloriaS lantz Dale Bates Brenda Berg Lorri Scott Linda A. Levy Leah King Fro Butler Stephanie Schriver Artwork Larry Worley JR Williams Geoff-Jenny-Morten Jody Bare Barbara Weigel Beth Shields Kathleen Miller Thomas Shirley-Hudson Tina Roberta Friedman Ceramics Sandra Borland Jewelry