ABOUT THE ARTIST

Erica Eckerstrand is a potter and bead weaver, whose artwork invokes the power and beauty of the elemental forces of nature - earth, sky, water and fire. Her love of textiles, and the ancient cultures of her native Sweden and the American Southwest are reflected in her distinctive beadwork and pottery.

With her beads, Erika weaves undulating, sensual patterns for bracelets, earrings and barettes. From a sea of tiny glass beads, vibrant and subtle colors are artistically combined to create contemporary, cutting edge accessories that are wearable works of art.

ABOUT THE WORK

When Erica Eckerstrand starts working with the clay, it is yellow ochre in color. She uses micaceous clay indigenous to New Mexico. Each piece is hand coiled and corrugated, Anasazi style, and is bisque fired in an electric kiln initially. She does a second firing outside using cedar wood and brings the heat to 1800 degrees. Dry horse manure is used to smother the work, thereby reducing the oxygen level and creating the final black/gray “painted” final appearance.

This outdoor firing is crucial to the work because of its rapid heat. It takes approximately four hours when the pots are small to accomplish firing.

EDUCATION

1998, Teacher, Poeh Arts, Concepts in Pottery, Santa Fe, New Mexico
1987, 1986, Teacher of Pottery, The Ethnographical Museum, Stockholm, Sweden
1985-1987, Studied at the Tucson Museum of Arts, Tucson, Arizona
1982-1985, AFA, The Institute of American Indian Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico

EXHIBITIONS

1993, Konsthantverkarna, Stockholm, Sweden
1991, Kaolin, Stockholm, Sweden
1987-1988, “Birds of Prey”, National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.