The Westport Artist in Residence Program is a unique collaboration between the Westport Land Conservation (WLCT) and the Westport Cultural Council, and is made possible by the generous support of the Helen Ellis Charitable Trust administered by Bank of America. Each artist in residence immerses themselves in the beauty of the park landscape to create separate public installations for visitors to enjoy.
“We are delighted to be the host of the WARP program and thrilled to have such a talented artist as Ms. Vogel to work with. Last year, we experienced the joyous interaction of visitors with the creative works of art in this landscape. This was a clear illustration of the importance of saving this place for the community,” said Ross Moran, Executive Director, WLCT.
“The Westport Cultural Council was thrilled to co-create with The Westport Land Conservation Trust for a second time in 2022! The inaugural year was a lot of fun with three amazing artists: Roberley Bell, Matt Magee and Andy Moerlein. This year we hosted one feature artist, Hanna Vogel.
During the month-long June residency, Hanna invited viewers to witness creation of her work at the new handicap accessible trail on 573 Adamsville Road. In addition, Hanna conducted a workshop that was open to the public, as well as hosted an artist talk at the Shattuck gallery. The Westport Cultural Council would like to thank DeeDee Shattuck for her generosity in hosting the artist forums at the conclusion of each residency.
A few questions for Hanna:
Is there a moment in your past you can isolate where you realized you were an artist?
There wasn’t a specific moment when I realized I was an artist because I’ve always enjoyed making things and creating spaces that tell stories. There was a moment, though, when I realized that I could pursue art as a career and not just a hobby. I was in college, majoring in literature and creative writing and preparing to transfer schools. I was spending as much time as possible in a community ceramics studio and one day a friend who was going to art school suggested that I consider that instead. I ended up transferring to the California College of the Arts and majoring in ceramic sculpture and never looked back!
Where do you find inspiration? What do you think motivates you to create?
I’m inspired by the natural world – its fragility and overwhelming capacity to nurture or demolish. I’m also influenced by fiction, particularly magical realism because of its fantastical metaphors that innocuously slide right into everyday life. I make sculptures and installations to be physical objects and spaces that embody that same surreal truthfulness.
Can you tell me about what materials you enjoy working with at the moment and why?
My favorite material/process combination is weaving steel wire and pouring paper pulp. I love the physical process of working with annealed steel wire – it’s soft and malleable but sturdy enough to create structural volume. I know it sounds silly, but I just really love bending wire. The paper pulp provides a nice contrast to the linear organization of the wire, making it less predictable, more organic, and more colorful. As a sculptor, I think it’s important to consider the meaning(s) inherent in the materials I use, and I like the contrast between the rusting wire and its stretched, stained paper coating.
Please describe your work process. How do you go about tackling a project?
I start out with a vague idea of what the finished work will be and how it will interact with the space around it. Then I make a few sample pieces and occasionally a maquette or (rarely) some sketches. Then I start making, knocking out different stages of the process in order. For example, I’ll do all the welding first, then the wire work, then the paper pulp. I find that each material and process comes with its own thought pattern and I like to stay in each one without switching back and forth if I can help it. Installing the work, especially if it’s site-specific, is really fun and requires a different kind of creative problem solving than the making of the objects since I’m also considering the pre-existing location.
Can you tell us about the work you created during the month of June at the Westport Land Conservation Trust?
I made a series of site-specific sculptures from thin welded steel rods and paper pulp. They are placed on and around trees, rock formations, and trails at the Westport Land Conservation Trust. Their specific shapes reflect the texture, density, and volume of the landscape. Thematically, the work addresses the precariousness of natural environments in a human-caused climate and the importance of protecting them. I also made five large cocoons from woven wire and paper pulp. The cocoons create a contrast between the promise of nurturing, transformative growth and slow, empty decay.
Instagram: @hanna_c_vogel, Website: hannavogel.com
