About the Artist
Deborah Abbott
Artist Statement
I am trying to put something meaningful to me into the world. I think I am a very feeling person – I can feel the “vibes” of a person and internalize people’s emotions. Creating helps me to process these emotions. I love working with my hands and designing things, predisposed from my father’s love for wood working.
I make work out of recycled material, not because I want to save the planet per se although that is a nice perk. I wait for the universe to bring me things. I love the challenge of it, finding the thing that is the right shape, color and texture to go with the other thing that is the right shape, color and texture and so on. And then there is the listening to the work as the “Word” speaks and I listen and things fall into place in a very spiritual way that is uncanny. I think the work is a spiritual journey for me, expressing something profound to me as I listen and design. Purity of design from a place of reverence for healing through the creative process. My own personal pushing and growth is very important to the work and I hope you can see and feel that in my work whether it be a wall piece, sculpture or piece of wearable art.
My Story
I grew up on a farm in Ohio & at the early age of five I decided I was going to be an artist.
I went on to obtained my BA in Art in 1989 at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana & in 1996 completed my MA in art from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Majoring in printmaking in undergraduate school followed by ceramics & metalsmithing in graduate school.
I then taught for 21 years as a high school art educator & adjunct professor of Art & Curriculum writer at Indiana Wesleyan University. In 2013 I relocated to Colorado with my husband and children.
Today, after working with students for almost 30 years, I have an immense amount of gratitude for their insight & vision. I truly believe that each & every one of us is creative at our core – we just need to explore it.