Clare Raccuglia is an artist who is of the unassuming crowd. A junior, she has had a delicate hand in the artistic community and is becoming a strong voice at Lawrence. Here are a few words from this promising artist.Where are you from and what is your major?
I’m an art major from the Chicago area.
How and when did you start making art?
My whole life, although it wasn’t until art classes at Lawrence that I’d ever considered pursuing it full time.
How would you describe your art?
I work a lot with organic forms and alteration of natural landscapes. It’s usually very process-oriented, and often involves layering and stacking of organic materials. I try to steer away from direct representation in my art, so that the viewer has to engage with the piece and find their own relevant meaning in it.
How has your art developed over the years?
I think moving into the realm of 3D art about two years ago has been an incredibly significant development for me. I’m really drawn to the physicality of the building process.
Are there any artists who have been particularly inspiring to you?
Ursula von Rydingsvard, Patrick Dougherty, Andy Goldsworthy, Paul McCarthy, Chakaia Booker, Jim Pollock, lately Christo and Jean-Claude, and definitely, the life of Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters.
What do you hope to accomplish with your art?
I want my art to express what can’t be expressed in words or through object association. Ultimately, I hope that my art allows people to look at their environment, and therefore the world, in a new and different way.
What project(s) are you currently working on?
I’m working on some smaller-scale wood sculptures, and planning for a large-scale collaborative installation with Danielle Dahlke.
What kind of goals do you have in the near and/or distant future?
Maybe grad school. Maybe art therapy. Mainly having many adventures.