Elizabeth Gonzalez
Eg Artizt
Pharr, Texas

Email
eg.artizt@gmail.com

Artist Statement
Her works are based on social practice, and she exhibits installation pieces that reference the issues of Mexican American History. Her work brings awareness to social issues on immigration, assimilation, and cultural awareness.

Studio Description
My studio is a small studio space in my home where I can work on ceramic pieces or other art techniques that I can use through my work.

What type of clay do you use?
Terra Cotta or Stoneware, and at times white slip

What temperature do you fire to?
5, 04, 05, 06

What is your primary forming method?
Slab

What is your favorite surface treatment?
Underglaze and decorative slip

Do you make any of your own tools?
No

What one word would you use to describe your work?
Social practice

What is your favorite thing about your studio?
What I like is the peace the studio gives me and the feeling of being able to work.

What is the one thing in your studio you can’t live without?
Clay

What are your top three studio wishes?
Having a big kiln, bigger slab roller, and glaze materials

What’s on your current reading list?
And Then You Act

How do you save money on materials and supplies?
Buying in small quantities

How do you recharge creatively?
I always sit in a space that will help me think creatively without noise and the ability to sit there and think.

Do you have any DIY tips for studio efficiency?
I always make sure my studio is clean, because the particles can always cause an issue, and being organized.

What challenges have you given yourself to overcome?
Working on more installation pieces that can be installed outdoors and be noticed by viewers.

What did your first piece look like?
My first work always resembled my social practice on my culture, and it helped me realize that this was what I wanted to do.

What ceramic superpower would you have and why?
Handbuilding because it has always been a form for me that I am able to work with. Some artists can throw quickly, but handbuilding can also be done.

Who is your ceramic art mentor and why?
Raheleh Filsoofi has mentored me since my years at UTRGV because she pushed me to look for more.

What is your studio playlist?
Classic rock

Why do you create art?
I create art because there are things in the world that I feel I can express through my art without having that argument with someone.

What is your best studio tip?
When you want to create ,just create; never feel as if you have to create what people expect, create what you want to express.

If you could change one property of clay, what would it be?
Plasticity