Spotlight on Rochester’s artists
Marybeth Fitzsimmons
Personal: Brighton resident.
Education: Master’s in education from Roberts Wesleyan College and bachelor’s in psychology, with minor in art, from Nazareth College.
Style: Contemporary functional ceramics and sculptures in clay.
Medium: Clay, which is thrown on the wheel and altered by hand into functional vessels or sculptures.
Evolution as an artist: As a little girl, I always had an interest in working with the arts and crafts and gradually ended up working with clay in college. I began to realize that working with clay was so therapeutic and wanted to share that experience with others. That instinct helped me start RochesterClayworks.com, a ceramic studio that offers classes for all ages and abilities.
Inspiration: Teaching people how to create a personal expression with clay is my biggest inspiration. I find inspiration in everything around me. Despite the challenges in working with clay, I gravitate back to the pottery wheel.
Featured work: This wall sculpture is a series of symmetrical pots from the wheel that were cut, shaped and distorted. The matte glaze creates texture and variations in the color.
Web site: www.rochesterclayworks.com.
Phone number: (585) 244-1098.
