Dancing Fire Art: An Interview with Stacey Jacobson

BY JOAN S PECK
ARTWORK BY STACEY JACOBSON

I was fascinated by Stacey Jacobson and her story the first time I met her. We were at a social event and upon learning she was an artist, she was asked how she got her start in creating her beautiful clay pieces. She smiled and chuckled. “I grew up the daughter of an Air Force fighter pilot and a proud English mother. We lived and traveled all over the world, and often we’d go camping in the summer months. When I was just four years old, we took a camping trip to Lago di Garda, Italy. It was there that I clearly remember spending many pleasurable hours mixing dirt and water to make different shapes and mud balls with my hands.”

We all laughed at that happy memory because who doesn’t love mud pies? “Of course, as my shapes dried they would fall apart and I would try to repair them. Those early days provided me with the beginnings of my understanding of structural integrity. By the time I graduated from dirt and water to Play-Doh, and then real clay, it was all over. I was hooked.”

Recently, I met with Stacey again for this interview. She’s always fun to be around because she has an upbeat personality and we easily laugh together. It is when I talk with her about her work, that she becomes more serious and thought-provoking.

What is the medium you work with most?

SJ. “My signature mediums are clay and warm glass. I enjoy combining the two mediums when the project lends itself. I embrace the challenge of sorting out the logistics of transforming something in my head into a real object of beauty to share with others”

Do you use a special type of clay?

SJ. “I use several types of clay, but predominantly I use Raku and low fire white clay.”

DRIFTWOOD – Hand built male torso textured with brain coral and glazed in creamy light gray with mother of pearl over-glaze.

Where do you get your inspiration from? What inspires you?

SJ. “It literally comes from the environment around me. I find my imagination is stimulated by other art and artists, of course. But a beautiful color, textures, patterns in nature, a piece of furniture or jewelry, a silhouette, people, and animals can trigger my creative process. Also, I never tire of the human form.”
You create stunning female torsos from clay using many different colors and textures with strings of beautiful beads for their skirt. How did you come up with that idea?

SJ. “I have been hand building clay for decades. I am also a bit of a rock hound and love to collect and use gemstones and other organic materials in my creations. I suppose it was only natural that the two would cross paths in my head one day. All my torsos’ beaded skirts are hand strung and take an average of eight hours to string. Combine that time with the time to create the torso itself, the drying time, multiple firings and glazing time, each torso has an average time of one month in creation.”

What kind of stones do you use for the skirts of your torsos?

SJ. “I use semi-precious gemstones, like amethyst, amazonite, turquoise, obsidian, lapis, malachite, etc., in addition to faceted crystals, freshwater pearls, glass and seed beads, fossils, re-purposed items like vintage chandelier crystals. Really anything that pleases my eye and works with a piece is good. It’s really fun to be able to combine two of my favorite things into one piece of art—clay and beautiful stones.

CLOUDY – Hand built free from the ceramic torso with bone glaze. Beaded with onyx, hematite, agate, jet, and assorted crystal and glass beads.

I’ve seen a few of the male torsos you’ve created. Do you still make them or is it now limited to the female torso?

SJ. “No, I still make both female and male torsos. The females are a bit more fun because of the elaborate skirts. But I have many male clients, and I tend to hear complaints when I do not have enough male torsos available. Without the skirting on the males, I really stretch my imagination a bit more to come up with something I think is worth hanging on a wall in someone’s home. I tend to do more carving and texturing, and I use interesting subject matter with the males, which can go organic with the design or industrial, making it a lot of fun.”

SUNNY – Hand built cutout design with yellow glaze. Beaded with yellow jade, green turquoise, heart crystals, freshwater pearls, and assorted crystal and glass beads.

How do you feel when you finish your creation? Are you a perfectionist and destroy anything that is less than perfect or do you let art be art?

SJ. “Well, I’m a perfectionist, and so have to own that. I make perfection work rather than allow it to take a negative journey. For sure, I like some pieces better than others when they are finished. But each piece must meet certain criteria before I will allow it out the door. It must be structurally sound, as well as something that delights the eye and heart. Imagination, quality, and finish work are everything when it comes to art, in my opinion. There are pieces that I have finished and eventually have destroyed because they did not evoke that feeling I need to have before I can send one of them out to be enjoyed by others. Art is subjective, though, and what does not please me, may please someone else. That being said, I can only adhere to the standards and emotions that work for me when it comes to releasing my art.”

Did you study art or are you self-taught?

SJ. “What fun it would be to turn back the clock and be in school again going for a BFA and MFA! Alas, I did not study art in school. I’ve taken many classes over the decades from amazing ceramic teachers and clay masters. The knowledge these creative people have shared, along with many hours of solitary work, are what have shaped the skills I have. The thing I love about this medium is that you never stop learning. The old cliché … “you are only limited by your imagination,” rings true. When it comes to imagination, I am a “no limits” kind of girl! It took quite a bit of trial and error to master my torsos, both technically and creatively, but it has been a great learning experience. One must be fearless and unafraid to make mistakes in order to create something you know in your soul is good.”

If someone wanted to learn how to create using clay, what would you recommend them to do?

SJ. “Most towns and cities have art programs available. Start searching your local area and look for classes in sculpting, hand building, wheel throwing, or whatever medium strikes your fancy. Then, jump in and sign up!”

Why do you think Las Vegas is a good place for artists and other creative types?

SJ. “Las Vegas is such a unique place with an incredibly wide spectrum of culture and art. From the burgeoning Art District down on Main Street to the glitz and glamour of the shows and galleries on The Strip, you can find just about anything you might be looking for in this city. All you have to do is walk around the resorts to be inspired by architecture, art, colors, and vibrancy that is everywhere. Las Vegas also is a city that pushes boundaries and you will find an open-mindedness toward art that is totally unique. For creatives, it is a place of infinite resources. All you have to do is go for a walk for inspiration.”

BETSY – Hand built free form ceramic torso with brown speckled glaze. Beaded with carnelian, raw citrine, mother of pearl beads, and assorted crystal and glass beads.

What does your art mean to you?

S.J. “I make art because it is my meditation, my therapy, and my bliss. It has been since I was a child. When I am creating a piece of art, I am in my favorite place. The pleasure derived in watching a concept evolve from a whisper in my mind to reality is extremely fulfilling. I enjoy the challenge of sorting out the logistics of transforming something in my head into a real object of beauty to share with others.”

If someone wants a piece with a special color or design, do you do special orders?

SJ. “I work with several designers on high-end homes and have created some lovely “custom” pieces. I’m willing to work with a designer on a general color range and general style. However, I have found that what is in my head and what the client’s expectations are can be very different. What I have found to be best is to keep the parameters very general and then just go for it and make the piece. I’ve never had anyone not be delighted with the end result, which is very rewarding for us both.”

TRIBAL – Hand built textured and carved male torso. Glazed with red and metallic glaze.

Where is your work being shown?

S.J. “Right now, my work is in Elena Bulatova Fine Art Gallery. Locations in Las Vegas, NV; Palm Desert, CA; Palm Springs, CA and Laguna Beach, CA. You can also find my work on my website.”

What amazes me most about Stacey’s work is how she uses the basic form of a torso and enhances it by how she drapes the clay, what texture and color she applies, and her choice of beads and other embellishments she uses so that no two pieces are the same. That is what made it so difficult for me when I went to purchase a piece for my home. Each piece was so unique and beautiful in its own way that I wanted them all! But like any piece of art, it boils down to which one moves you emotionally and spiritually. Then when you find the right one for you, it’s magical!

Stacey can be reached at:
Email:dancingfireartco@gmail.com
Website: DancingFireArtCo.com

LeMAR – Hand built textured ceramic torso with a metallic glaze. Beaded with amazonite, raw quartz, and assorted crystal and glass beads.