ANITA MILLS – ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I steadfastly believe that there is still a place in this world for purely decorative objects. Though works in clay having narrative or deep symbolic meanings are abound—feeding certain souls with inspiration—I am thrilled with objects that are simply stunning beauties to behold. There is plenty of room in the spectrum of contemporary art for work that is the product of an inner journey, or made for the sheer joy of making, or both at once.
Since my earliest training I have been diligently working in the mediums of clay, printmaking, jewelry, and painting. Though primarily clay, the vessels I create today feature “finishing” components from several other disciplines. My aim is to bring all of my various studio skills and aesthetic interests to the worktable in finishing these vessels. The textural and patterned passages in the clay are created using the relief printmaking technique known as collagraphy. The stone necklace components are assembled by careful selection of stones and metals. The wooden vessels and finials, are likewise, turned at the lathe or carved by my own hand.
Whether created completely of clay and glaze, or with additions made in other media, each component is essential, hand selected and hand wrought.
ABOUT ANITA MILLS
Anita Mills was born in Lubbock, Texas, in 1952. She attended public school there through her undergraduate degree, earning a B.F.A. in Ceramics and Printmaking from Texas Tech University. After completing her M.F.A. in Studio Art and Art History from the University of Texas at Austin in 1977, she took a teaching position at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota. During her twelve years at St. Cloud, she taught all levels of design, drawing, painting, printmaking, theory of art, and “Women Artists: An Historical Survey.”
A resident of North Carolina since 1989, Anita currently lives near Hillsborough where she maintains her home and studio. She is a full-time artist and itinerant teacher of art/design/craft; teaching adults and young adults through workshops and courses offered in community education settings.
Throughout her career as an artist, Anita has exhibited her work in numerous solo and group exhibitions—both competitive and invitational, in regional and national venues. On many occasions she has joyfully served as guest artist, conference panelist, and exhibition juror.
