Tin Grizzly nature- inspired art featured at Gallery Walk
Tin Grizzly Gallery, 516 Central Ave., will feature the works of longtime artist Valerie Hanks- Goetz, with her Thot- ful pots, Friday evening during its Gallery Walk. These air plants, seated in handmade pots, get their much- needed moisture from the air.
Just in time for Mother’s Day, these uniquely made potted plants are a new and diverse venue Hanks- Goetz has created. Of Native American decent, many of her creations draw from that realm uniting her artistry with air, earth, life and spirit of creativeness.
Hanks- Goetz has been featured in the gallery several times with her demonstrations of pine needle basket weaving and horse hair pottery. “To see someone smile when looking at the work of my hands is the greatest compliment I can receive because it means they are sharing my smile,” Hanks- Goetz states in the press release.
She puts c a r e a n d thought into every item she creates, from pine needle baskets so tightly woven they hold water, to leather and deer antler occasional bowls, and her creative looks of horse hair pottery adorned with dragonflies, lizards, barbwire.
When Hanks- Goetz left corporate work in 1999, she knew she had to do something to gain her life back. Seeking the knowledge of the elders of her tribe, she then came to the conclusion she had to go back to her spirit- given talents, and manifest them into creative works to give back to Mother Earth and her people from which the sprits had lent her. Doing that, she began to create her art on the basis of her native Muscogee tribe, “everything has a purpose, and nothing should be wasted.” Her creativeness then took lead.
Each Thot- ful pot is hand made and created with inspiration from Mother Earth and elements of nature herself to be carried on in a gifted way of artistry and nature, one in balance with the other. Come out and meet Hanks- Goetz, get to know her and see first hand what she sees in each piece she creates, and hear her story.