wanaree tanner’s winning entry

A recent shout out on Facebook by Tonya Davidson, congratulating Wanaree Tanner on winning First Prize in Art Clay World’s North American Design Competition, sent me on a hunt for more from this self-taught artist.

Anam Cara, art clay copper soldered on to silver clay

Anam Cara means spiritual friend. A true spiritual friend will guide us past all the beauty and distraction of our many layers to the truth that resides within. Wanaree Tanner

Anam Cara on display

Tanner’s winning entry, Anam Cara, isn’t just a metal clay vessel holding a necklace, it is a story about the journey inward. She begins to unravel the story for us by explaining “Generally I believe everybody is at least three people, the person the world sees, the person our loved ones see, and our true self. Sometimes I think we tend to close ourselves off from the outside world, work very hard to decorate our outer selves, and hope that that’s all people will see us for and yet hate it when they do. To me it’s the deepest conflict of self, this desire to have the world embrace who we truly are, yet afraid of the vulnerability this position puts us in.” On her blog, Tanner addresses how each original illustration and component of Anam Cara represents her belief. Read the whole story here.

Tanner’s vessels appeal to my love of the container as art – perhaps I’ve been searching for a container to hold and protect my inner self? Something for me to think about today.

When Apart, Always Together

When Apart, Always Together – open

Book of Kells, Tree of Life

Wanaree Tanner’s website
Blog
Crafthaus
Etsy shop
Flicker stream