Ceramicist Catherine Schwalbe-Bouzide is featured in the August Window Exhibit of the Illinois Artisans Shop at the James R. Thompson Center.

Catherine Scwalbe-Boudzie, a member of the Illinois Artisans Program since 2005, works in sculpture, ceramics, mixed media, and installation - though her thematic content is consistently corn.

Why corn? “It is solidly midwestern, like I am,” the artist states, “I have found through the deep exploration of corn, more than its history and imagery, but the fundamentals of humanity itself”.

Studying in various schools from Maine to Wisconsin to Aurora, Illinois, Schwalbe-Bouzide is learned in both art and therapy, and practices as a therapeutic consultant in Chicago. She is involved with many exhibitions, community projects, public art, and does selected commissions around the city.

“My art,” Schwalbe-Bouzide’s explains, “explores aging, agriculture, nature and science, the concepts of plenty and want, reuse, and being human through a variety of media including high fired clay, artist books, installation, found objects, and bronze”. To this end, the window exhibit in August features a range of her work exploring these concepts.

Catherine Schwalbe-Bouzide’s corn-inspired ceramics will be on display and available for purchase at the Illinois Artisans Shop during the month of August.