About The Artist
Catherine Guibert Orrantia is a Minnesota native whose family has roots in art and music. As a young girl, she moved to Southern California and began to explore her artistic talent in two-dimensional work. By 2003, she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time artist, moving to Tucson, Arizona and building a portfolio of three-dimensional pieces.
Catherine instantly fell in love with pottery, and that has been her main focus for the past several years. She has studied at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and has attended workshops presented by a wide array of internationally-renowned potters. Catherine’s work can be seen in various galleries in Arizona, including Tohono Chul Park, JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort, Old Town Pot Shop and Plaza Palomino.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I love to create things out of nothing. This pattern can be found in most aspects of my life, from cooking from scratch with home-grown ingredients to making pots. Handmade serving ware has become a way of life for my family and friends. Personally, I find it intensely satisfying to use dishes that are created and touched by fellow craftsmen. Being a part of other peoples’ homes, rituals, celebrations and conversations appeals to me because I feel this connects us to one another in an intimate way. The idea of functional art reflects my very practical nature. I aspire to create work that draws you in, that entices you to hold and use each piece. My work almost always begins on the wheel, but I enjoy stretching, altering and adding texture to feature a more organic look. Often I will integrate native woods or other natural material to enhance the beauty of selected pieces.