Macon Magazine

106 maconmagazine.com | February/March 2025 We n d y Ku s m au l Ke e l i n g INTERVIEW BY JULIA MORRISON "Shapeshifter: Echoes of Her Many Selves," delves into the multifaceted nature of a woman's identity. Through abstract female sculptures and wall hangings, I explore the distinct facets of self that emerge in response to life's challenges and transitions. Women often embody many roles— resilient, nurturing, adaptable—shaped by the demands of relationships, careers, and personal growth. This body of work is deeply rooted in my personal journey into midlife, a period of transformation that has been both startling and freeing. I'm captivated by the complexity of identity—how women shift seamlessly from one role to another, embodying strength, vulnerability, joy, and solitude in equal measure. Through layered textures and abstract forms, I aim to celebrate the adaptability and inner power that women carry. The concept of "shapeshifting" feels fitting as a metaphor for the many roles we inhabit – teacher, nurturer, jester, confidante – and the ways we evolve to meet life's demands. Your artist statement discusses clay as part of female journey. What's on your mind when you create with it? My recent work feels like a kind of therapy— navigating my journey as a woman who, for so long, sought approval, striving to be seen often at the expense of myself. There has always been a level of self-protection that served me in my younger years that now feels difficult to shake. This Shapeshifting series stands out to me and reflects this journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Like much of my work, it begins A r t i s t s p o t l i g h t W endy Kusmaul Keeling is a ceramicist based near Amelia Island, Florida and the owner of Hidden Fire Studio. Maconites may know her work from the Museum of Arts and Sciences or Macon Arts Alliance's Fired Works show, but sculpture has taken her all over the globe, from a residency at the prestigious Hambidge Center for Arts and Sciences to the International Workshop for Ceramic Art in Tokoname, Japan. Her artist statement highlights the power of nature and the feminine experience, saying, "The texture of clay gives me a sense of stability, grounding me and reminding me of my connection to the earth." You can see her upcoming solo show at Macon Arts Alliance this February. What brought you to your work as an artist? I've always been a creative soul dabbling with acting and music in my younger years, later working as an actor and filmmaker. However, I found my niche in my mid-30s. While living in the Florida Keys, I stumbled into a ceramics class at the community college—and it was like finding magic. I realized I had a knack for playing in the mud and setting things on fire (in a very controlled, artistic way, of course). From that moment on, I was hooked—covered in clay and completely enchanted by the fiery transformations happening in the kiln. Tell us about what's driving your upcoming show: My show at the Macon Arts Alliance, "I was ho oke d— covere d in clay and completely enchante d by the fiery transformations happ ening in the kiln."

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