Today we’d like to introduce you to Celine Cannon.
Celine, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a Sculptor from Ireland, based in New York, working primarily in stone, fiber and wax. I apprenticed at our family’s granite quarry in Dublin where the ancient sculpting techniques were passed down through the generations.
Here in New York, I was introduced to Doug Breitbart, Master Stone Carver at Petrillo Stone Corporation and was invited, as a contracted artist, to join their team in recarving the architectural façade of the Verizon Building in NY that was destroyed in the 9/11 attacks. More projects followed, including architectural details and moldings for building facades such as Columbia University, the Jewish Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to name a few.
Today, most of my time is spent producing my own works with representation through HOLLY HUNT and MATIN Gallery in LA. I also work directly with Interior Designers, Architectural Firms & Design Houses for both commissioned and custom work.
The two other mediums I work in, wax and fiber, evolved organically: when Donna Karan was building her Flagship Store on Madison Avenue, NY, she had commissioned works from me to be placed in her “ZEN Garden” which was an outdoor oasis attached to the store. I proposed some monolithic stone candle holders and worked with a candle maker to produce candles ranging in scale from 12”h to 32”high. Little did I know that customers coming into the store would be interested in purchasing the candles for their homes and now, I find myself in the candle business selling to Urban Zen, Monc xiii and A’maree’s.
As for the Fiber arts, I was convinced to take a weaving class a few years ago and became addicted. This led to me purchasing a Loom from Japan and now I enjoy producing Wall Hangings and Throws which are mostly sold through Urban Zen.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been many setbacks along the way, that is par for the course. I think though, for an Artist, or any creative person who works for themselves, it is more about the constant daily struggle of trying to live and work as an Artist. There are many obstacles we face and not just with the process of producing the work itself, but also with trying to create opportunities, following leads, networking, introducing people to your work and enticing them to want to know more. Creative types often shy away from the marketing aspect of the “business” because we tend to feel “we are not good at it” but I have had to discipline myself to dedicate time to these areas, injecting a little more structure and planning into my routine.
Please tell us about Celine Cannon Studio.
It is a multi disciplinary Studio producing in house works as well as collaborations with other Studios and Designers. Textiles and Candles are made with a focus on preserving the environment, where the raw ingredients are organic and eco friendly. We also focus on sourcing the materials here in the USA.
For example, with the textiles, whenever possible the fleece is sourced directly from sheep farmers who own and work small farms, often shearing the sheep by hand themselves. Purchasing a handwoven Throw or Scarf, supports and sustains these farmers who engage in responsible farming practices and operate in ethical and eco-friendly conditions. The fleece is a naturally derived fiber and we do not process it in any way – no chemicals or dyes are used. It takes a team of people (and animals) to produce a Throw and it is made entirely by hand, engaging and supporting in the age old practices of shearing, spinning and weaving.
The candles are all handmade using 100% beeswax, sourced from domestic beekeepers. The wax is not bleached and no chemicals are used in the cleaning of the wax. Our dyes are eco-friendly and the wicks are lead free.
In describing my stone Sculptures, I would say that my works are a response to my environment, my relationships with people, places and things. Contained within a geometric form, clean lines, acute angles and varying planes signify dimensions of thought and lend structure to concepts, while space, volume, proportion and texture all represent depth of emotion. Ultimately within each form I seek to obtain a harmonic balance between the concept, the form and the content.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have changed my approach to situations. I wish I could have stepped back more to gain perspective and an understanding of what exactly the problems were so that they could have been managed in a way that would have yielded better results. I wish I had engaged more in the idea of observing oneself, one’s behavior, reaction and conduct to see what needs to be improved upon.
“Training your mind to change your approach” – I think I have stood in my own way a lot and probably still do but it is something I continue to work on and just wish I had been introduced to these notions earlier on.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.celinecannon.com
- Email: studio@celinecannon.com
- Instagram: @celinecannon
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