Andrea took AP Studio Art at W.C. Mepham High School, Bellmore, NY, thinking it would be a good way to advance her college credits. What she wasn't prepared for, however, was an experience that deepened her interest in clay and sculpture. Although she had been sculpting previously in plaster in other classes in high school, Andrea was able to expand her exploration of sculpture while enrolled in the AP class. And her background in plaster gave her a great advantage when she switched to clay.

Initially, Andrea thought that coffee cups would be a good focus for her Concentration. She researched many pictures and the development of various coffee cup forms. She looked at hundreds of advertisements to determine how these "trendy ceramic pieces" were portrayed in the media. One day, when she was attempting to create a more rectangular-looking cup, she noticed what looked like a piece separating into two halves. As she worked with the clay, she saw a figure beginning to develop. Andrea began to make a miniature model of it in terra cotta. Then, while working on the larger rendition, the figure broke in half. She had originally intended to reattach the two pieces, but began to enjoy the way it looked as two completely separate pieces. "It somehow symbolized conflict, maybe even personal conflict, so I just went with it," explains Andrea.

When the sculpture was eventually finished, she felt the need to give her creature a name. She researched Greek mythology and decided on the name "Prometheus," a Greek god worshiped for his creation of mankind. She learned that while Prometheus was creating one day, his brother broke into his sanctuary and gave one of the humans animal-like characteristics. This idea of creation in conflict, and the addition of inhuman qualities, seemed the perfect characterization for her sculpture. So, there you have it - a logical explanation of how the creation of an ordinary coffee cup led to the piece you see here.

Andrea is currently studying Fine Art at the Rochester Institute of Technology. She made the varsity cheerleading team this year and seems to be adjusting quite well to college life. "My AP class gave me a great background in sculpture and research of other media," says Andrea. She is leaning toward majoring in graphic design, although she has an interest in interior and industrial design as well. We wish Andrea luck in her future endeavors at RIT and in her future creations.

December 1998