Carolyn Warren-Langford is an artist and sculptor from Point Cook. The 51-year-old is also the maker of PyreBorn Women – sculptures. She tellsCharlene Macaulay about working from her home studio, and what inspires her.
You moved to Melbourne from Perth three years ago. Why did you make the move?
My daughter and I just wanted to start fresh – I wanted Tasmania, and she wanted Sydney, so we met in the middle. I lived in Altona Meadows at first, and have been here in Point Cook for about a year. I love it here, I’m really glad I moved here.
You’re an artist and sculptor. How did art become a career for you?
I’d always been interested in art as a kid. I drew all the time, and I made things from a really young age. I wanted to make kiln cast glass sculptures, so I went to university and did a six-week course of making them [and continued from there]. Six months later, they closed down all the glass side and I went to clay. I love clay now. Playing with clay is so fun and therapeutic. I also did a bit of a stint in jewellery making and learnt the basics of jewellery soldering and metal finishing.
What’s it like having your own home-based studio, PyreWorks Studio?
When I first got here I thought about getting a studio away from home, and then I thought, for the price of that I could move to a better house and have the studio at the house. That way, I could be around for my daughter [Courtney, 16] and I can stay here until 2am and just walk to bed, which I do quite a lot. I have done workshops from here, but because it’s so small, I can really only fit about four people.
What was your former day job?
I used to work in a factory making metal badges, which was fabulous. I learnt how to use the 100-year-old presses that come crashing down and make the metal into the shape and pattern, and then I got to colour the metal and solder the pins on the back. It was great having a job where you could do that kind of thing and get paid every day.
Tell me about The Bead Project.
I got the grant [from Wyndham council] to give workshops for women in Wyndham and I managed to get to all of the community centres except one. Each woman makes two beads – one they will get back once it’s fired, and the other one goes into the community necklace. Their palm print is on one side, and colour and texture is on the other. Once the necklace is made, they’ll all get invited to the opening night of the exhibition. It’s a chance for them to participate in something bigger than what they are.
You’re the creator of PyreBorn Women – what are they?
They’re clay sculptures fired in the kiln – it’s called bisque firing – and then you wrap them up in all different things and can add notes or flowers and then they’re put into the pit fire, which create smoky colours on the sculptures. It’s significant, like burning all the crap away and emerging even stronger.
What inspires you?
I get inspiration from everywhere. I get inspiration from music, I get inspired by different women’s issues. I feel that I have to make sculptures … sometimes I think, I wish I was a painter and I wouldn’t have so much mess! I am a painter, but I have to do the clay. It’s something you can’t control really, if you’re creative.
