STEVEN McGOVNEY
“Birds in shoes and boots. Why? Because it made me smile.
And sometimes we just need that.”
Trained in Design and Sculpture with an MFA from Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, CA, Steven McGovney has worked in multiple medias, but focused on the sculptural side of ceramics. His creativity drew him toward whimsical ceramics and sculpture.
The Avicularity line of bird sculptures is created using mixed media including clay, steel, acrylic and oil paint. Steven’s whimsical ceramic birds are intended to bring a smile. The Ravens, in particular, are such an interesting bird, carried in the myths of many peoples worldwide. Steven’s series of Flights of Fancy are imaginary birds inspired by the wacky names of birds themselves. Brilliantly colorful, each has its’ own personality. The Imaginarium series is a figurative line inspired by a workshop given by a New Zealand artist, and combines animals and birds in a dreamlike state of being. Captivating and intelligent, this series invites the viewer to be a part of the story. Due to chronic wrist and elbow problems from years of heavy studio work, Steven added designing jewelry in base metals and paper. He expanded his jewelry line to include sterling silver and semiprecious stones and was nominated for a NICHE award in 2010 for the silver and stone category. Steven has also trained in lapidary, and cuts most of his own stones for use in his jewelry. Steven McGovney with Tammy Camarot created a successful line of wildly painted table top items and one of a kind sculpture. McGovney-Camarots work is in the Arthur Goldberg Teapot Collection, and recently included in a Fuller Craft Museum Show. Michael Douglas, Terence Stamp, James Whitmore, and Bill Clinton have collected Stevens work. He shows in many of the top galleries featuring American Crafts in the USA, and participates in many invitational shows throughout the country each year. Having lived in Prescott for over 20 years, Steven enjoyed teaching ceramics at Yavapai College to many inspiring students who still come into the gallery to “check out” his work.