Brentwood sculptor Cindy Williamson in prestigious San Francisco show

By Roni Gehlke
For the Contra Costa Times

"Sculpting is one of the more time-consuming arts," she said. "Once I get my hands in the clay it is really fun and I want to do more of it. The longer process is really satisfying."

Over the past 10 years Williamson has moved from having fun with her art to taking it more seriously and showing her work at shows and competitions. She has been invited to show her art in the Ceramics Annual of America: Exhibition and Fair next month at Fort Mason in San Francisco.

"This is a very high-caliber show," Williamson said. "The art they show is from all over the country."
Williamson said she is honored to exhibit her work at this show.

Her art includes sculptures of animals and humans. Recently she has become interested in going to baseball games, which gave her the idea of making a sculpture of a baseball player. The first sculpture was made using a male model. Later she added a baseball uniform.

"The uniform is an impressionist view of the clothing," she said. She named the 36-inch statue "Bottom of the Ninth." She is currently working on a second baseball sculpture, but this time she is using a photo instead of a live model.

Williamson has exhibited extensively in Northern California in colleges and commercial galleries. Colleges and private collectors throughout the United States also own her work. She has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Laguna Clay Award at the 2008 California Clay Competition.

Williamson has been a Brentwood resident seven years. Before that she and her son lived in Antioch.
She also enjoys spending her time teaching sculpture in Brentwood elementary schools.

"It is such a treat to work with the kids," she said. "All day long they have to put pencil to paper, but when they get to put their hands in the clay their faces light up and they get so excited."

While working with the younger children she said she is amazed just how talented some of the children can be. She especially likes working with the special-needs children because sculpting is something they can do that they can have fun with and feel successful.

Aside from the Ceramics Annual of America, which takes place Sept. 10-12, Williamson's artwork can be viewed at a solo exhibit at the Eddie Rhodes Art Gallery at Contra Costa College in San Pablo from Oct. 24-Nov. 21.