Springs, East Hampton
h. 631.324.4215
Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Hammond grew up in Melrose MA she has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Tufts University, 1962. From the Boston Museum School in 1959 a four-year diploma, also a fifth year graduate certificate 1960 In 1960 the Trustee’s of the Boston Museum awarded a Traveling Scholarship. Hammond was the first American woman to work/ study at Kyoto City College of Fine Arts, Japan. Hammond’s returned to NY to establish a studio in Scarborough, until 1998. In 1999 working in Springs, East Hampton, New York; winters are spent working in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Statement
For me, my sculpture, has always been an important struggle - to move on, to transform what I have learned or developed to something new. One aspect, has been to articulate new ideas by teaching. I would burn out teaching and return to reinvent my work with new passion. It also helped to change materials from stoneware clay, to porcelain, to wax (for bronze casting) to the flat sheets of metal used today. Finally, a history with enough success to sustain the courage to be innovative.
My first early focus was on mastering use of clay on the potter’s wheel, the spontaneity with clay, was not easy, but I produced abstracts works of open shapes, contained shapes and shapes freely changed from a circle.
In my early studies, I learned the value of embracing the unexpected, to hope for the unimagined, and to be experimentally playful—to respect work that happens not because it is planned, but in spite of your plans. The serious work begins when the original work needs to become the 10-20 foot sculpture.
PUBLIC SCULPTURES
23rd Ube Biennale Tokiwa Museum, Japan. On exhibit October 2009-2011 The Museum of Greenery, Flowers and Sculptures Prize www.Tokiwamuseum.org.jp
Pratt Campus Brooklyn N.Y. Two Aluminum Panels Sculptures. 2008
Will Award 1988-2007 "The Shakespeare Theatre at the Folgers will present this sculpture to the first recipient of the William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre. Designed by nationally-recognizes artist Phyllis Hammond, the intricate 14” cast bronze piece pays homage to Shakespeare and his work. The award will be presented April 23 during a gala evening under written by Shearson Lehman Hutton, at the National Building Museum." New York Times, The Arts Section C15 on Tuesday March 15, 1988. The 2002 award marks the 14th year of presentations The Shakespeare Theatre Company Past Will Award Recipients.
Connecticut Commission. for the Arts. Percentage for the Arts Program, Bronze Gateway
Memorial Hall Library, Andover, MA. Acquisition, 1989 Stoneware Sculpture.
American Savings Bank, Corporate Headquarters, White Plains, NY
Schmeltzer, Aptaker, And Shepard. Law Offices, Washington, D.C.
Centerpoint, Office Complex: Fair Oaks, VA Atrium: 10 ft Bronze
Cadillac Fairwell, Corp. Headquarters White Plains, NY.
Guest Quarters Hotel, Bethesda, MD: 2 bronze sculptures, Visions/Revisions.
Unitarian Fellowship in Mt. Kisco NY: 1992 a commissioned sculptured wall.
Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT: 2 Stoneware Clay Wall Panels.
2009 Mark Borghi Fine Arts Gallery, Bridgehampton, NY. Review by Eric Ernst for Hampton’s Press Oct 6th 2009
http://www.27east.com/story_detail.cfm?id=238139
“amid the names drawn from the pages of art history at Borghi is a mild surprise in the inclusion of a small, untitled aluminum sculpture by East End artist Phyllis Hammond that is both rhythmically engaging and whimsically thoughtful. Using thinly sliced metal that is bent to conjure apparitional harmonies in space, the work is dynamic despite its size and echoes in form and sensibility the Alexander Calder mobile that hangs farther back in the gallery.”
