Meet your Monitors: Tamara Selvig
Article by Laura Morris
Tamara's name was one of the first things about her that interested me. Tamara comes from her russian background and the Selvig from her husband's Norwegian background. She has a 17 year-old daughter and this mother-daughter duo even takes ceramic classes together. They're into hand building and have been enjoying classes together for a few years. This definitely says something about her enthusiasm for clay.
Tamara grew up in New York and got a nursing degree at NYU. She moved to the Bay Area in 1982 and decided on a different career path, working at UC Berkeley and also running her own word processing company.
Over the years, she involved herself in different forms of art including painting and drawing and about 10 years ago she discovered clay. It has held her interest ever since. She mainly focuses on hand building and sculpting, but also enjoys the wheel. Her approach to clay is her way of expressing herself. She essentially goes with the flow and enjoys the process of creating something. What comes will come and the process itself brings her fulfillment. She says it doesn't matter what the project is because "holding clay makes me happy."
Being a monitor is her way to give back and be involved. She loves being here and really appreciates the quality of the studio and all the people involved in it. She especially appreciated Peter and Roger's efforts to make it a great place. The quality of teachers as well as the openness and friendly attitudes of all the members are additional plusses. She has had some health issues and considers the studio a form of healing.
Tamara's most recent work is a gargoyle she made in the 5-day workshop this summer. It was the biggest sculpture she's made and really made her stretch her abilities. She like coming every day and working on a continuous basis. It generated enthusiasm in her as her piece took form along with a sense of joy in what she was able to create. This gargoyle, a panther-like creature descending steps, is two feet long and two and a half feet tall. She learned all sorts of new skills in order to make it, and especially enjoyed all the new challenges.
Ceramics is a part of her life now and one she would not give up. If you want to meet her, she monitors every other Tuesday evening from 4-7 pm or you can catch her in the studio during open workshop hours.