Fran Abrams

In January 2000, after making a New Year's resolution to return to my roots as an artist, I began studying and working with polymer clay. In July 2010, after 41 years of public service in government and nonprofit agencies, I retired from my day job to focus on creating art with polymer clay.

Polymer clay is a man-made substance that begins as blocks of solid-colored clay-like material that does not require water to become soft. (You may know it as Sculpey, Premo or Fimo.) Repetitive kneading softens it. Like clay from the earth, polymer clay can be shaped, carved, and textured. Unlike non- polymer clay, the colors of the polymer clay can be blended just like blending paint. That is, mixing together blue and yellow polymer clay yields green clay. Also, polymer clay bakes at 275 degrees rather than in a high-temperature kiln. Like many polymer clay artists, I use a pasta machine to blend colors and achieve new designs. However, unlike many other artists who work in this medium, I do not use any paint or inks on my work.

Many of my pieces interpret in polymer clay the fluid sense of fabric caught at a moment in time. The work appears to blur the line between what appears might yield to the touch and what actually is permanently formed. Many people believe my clay pieces are made from fabric when they first see my work.

I am fascinated by the wide range of color, texture and form that can be created with polymer clay and the sense of exploration that comes with mixing the colors and draping the clay. My background in architecture and urban planning inspires my use of geometric and structural forms. The pieces of baked clay are mounted on canvas that I cover with fabric that brings out the colors in the work. This allows the pieces to be presented without glass over them to better allow the viewer to experience the intricacies of the work.

Fran Abrams lives and works in Rockville, MD. She holds a Master's degree in Art and Architecture and a Master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning. From 2001-2003, she studied polymer clay with Carol Zilliacus, a widely-acclaimed local polymer clay artist. Fran's work is in the homes of many private collectors. Fran serves as an at-large member of the Foundry Board of Directors and directed the recent redesign of the Foundry website. She also volunteers as Chair of the Gallery Committee at Har Shalom Congregation in Potomac, MD. As a consultant to the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County, she manages the Betty Mae Kramer Gallery and Music Room located at the Silver Spring Civic Building in downtown Silver Spring, MD. Exhibitions include:

• Fine Crafts National Juried Exhibit, Juried Group Show, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, Fredericksburg, VA, December 2011-January 2012
• Patuxent Art League 21st Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Juried Group Show, Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD, December 2011
• The Power of Color III, Juried Group Show, Gallery West, Alexandria, VA, August 2011
• Summer Salon Show, Group Show, The Artists' Gallery, Frederick, MD, August 2011
• Committee Members Group Show, Gallery Har Shalom, Potomac, MD, July - August 2011
• Works on Paper and of Clay, Juried Group Show, 21st Annual Mid-Atlantic Juried Exhibition, d'Art Center, Norfolk, VA, April - June 2011
• Laurel Art Guild Regional Juried Show, Group Show, Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD, March - April 2011
• 20th Annual Strathmore Members' Juried Exhibition, Group Show, N. Bethesda, MD, March - April 2011
• Colorful Clay, Solo Show, Temple Rodef Shalom, Falls Church, VA, January - February 2011
• Clay Squared, Solo Show, Howard Avenue Arts Incubator, Kensington, MD, December 2010
• Clay on the Wall, Solo Show, Foundry Gallery, Washington, DC, November 2010
• Polymer Revolution, Juried Group Show, Parsons Gallery, Lexington Arts and Crafts Society, Lexington, MA, June 2010
• Many Textures, Many Colors, Invitational Group Show, Dennis & Philip Ratner Museum, May 2010
• Visions, Invitational Group Show, Bodzin Gallery, Jewish Community Center of Northern VA, Fairfax, VA, February - April 2010
• Feb Four, Group Show, Foundry Gallery, Washington DC, February 2010
• 19th Annual Strathmore Members' Juried Exhibition, N. Bethesda, MD, March - April 2010
• 2009 Creative Crafts Council 27th Biennial Juried Exhibition, Group Show, The Mansion at Strathmore, N. Bethesda, MD, May 30 - June 11, 2009
• A Lifetime of Perspective, Work by Older Adults, Juried Group Show, Jewish Community Center, Goldman Gallery, Rockville, MD, May 2009

Recent awards include:

• Honorable Mention, Fine Crafts National Juried Exhibit, Juried Group Show, Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts, Fredericksburg, VA, December 2011-January 2012
• Third Place, Laurel Art Guild Regional Juried Show, Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD, March - April 2011
• Third Place, Annual Strathmore Members' Juried Exhibition, The Mansion at Strathmore, N. Bethesda, MD, March 2010
• First Place in Polymer Clay, Creative Crafts Council 27th Biennial Exhibition, The Mansion at Strathmore, N. Bethesda, MD, June 2009
• First Place, Annual Strathmore Members' Juried Exhibition, The Mansion at Strathmore, N. Bethesda, MD, March 2008