Texturing LIfe through Sherri’s eyes
Sherri Gamble stands amid the earth-toned chaos of her Earth House Studio, a place where the dust of creativity blends with the vibrancy of life. Her hands, cradling a pair of weathered trowels, are as much a tool as the plaster and glass she sculpts with.
Accidental Beginnings
It was the garden that seeded Sherri's artistic odyssey. In the late '90s, Sherrie's life was a dichotomy: by day, she delved into the binary world of tech at Microsoft; by night, she let her hands delve into the soil of her garden. The transition from digital to tactile was not just a career shift, but a rediscovery of her elemental passions.
Hyper Tufa, the 'OG plaster', was her bridge from gardening to sculpture, a blend of potting soil and cement that allowed her to shape the earth as she shaped code—meticulously, thoughtfully. "I wanted to bring the outside in," Sherri shares, recalling her early days of mixing marble, clay, and plaster to create healthy, earth-connected living spaces.
Venetian Nights
Her love affair with Venetian plaster began one night after work, an addiction sparked by the desire to transform walls into works of art. "The first night was grueling," she recalls, "My arms burned, but the next day at work, I instantly hated my job." This epiphany propelled her into the welcoming arms of interior design and, ultimately, to her own plaster company.
Sherri's breakthrough came with an 8,000 square foot home: an all-plaster project that would set her apart from her peers and define her career. The success of this colossal undertaking led her to public art, where her community-centered ethos began to flourish, bridging law enforcement and youth in Chicago through the intimate act of hand casting, hoping to plaster over societal biases.
The Bremerton Connection
Bremerton, with its grit and innovation, felt like home. After buying a house and studio, Sherri and her husband embraced the town full-time, drawing parallels between its resilience and Chicago's. Here, Sherri found a new canvas, and her role shifted from artist to educator, impacting lives through her craft and community work.
From Mishaps to Masterpieces
Reflecting on her early work, Sherri laughs, "One of my first walls looked like somebody got shot by a gun!" It's a candid admission that mastery comes with time. Her commitment to Bremerton solidified with a project for Olympic College, dubbed "Sky Space," which, despite challenges, showcased her integrity and artistic acumen.
Empowering Through Art
Sherri's studio isn't just a space for creation; it's a venue for empowerment. Offering workshops in plaster art, especially for women, she fosters a connection not just to the medium but to the earth itself. "Hearing the trowels is so perfect," she says. Her goal is to connect more women to 'mud'—to the grounding, transformative power of plaster.
Plaster is Sherri's mantra—plaster to the people. It's both a departure from reality and an intense presence within it, a grounding in earth that's akin to meditation. Sherri's story is one of alchemical transformation, turning plaster into conduits for community, education, and the sublime joy of the tactile. Her legacy is etched not only in the walls she adorns but in the lives she touches, teaching us that the truest art forms are those that mold us together, from the garden to the gallery.
Sherri’s tale is etched not just in the walls she transforms but in the hearts she inspires. Her Earth House Studio is where the poetry of plaster finds its voice, a sanctuary where artistry and teaching merge into the delicate dance of creation. As Sherrie's story unfolds, each layer of plaster laid becomes a testament to her belief in the connective power of art.
In her workshops, the gatherings are intimate chapters in a larger narrative, one that you too can author with your hands.
Embark on a creative journey with Sherri and connect through her curated workshops on the following socials:
Follow along on Instagram @earth_house_studio.
Dive deeper into Sherri's world at www.earthhousestudio.com.
Follow on Facebook at Earth House Studio.
Sherri's invitation is open: join her community where hands are guided by heart, where earth becomes art, and where every creation is a shared journey from the garden to the gallery.
If you liked this story and would like to support Rain City Rambles:
