by Carole Epp | Feb 18, 2011 | Uncategorized
Bio
As a child my parents took me on numerous trips to wonderful places such as Berea College, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, and any potter’s studio that was open along the roadside. My parents always had Rowe Pottery and Bennington Pottery around the house and I became intrigued by the texture of the clay and the raised slip decoration. At the time I just thought it was fun but, in retrospect, it was the foundation for my love for ceramics.
When I enrolled at Kalamazoo College I planned on majoring in Biology. However when I was a sophomore my dad sat me down and advised me that he thought I should pursue what I really loved and what made me happy. At that point I changed majors and graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in Fine Arts and Art History.
Having worked for several ceramic artists I decided to open my own studio in 2005.
Artist Statement
I strive to make work that is well made and a pleasure to hold. My work is decorated with images that range from humorous to more abstract. My hope is to create pieces that enhance everyday life from drinking your morning coffee to enjoying your favorite piece of cake.
My designs are influenced from taking walks. It is during these walks alone I clear my head and observe everything from architecture to wildlife. Did you know there are freshwater jellyfish? Or what osage oranges are? I like looking at objects without distractions so I can absorb their form and process it into my own designs.
www.bellajoypottery.com
by Carole Epp | Feb 17, 2011 | Uncategorized
It’s been a bit hectic around here again. And I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m getting pretty excited about my upcoming show at the Mendel. I had a great studio visit on the weekend which left me feeling dare I say it out loud…confident about the how the works were coming together and how the content was becoming visual. I know there are always ups and downs when we make work. We fluctuate in a love/hate relationship with our ideas, our manifestations of those ideas, and somedays, even our career path itself.
So i’m chosing to relish in one of the rare days that I feel like things are on track. My fingers are still crossed however as there is a large flat piece in the kiln as I write and we all know how that turns out sometimes…
So while the kiln climbs and I enjoy the warmth it creates in my studio; as large flakes of snow continue to fall and add to the already close to a foot of new powder that has fallen since last night; I will leave you with a few sneak peaks at what i’ve been working on.
by Carole Epp | Feb 17, 2011 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday
APPLICATION DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2011
Now in its 50th year, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition [TOAE] is a juried showcase featuring contemporary fine art and craft that takes place annually on Nathan Phillips Square, every July.
As the largest outdoor art exhibition in Canada, TOAE offers a fresh-air alternative to conventional art shows and galleries. Hundreds of artists participate and an estimated 100,000 visitors attend the exhibition every year. Side by side, established artists, undiscovered talents and innovative students sell their work directly to the public and make lasting connections with art dealers and collectors.
In 2010, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition’s award program presented over $30,000 in cash awards and prizes to participating artists.
The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is a charitable, non-profit organization supported by a group of volunteers active in the art and corporate communities. The exhibition is financed through registration fees, and by government, corporate and individual sponsors, enabling the TOAE to charge one of the lowest registration fees in North America. No percentage of the artists’ sales is taken by the organizers. Apply online at the TOAE website at or call 416.408.2754 for more information. For further information, please contact: Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
264 – 401 Richmond Street West
Toronto, ON
M5V 3A8
416.408.2754
toae [at] torontooutdoorart [dot] org
by Carole Epp | Feb 17, 2011 | Uncategorized
Deadlines for 2011 are:
- Friday, 17 June 2011
- Friday, 18 November 2011
Submissions criteria for exhibitions at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery:
The gallery looks at artistic vision and merit, relevance to our audiences, diversity, and budget when considering any proposal. Individual artists and curators working in any media or discipline are welcome to apply. The gallery ultimately makes selections based on its mandate to present a blend of regional, national and international programming, and exhibition selections and programming development will always be made in the context of the gallery’s broader curatorial vision. The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery requires that all exhibition proposals contain the following:
- Cover Letter: This is essentially a letter of introduction, which also contains your current mailing address and contact information.
- Artist / Project Statement: The artist / project statement should indicate the media, technique, theme or context of the artwork. It should also address any specific technical or spatial requirements regarding the installation of the work. Please limit this to 1-2 pages.
- Current Curriculum Vitae: Include a current copy of your CV or resume, listing exhibition history and educational background. This should not exceed 2 pages.
- A Maximum of 20 Images on CD ROM or DVD: Include a maximum of 20 images on a CD-ROM or DVD. [*not required but helpful are 2 – 3, 8″x10″, colour photocopies of the strongest works.]
- Corresponding Image list: Include a corresponding list of images, indicating title, medium, size and year of execution.
- Relevant Support Material: If possible, include a selection of support material, such as copies of recent reviews or publications featuring the art work.
Address the cover letter to the appropriate curator as follows: Attention:
Bruce Johnson, Curator of Contemporary Art OR
Caroline Stone, Curator, Historical Art and Collections The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery
9 Bonaventure Avenue
P.O. Box 1800, Station C
St. John’s, NL A1C 5P9 PLEASE NOTE: Email submissions not accepted. Please use standard white paper. Please do not send original works of art. Include an appropriately sized self-addressed stamped envelope with proper return postage to return the submission after deliberation. Note: Proposals are accepted on an ongoing basis and programming review meetings are held quarterly. As per standard art gallery practice the exhibition schedule of The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery is programmed about three years in advance. This enables the gallery to fulfill provincial and federal government funding requirements and provide adequate planning time to mount significant exhibitions that are supported through educational programs and public relations.Via ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES, CALLS TO ARTISTS, Multi-disciplinary
by Carole Epp | Feb 17, 2011 | Uncategorized
01. Stacked Rotary Servers, hand-built porcelain, cone 6, 19 x 11 x 7,” 2009.
Clay Leonard was raised in Midwestern United States. Growing up in a small farming community, interaction amongst community members and family gatherings were made priorities, and continue to serve as inspiration to his ceramic artworks. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Adrian College in Adrian, Michigan and in 2009 earned his Master of Fine Arts in ceramics from Bowling Green State University and was nominated for an outstanding thesis award for the exhibition.
02. Server with Nesting Plates, hand-built porcelain, cone 6, 18 x 15 x 5,” 2010.
His current body of work is his contribution to reintroducing the lost art of communication around the dinner table. Through his ceramic vessels, he investigates the important ritual of sharing a meal. His functional ceramic vessels focuses on the role ceramics has in stimulating communication and interaction in a communal setting.
03. Nesting Bowl Set, hand-built porcelain, cone 6, 10 x 10 x 5,” 2010.
Clay’s ceramic work has been featured in various international and national exhibitions, and included in multiple publications, as well as being featured in the May 2009 issue of Ceramics Monthly, as an Emerging Artist. He currently is serving as a Visiting Artist at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas.
04. Triangle Bowls #1, hand-built porcelain, cone 6, 6 x 6 x 4,” 2010.
05. Circle Server, hand-built porcelain, cone 6, 20 x 20 x 4,” 2009.
@font-face { font-family: “Arial”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }
@font-face { font-family: “Arial”; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } ARTIST STATEMENT Some of my favorite childhood memories were formed around the dinner table with family and friends, eating and engaging in conversation. My work continues this dwindling tradition, and serves as a reminder of the importance of these experiences. Through my ceramic vessels, I investigate the important ritual of sharing a meal. This work is my contribution to reintroducing the lost art of communication around the dinner table.
Although I draw formal inspiration from mass-produced objects, I strive to reclaim the directness of human interaction with the material. I celebrate what my unique touch offers that is lost with a machine. Through subtle manipulation and gesture, I instill my work with personality, energy, and softness. The process of inventing and constructing these forms with my hands offers a reconnection to past traditions including the notion of honoring the humility of craftsman. In a face paced culture where communications is overwhelmed by current technology, my work and research offers an incentive to rediscover personal conversation and get back to the table.
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When I enrolled at Kalamazoo College I planned on majoring in Biology. However when I was a sophomore my dad sat me down and advised me that he thought I should pursue what I really loved and what made me happy. At that point I changed majors and graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in Fine Arts and Art History.
Having worked for several ceramic artists I decided to open my own studio in 2005.
My designs are influenced from taking walks. It is during these walks alone I clear my head and observe everything from architecture to wildlife. Did you know there are freshwater jellyfish? Or what osage oranges are? I like looking at objects without distractions so I can absorb their form and process it into my own designs.
www.bellajoypottery.com
