by Carole Epp | Mar 21, 2016 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, technical tuesday
Zak Helenske puts to use similar languages to create a thread across different bodies of work. He makes functional pots, installations, and cast iron sculptures. At first glance, these various works and different media may not seem related to one another. However, his different works carry corresponding elements that quietly remind the viewer of his thread of inspirations including architecture, industrial aesthetics, and pattern.
Helenske describes part of his inspiration saying, “I am charmed by the anti-monumental, and challenged by the spatial balance between pottery, architecture, and community.”
Within his pottery, Helenske uses simple, varied cylindrical forms and lightly treated surfaces with remnants of pattern and other line work. The decoration references structures and are reminiscent of blueprints or bridge support cables. By using an atmospheric soda firing method, Helenske sacrifices some control over the outcome of his pottery. This process, though, ties his work together as the soda acts to the porcelain like nature and elements do to architecture.
Helenske speaks of the importance of pottery, “Pots are a part of our domestic infrastructure, facilitating rituals of beauty, nourishment, and gathering.”
Helenske received his BFA from North Dakota State University and his MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Crafts with a concentration in ceramics and ceramic sculpture. He has been an artist in residence in foundries, casting workshops, and ceramics studios, including Pottery Northwest in Seattle, Washington where he now lives and works.
zakhelenske.com
Thanks again to our great Guest writers from Ceramics Artists Now. Make sure to check out their website for more amazing ceramic based artwork.
ceramicartistsnow.com
by Carole Epp | Mar 14, 2016 | Uncategorized
For most people at this time of year there’s not a lot more exciting then the annual NCECA conference, but let me tell you that in this magnificent world of ceramics there is always inspiring and wonderful things happening.
One of the perks of our community is that there are so many generous people that are willing to jump in and do incredibly charitable things for other artists. There was a great quote recently by Molly Hatch as part of the Think Big series where in she referred to the idea of “a rising tide lifting all the boats”. I adore this quote. I’m a strong believer in the need for us to work together to strengthen the community; whether through education and exposure, creation of opportunities, sharing of resources and knowledge.
It seems that every chance we get to explore new social media platforms (check out all of the stuff happening over on Periscope as a prime example) we jump on board wholeheartedly with generosity and willingness to give back.
When I recently stumbled upon Ceramic Artists Now and was thrilled to see this new website up and running. What a wonderful resource and addition to our community. The folks behind the website are Rachel Donner, Agnes Z Blume, and Jeremiah Butters. I really encourage you to head over and have a look around. Read the contributors bios, and get to know some of the incredible artists they are showing.
I’m eager to be working with them over the next few weeks having them select monday morning eye candy for us to enjoy. So go check out their website, sign up for their newsletter so you don’t miss a thing, and come back to musing after to enjoy the work of
Candice Methe.
Happy Monday Everyone!
See you at NCECA this week,
xoxo
Carole
