There are a few good reasons why I’m looking into applying for a residency at Medalta International AIR program; one of the reasons however is unrelated to making any of my own work (or maybe not) – it’s to go and meet today’s artist. I’m completely taken by Aaron’s work and the translucency of the clay body he’s developed. (yes he developed it, you can’t buy it in a store…sadness) Maybe if I get to go to Medicine Hat, i’ll find a way to get my hands on the recipe – as I reckon it’s got my beloved Southern Ice Porcelain beat….
About the Artist“Inspired by the translucent nature of porcelain and the deep rich colours of his glazes, Aaron Nelson creates unique designs that are influenced by traditional Asian aesthetics as well as modern European design.
Currently Aaron is working with experimental, highly translucent soft paste porcelain that matures at an extremely low temperature. His interest in this new material, for which there are few historical precedents, grows out of a concern for the environment and reducing the carbon footprint of his practice. With his new porcelain body, he is able to marry the gesture, spontaneity and aesthetics of hand-thrown ceramics with material a generally associated with industrial ceramics. He is intrigued by the capacity of ceramics to engage global ideas that are both ethical and technological in nature.
After previous studio practices in Victoria, Chicago, Vancouver and Montana, Aaron Nelson is currently the Artistic Director of the Shaw International Centre for Contemporary Ceramics in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Aaron has taught in Canada and the US.”
You can contact Aaron about his amazing work or about the Medalta International Artists in Residence through their website www.medalta.org
or
Aaron Nelson
Artistic Director
e. [email protected]
(oh and keep yours eyes peeled for info about the Medalta AIR, i’ll be posting the 2010 info very soon…)
Hard to believe how beautiful these things are. Like milky white glass!
How intruiging. What and incredibly exciting thing to develop this body and especially to achieve this whitenss and translucency at a low temperature.
I agree with the development of the translucency at a low temperature… but, whats the big deal about translucent, slip cast work. Everyone is doing it and its not that difficult. The true test is to take a clay body like 'Frost' and throw it so thin that it goes translucent.
actually i'm under the impression that these were thrown, but I might be mistaken.
yup all thrown.
I stand corrected on your work…
nice art.This was almost the best article I have read in this blog. I hope it make changes to how I administrate my websites in the future…
webdevlopment
These pots are gorgeous.
I did a Medalta Residency before the studios were renovated. It was a fantastic experience – one I'd highly recommend. Plus you get to see their beautiful old beehive kilns.
Meraviglioso!!!!!
Thank you for sharing images.
Aaron, Beautiful work and great to see what you are working on these days. Your students in Chicago miss you and your work!