emerging artist: Nina Kawar

 

Within my studio
practice I am exploring the self and mechanisms we use to protect ourselves. My
research of defense mechanisms and self-presentations within psychology has led
me to examine human emotional responses and how they work within social-interactions.
I am investigating the unique layers of our identity and how we project
fragments of the self to others through behavior or impulses. One way I have
chosen to execute this concept is through a barrier or shield. The forms allow
the viewer to experience multiple perspectives that are present in human
relations when instinctive behavior patterns come in to play. This continues to
address my interest in human’s need for order and control because the ego is
trying to organize behavior within social environments.  
The delicate
nature of the ceramic forms highlights the sometimes-fragile fragments of our
ego. Some elements imply a softness or approachability while others suggest
precaution. Repetition of these forms is also signifying habitual patterns and
reoccurrences in our everyday experiences.
In addition to
psychology, architecture has been a significant influence in my work. Both
mashrabiyyas and muqarnas have been pertinent in my understanding of decorative
motifs and their functions within architecture. I believe there is a strong
interest in these structures because I have associated them to the body and I
continuing to contemplate how they can function as a psychological state. 
– Nina Kawar

ninakawar.weebly.com

HYPERCLAY: Contemporary Ceramics

Noosa Regional Art Gallery, QLD, 28 March – 11 May 2014

A provocative and engaging exhibition of work by Australian artists using clay in unexpected and surprising ways, HYPERCLAY: Contemporary Ceramics highlights the versatility of this time-honoured material and, in doing so, re-imagines its possibilities.
 
HYPERCLAY profiles eight artists at various stages in their
careers whose current practice is taking ceramics into bold new
territories. Whether printing with clay, transforming rejected ceramic
objects or playing at the intersection of the digital and the handmade,
the artists in HYPERCLAY are forging new pathways in Australian ceramics.

HYPERCLAY features the work of Walter Auer, Roderick
Bamford, Stephen Bird, Jacqueline Clayton, Andrea Hylands, Addison
Marshall, Pip McManus and Paul Wood.

A collection of over 30 short videos have been produced to accompany
the exhibition, ranging from artists interviews to curators, academics,
collectors and gallerists, commenting on why they find a particular
artist so exciting, through to ceramic students expressing what inspires
them about the work in the show. These videos will be housed in an
easily navigated, tablet-housed application, testing the waters of fully
integrated digital content into a traditional exhibition space. The
digital content is not supplementary – engagement with the digital is
paramount to truly understand the works on show.

Over eight weeks, during the opening exhibition at Object Gallery in
Sydney, Object Eye profiled each of the artists involved. You can see
these profiles, including videos and images of the work, by clicking here.

The iPad app developed as part of HYPERCLAY: Contemporary Ceramics is available as a free download, taking the form of a video-based digital catalogue. For more information on the app click here, or to go directly to the App Store to download (for iPad only) click here. (Please note that it is a large file, and we recommend WiFi to download.)

HYPERCLAY: Contemporary Ceramics is Object’s biggest touring exhibition, including 12 regional and metropolitan venues over two and a half years.

#HYPERCLAY

TOUR DATES

Noosa Regional Art Gallery
QLD, 28 March – 11 May 2014

Cairns Regional Art Gallery
QLD, 23 May – 22 June 2014

Queen Victoria Museum & Art Gallery
Launceston, TAS, 9 August – 12 October 2014

Western Plains Cultural Centre
Dubbo, NSW, 8 Nov 2014 – 1 Feb 2015

job postings: Heath Ceramics

Heath
Ceramics is a more than 60-year-old California company that makes
dinnerware and architectural tile of good and enduring design. 
We believe in the benefits of local manufacturing
and, with more than 100 employees and growing, we support a growing
community of people committed to and inspired by the process of
designing, making and sharing. 
We believe in fair compensation, provide full health
care benefits and make retirement benefits available. If you are
someone who shares these values and is inspired by designing, making and
sharing, we’d love to hear from you. 
If you would like to be considered for one of the
positions below, please send your resume and cover letter and let us
know about your availability (if you’re looking for part-time or
full-time work and location preference). 
Thank you for your interest! Email us at jobs(at)heathceramics.com

Production Director

We’re looking for a Production Director to oversee
the production of Heath’s dinnerware and tile products, made in our two
factories in Sausalito (dinnerware) and San Francisco (tile). This
position will be taking over from our current Production Director, who,
after seven successful and growth-filled years, is retiring. 
See the full job description and apply here.

Communications Director

We at Heath take an untraditional approach to Brand
Marketing. We don’t like either of those words, which is why this
position is titled Communications Director. That said, we recognize the
importance of said words in the industry and in large companies and we
mean no disrespect in using them sparingly in our company. 
See the full job description and apply here.

Ceramic Engineer

In a newly created position to address our growth
and expansion, the Ceramic Engineer at Heath will oversee technical
aspects of Heath’s dinnerware and tile production in our 2 factories
(dinnerware in Sausalito, CA and tile in SF, CA). 
See the full job description and apply here.

Industrial Machinery Electrician

We’re looking for a part-time Industrial Machinery Electrician to help at our Sausalito factory.
See the full job description here (pdf download).

Merchandise Planner

Heath’s Merchandise Planner maintains stock levels
of Heath Home offerings in our four retail showrooms in California.
After product selection by our creative buying team, this position is
responsible for the full product cycle from vendor to sell through.
See the full job description and apply here

Tammy Marinuzzi and Within:Without @ Red Lodge Clay Center for March/April

Tammy Marinuzzi
Secret Jars: About two years ago I had an idea for a show focused on secrets.

I was going to make containers for holding secrets.

The idea was born in the studio classroom, where my role as an educator
also made me an inadvertent gatherer of private stories. Students can be
so candid when talking about their projects, or sometimes, just in
casual conversation with their classmates. I consider myself a
story-teller, but I have never asked anyone directly to share a story.
It has always been my secret that I collect stories and make work that
is based on those stories. I have definitely borrowed information for my
work from my surroundings, especially my jobs. I have been a
hairdresser, photographer, caregiver, artist, and now an educator.
 

Read more here
Dan James
Brown
 

Within:Without is a collection from a group of artists invited to explore jars, keeping the unique history of the form in mind.

Justin
Rothshank

Jane
Shellenbarger

Zachary
Tate

The curatorial statement is a must read. Find it here.

See the whole show and purchase work here.