movie day: Digging Wild Clay
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts‘ teaching artist Malley Weber digs for clay in Maine.
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts‘ teaching artist Malley Weber digs for clay in Maine.
Energy. Enthusiasm. Knowledge. Honesty. Inspired. Ardor for material. These are the terms that describe Walter Ostrom and his relationship with clay. They can also be summed up in one word: Passion.
Passion is a simple word and yet the immense complexity of it as a concept is at the core of Ostrom and from it flows the worldwide mosaic of his relationships, his incredible devotion as an educator, his drive for knowledge, and his love for creativity in all aspects of his life, but particularly for pottery.
Walter Ostrom is one of Canada’s foremost ceramic artists. He revolutionized clay from ethical brown earthenware to colourful, bright maiolica and inspired generations of ceramists who follow him to this day. This exhibition investigates Ostrom’s earliest work in stoneware and porcelain, his conceptual projects at NSCAD University, the many ways his love of gardening—and particularly rhododendrons—influenced his work, the huge impact China and its ceramic traditions and ceramists had on his life and practice, and his lifetime commitment to the exploration and reinvigoration of the ancient ceramic tradition of tin-glaze.
Good Earth examines Ostrom’s practice of altering form, surface treatments, and the rich elements of social commentary, geographic references, art history, and political statements he imbues in his work. An inspired instructor for over 40 years, Ostrom’s influence on a selection of his many celebrated students is also reflected in this exhibition.
Ostrom is celebrated internationally with galleries dedicated to the collection and presentation of his work in Canada, the United States, Europe and China. This bilingual touring exhibition is the first major retrospective to chronicle Ostrom’s career and impact on the field of global ceramics.
www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/exhibitions/walterostromgoodearth
For Clay Week 2020 Make and Do collective member Marianne Chénard interviewed Marina Lespérance Lopez.
Je suis née Montréal et j’ai grandi dans la région de Lanaudière, au Québec, pour finalement revenir dans la région métropolitaine vers la fin de mes études secondaire. Fille de parents latino-américain et québécois, la mixité culturelle et les voyages ont construit mon identité. J’ai poursuivi mes études en Arts Visuels et Médiatiques à l’Université du Québec à Montréal et par la suite une spécialisation en métiers d’arts céramiques au cégep du Vieux-Montréal.
J’ai été formée en arts visuels et médiatiques, où je faisais principalement de la sculpture et de l’installation en céramique mais aussi avec d’autres matériaux. Mon passage de la création d’objets d’arts vers les objets utilitaires vient d’une quête de sens, je voulais que mes oeuvre soient accessibles pour la vie quotidienne. J’ai aussi intérêt profond pour le parcours des objets et leur grand potentiel de charge émotive. D’où ils viennent, qui les a fait, dans quelles conditions… Je souhaite reconnecter avec la valeur des objets dans notre réalité d’économie du fast moving consumer, qu’on achète moins souvent, mais avec intention. Je souhaite voir mes oeuvres intégrer la routine des gens au jour le jour, qu’ils inspirent, et qu’ils apportent une petite touche de magie au quotidien.
Music – OORUTAICHI
Stuffed – animals Kataoka Meriyasu
Pottery – Chie Chihiro
Video – SAIGO NO SHUDAN