A “seconds” thought…

by Carole Epp | Jan 27, 2009 | Uncategorized

I’m the first to admit that I’m an etsy addict. Not that I buy that much, but I do find that I do like to look. And something that has been on my radar lately is the practice of selling “seconds” as sale items. I’ve always had a weird uncomfortable relationship with what is considered seconds, whether in my own practice or otherwise. I think I was lead to believe somewhere in my training, when and where i’m not sure, that seconds are really only good for the bin. Yet when looking at others seconds I sometimes wonder why it is that they are even classified as seconds. Does the slightest pinholing of a glaze render a pot useless. Well certainly if it’s sharp and can interfere with function. But what of pinholing that has melted back, yet left its mark. Or a crazed glaze? I’ve worked for years with a particular crazed glaze intentionally. I think there is also a question in my mind about aesthetic seconds. And that’s where the most complicated gray zone appears in my practice. Is a pot worthless if it doesn’t uphold my aesthetic expectations and to what degree can I accept the material and processes’ challenge to my rigid expectations? Being a maker of both functional and sculptural work I also find that there is a difference when dealing with sculptural “seconds”. When function isn’t an issue it’s much easier to fix and mend faults so that they are invisible to most eyes. But is that fair? Or is it unfair to put such a pressure on ourselves to toss out each and every piece that is not quite right? I find it amazing that so often at conferences, behind closed doors, and quietly to one another we discuss our secret tricks and what we might have gotten away with in the past. I’ve heard stories of oil pastels filling cracks, magic glues and cements, room temperature glazes (as in paints) and the like, and most certainly I have had my own such secrets. I know it’s sort of one of those constantly regurgitated topics for ceramicists, but I guess I have yet to find peace with the debate in my mind.

I think i’m also currently fighting with the idea of aesthetic seconds as I’m in the process of making some very different work for an upcoming show. Well by very different I guess that aesthetically it fits with the other functional work, however the process is completely out of left field for me. The premise for the show was to create work inspired by the other 3 artists in the exhibition as a means of challenging one’s practice out of (in my personal case) its rut and repetition. But I’m struggling with the work in a way that painfully reminds me of the first semester of grad studies. And with the exhibition approaching in April I’m questioning if I’ll be alright with the work by then. I think I’m a believer in the fact that we often need to live with our own work for a period of time in order to digest what it is and where exactly it has come from. And this process has been known in the past to turn aesthetic seconds into pieces I have grown to love and cherish, once the initial shock of perceived expectations has faded. While I have to admit I’ve often been one of those artists that literally question if the heat of the piece freshly out of the kiln will melt my packing materials in order to get the work somewhere on time…I’m starting to turn into a person that aims or desires to have the work done weeks or more in advance in order to have the opportunity to live with it. Last year I sent off a piece to a show that I have since been dying to get back. The piece in the end meant more to me then I realized at the time and I’ve since been silently hoping that it won’t sell and will be safely delivered back to me. I guess what i’ve been contemplating lately is the strange relationship I sometimes have with my work. The love/hate of the challenges it presents, it’s nagging need to keep me awake at night, how it steals my mind away from the everyday – losing myself mentally in my work as I try to feed my little one or chase him about. Maybe it’s my neurotic nature, but i’m constantly questioning how good my work is, if each individual piece lives up to my expectations of excellence; aesthetically/functionally/conceptually. And sometimes I feel like a perfectionist with blinders on, unable to see what’s right in from of me, and other days I wonder if I’m going easy on myself and not self critiquing or challenging enough. It’s a weird back and forth ballet that somedays makes me hide from the studio and all it’s questions; while on other days hide from the rest of the world within its safe walls.

Call for Entry – The Distill Cup 2009

by Carole Epp | Jan 20, 2009 | Uncategorized

Application Deadline: May 10th 2009

Open to Canadian artists/craftspeople/designers to interpret ‘cup’ in any medium.

For prospectus please email [email protected]
or download application from www.distillgallery.com

Exhibition runs from june 9th to june 21st 2009

Distill
55 Mill street,
building #47,
Toronto, Ontario,
m5a3c4

For additional information, contact Allison Skinner at 416.304.0033.

Call for Entry, Unity & Diversity, 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale

by Carole Epp | Jan 20, 2009 | Uncategorized

Deadline: Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Unity & Diversity
A Juried National Exhibition of works by Canada’s Craft Community at the Canadian Pavilion, Cheongju International Craft Biennale.

The Canadian Crafts Federation/Fédération canadienne des métiers d’art is proud to announce that Canada has been named the official guest country of the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale in Cheongju, South Korea.

Celebrating its 6th anniversary in 2009, the Cheongju International Craft Biennale is the largest and most outstanding fine craft-based biennale in the world. Over 1000 artists from more than 40 countries participate each year, with over half a million visitors in attendance during the month-long event. With a focus on high-quality functional and sculptural craft, the Biennale attracts attention from collectors, curators, academics, craftspeople and, of course, the public. It is a terrific opportunity to showcase the talent of Canadian craftspeople to the world.

Each piece included in the Unity & Diversity exhibition will be entered into a second review, and may be selected to exhibit as part of a second project – an exhibition of Canadian and Korean work to be shown in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics.

To learn more about Canada’s participation in the 2009 Cheongju International Craft Biennale, contact Maegen Black, Administrative Director of the Canadian Craft Federation at (506) 444-3315, [email protected]. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it.

National Call: Unity and Diversity

Intentionally broad in scope, the exhibition theme “Unity and Diversity” seeks responses from craftspeople on how they see their work in the context of the Canadian craft scene. Does Canadian craft have a unified identity, or do our vast physical and cultural geographies make the question of identity much more complicated and diverse?

Details are also available on the Canadian Crafts Federation website

FIXED!!! I hope…

by Carole Epp | Jan 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

So I think I’ve finally sorted out the problem that was making my gadgets “fall” down the right hand side for some PC users. I’m not technically minded so it took a bit of searching and emailing – and many thanks to all those that emailed or commented (even if it was just to rub it in how cold it was here! – mind you it got worse, dropped down to minus 53 celcius with windchill one day…today is a gorgeous plus 4 though so no complaints!)

One piece of advice was regarding the image in the header, which you’ll notice is currently missing. It hadn’t been a problem since the beginning so I figured that wasn’t it, but gotta try everything right? Not it.

What I did find was that there can be a problem if there are any unclosed tags in the html of one of the blog posts. So where you’ve added a link or an image. What you need to do is go through each of the individual posts(hopefully this problem is only in one of them!) and where it is a problematic post you’ll see the gadgets/sidebar pushed down. You’ll know it’s that specific post as the others should look normal. Open the problematic post in Edit HTML mode and check for any unclosed tags.

Well hopefully that the end of that! If you still have problems please let me know. Thanks for your patience.

Once again the TOAE deadline is around the corner

by Carole Epp | Jan 18, 2009 | Uncategorized

Call to Artists – Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition 2009
Application Deadline: March 1, 2009

Now in its 48th year, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition is a juried showcase featuring contemporary fine art and craft that takes place on Nathan Phillips Square every July.

As the largest outdoor art exhibition in Canada, the TOAE offers a fresh-air alternative to conventional art shows and galleries. Approximately 500 artists participate and over 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 2008, the TOAE presented over $35,000 in cash awards and prizes to participating artists. We welcome applications from artists working in a wide range of traditional and experimental art forms.

Applications can be downloaded from the TOAE website.

For further information, please contact:
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition
264 – 401 Richmond Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 3A8
416.408.2754
[email protected]
www.torontooutdoorart.org