by Carole Epp | Apr 26, 2009 | Uncategorized
A few months back the Sask Craft Council presented a touring exhibition from the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the show was a piece by Reed Weir that completely captivated me each and every time I was at work. There is a certain manner in which Reed captured the essence of humanity in the figure that sat high up top the sculpture that was both beautiful yet which made me feel a bit uneasy. It was a very poetic piece. The sort of work you should really see in person, but that’s so often hard to do. Reed has sent me a great artist statement to go with these images, so I’ll let Reed’s words and images speak for themselves.
“One of my main motivations is the desire to understand and document rural society and its position in present-day culture. I draw extensively upon images from my own garden and the rural area in which I live (southwestern Newfoundland). My intention is to create contemporary works of art that speak to our common human experience, but via stories that are informed by a rural perspective.
“Blind Love” is from a series of stoneware sculptures which can be viewed simply for what they are – a girl and a bear – or as metaphors, with the girl representing humankind and the bear the natural environment. The complicated relationship between the two species is reflected in our reverence, love and fear of the bear, and in the rich cultural imagery provoked by our relationship with it. In “Blind love” the human is arrested in a pose of innocence at the precise moment before awareness of her beloved’s pending demise.
Grass Widow: Pale Blue Resignation is from a series based on the woman in my community who maintain their homes and family while the men are away working. Each widow sculpture (of 10 created) has a different attitude or is in a different stage of the wait. An integral part of the sculpture is the pedestal on which the figure sits, denoting the woman’s important role as pillars of their society. The open space in the pillar suggests the presence the absence of their partners has in their lives.
The actual process of sculpting is another source of inspiration for me as my method from concept to completion is done with clay. The material and process often direct the development of subsequent pieces.”
Check out more of Reed’s work at the Craft Council of NL website, the Christina Parker Gallery, and at Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery. Reed will also be one of the artists in residence at Medalta this summer.
by Carole Epp | Apr 25, 2009 | Uncategorized
I can’t remember quite when it was that I first ran across Mickey’s blog and her work, but I remember being inspired by her energy for her work, all the while raising a gorgeous little one. She seemed to have the time and motivation for everything, making, teaching. It’s something I lack most days…I still tend to think somehow someone is stealing time from me…anyways Mickey is now one the many I get to chat with daily on that whole weird twitter thing I was telling you about. It’s starting to be fun, hearing what people are up to throughout the day and finding interesting links to things I would have never found otherwise, so I guess it’s worth it. But what’s really worth checking out is Mickey’s blog and her fantastic work!
I love that most of you have sent in some little written bit about your work and process. I find it not only interesting to see the work, but also to read how each artist expresses themselves verbally about their work. It’s an art form unto itself I reckon. So on that note here’s Mickey’s words:
Up until recently I kept saying that one day when I grow up I will be a Professional Potter.
Not to say I have grown up but I am a Professional Potter now. There is nothing much better than a bottle of cider the right music and freshly wedged clay on the wheel head ready to go. I become base, instinctual, feral, free.
I am in love with my craft.
My art loves me back just as hard.
I am self taught and have fit my Art Life in and amongst my other Lives.
Sewing-Writing-Inventing-Wife-Reading-Baking-Painting-Gardening-Homeschooling-Mama is the name of my other Life.
Oh most of you reading this know all about that kind of thing don’t you?
*wink-wink*
I have been Potting for twenty two years now.
Teaching art classes on and off for seventeen years.
I love that I can bring my babies with me to teach classes.
I love that I can host classes in my space with my family helping out sometimes.
I love that I can fill a big basket up with ” my fresh hot pottery”, walk it to a nearby business and sell most of it right on the spot.
Life that mingles the day to day family kind of stuff with the passion and obsession of being a an Artist.
It can be asking a lot of a person sometimes this Artist-Mama-thing.
I know no other way. Intense is good.
I am a Ceramicist Doing the abcedarian work of connecting my Soul’s Sight to a process.
For me the Process is Clay work. Now if I could just sell for what “Soul Speak” is actually worth worth! ha-hah !
That is the trick with any of our Art Work isn’t it?
I have one Gallery representing my work at the moment.
Cedar Corners in Tofino on Vancouver Island. Otherwise I sell out of my Studio.
So, if you feel the need to buy some Fresh Hot Pottery lets talk…
Meanwhile, be well my Artist Friends!
Be well.
http://studioterrafemina.blogspot.com
by Carole Epp | Apr 23, 2009 | Uncategorized
Jody is an amazing artist that I meet years and years ago when I first started in ceramics at the University of Regina. She was just finishing the program as I began so we had a brief cross over, but our paths in clay keep leading us back to each other. Her extensive portfolio of work has grown to truly encapsulate her personality, her energy for life and art, and her search for expression in clay through movement. She recently completed a fantastic video/performance work which demonstrated her addressing challenges in the studio, her experimentation and process and her amazingly hilarious sense of humor. Hopefully I can get my hands on a copy soon to share with you. In the meantime here’s a bit about her work in her own words:
“I explore traditional and popular concepts of wheel thrown pottery while challenging works that are typically representative of the pottery wheel.. Some of my more recent works are an exploration of movement, both in the sense of movement involved in the creation of the vessel forms and, more metaphorically, as a social concept within artistic and craft practices.”
by Carole Epp | Apr 22, 2009 | Uncategorized
I know it looks like knitting, and it is…but it’s also fired ceramics! No April fool’s I promise. This gorgeous work is by Helen Martin who I was lucky enough to study with when I was over in Australia a few years back. This body of work she’s been producing is so interesting in how it combines the time consuming processes of both knitting and ceramic work. Knitted objects are so enticingly tactile to me, as are ceramics I guess, but I love the trick these pieces play with the expectations of the viewer.
Here’s her artist statement about the work:
“Does your mother knit? Did your granny crochet?
My work celebrates the making process. The act of making takes me out of the present, into a gentle space where I can daydream to my heart’s content. This love of making is the common thread that ties me to other women and other generations in my family.
The need to make is closely connected to the needs of the domestic environment and nurturing a family, but it serves also to nurture and satisfy the self. Essentially, we, as makers of objects, are also making time – time for ourselves.
I make textile-like ceramic objects, bowl and plate forms, that are, in fact, twice made. Firstly, in relaxation mode, I knit and crochet simple forms from pure wool – square, rectangular, round. I then soak these in glaze, dry them, and fire them in the kiln. The wool burns out leaving the detail captured in glaze. It is this transformation, accompanied by its inherent technical challenges that drives me and excites me.”
If you’re in Melbourne make sure you take the time to see her work in person at her exhibition at NORTHCOTE POTTERY SUPPLIES Pan Gallery, which runs from May 1 to 27, opening reception on April 30th. Check out their website or blog for more info. Guest speaker is Kevin Murray, well worth the trip out.
Images are by Stuart Hayes, ANU Photography
by Carole Epp | Apr 21, 2009 | Uncategorized
I first came across Jeff’s work on one of my many procrastinating days in front of the computer (often spend browsing through etsy, i’ll admit it!) I was really drawn to the minimalism and repetition in the pattern of his forms and how they still evoke movement. I love how they play with light and shadow. Thus I was happy to get the opportunity to share it with you during Artist of the Day Month (which is already more than half over…so sad!)
So here’s a bit about the work from Jeff himself:
“The work is slip cast and made of stoneware clay. The textures grew out of a desire to make an ergonomic handle for the Braille mug a little over 10 years ago. How to incorporate them into usable vessels has been an ongoing challenge.
I decided to make Braille pots in the 1980’s after participating in various art fairs and seeing the occasional blind person visit the booth and interact with handcrafted pottery. (While their sighted friend described the work.) I thought a pot that spoke directly to a blind person was needed. I introduced Sixdot Braille Products in 1998.”
Please make sure to check out more of Jeff’s work at his etsy shop www.jefflongtin.etsy.com
Grass Widow: Pale Blue Resignation is from a series based on the woman in my community who maintain their homes and family while the men are away working. Each widow sculpture (of 10 created) has a different attitude or is in a different stage of the wait. An integral part of the sculpture is the pedestal on which the figure sits, denoting the woman’s important role as pillars of their society. The open space in the pillar suggests the presence the absence of their partners has in their lives.
