emerging artist: Michael Lorsung

by | Aug 2, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

Michael Lorsung – Artist Statement
I am interested in objects that are human made, but not necessarily hand made. I love the idea that as a species we have largely created the contemporary world that we live in and interact with on a daily basis. Our relationship to the objects that run through our lives is largely passive in so far as our thoughtfulness about their origins. Because of the ubiquitous nature of human made objects coupled with the throwaway, utilitarian culture we live in, it seems we frequently dismiss or simply never recognize the beauty in these things.
 
My work is an attempt at giving time and attention to objects from my own life that I find beautiful; whether these inanimate, soulless things want my attention or not. I care. Be it a grain silo whose form follows its innate function is beautiful in the way that sailboats are, as is a wrench on a tool bench that bears the marks of years of use or disuse by its owner. The objects themselves are monuments to our abilities, and their ubiquitous, oftunappreciated existences serve as reminders of the hubris that we project as a materially privileged culture.

I make these objects because I truly do believe that we do not recognize how much of ourselves as humans are inside of the man made things around us. Through the process of leaving my marks, drawings, and narratives on the surfaces of these pieces I am trying to leave the viewer with the sense that the meaning in the objects is created indeed by the user, and becomes part of the object’s history, despite its inauspicious beginning as an object of pure utility or function.
 

call for entry: 2015 NCECA EMERGING ARTISTS

by | Aug 2, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

THEME: Lively Experiments

DEADLINE: September 30, 2014

NCECA’s Emerging Artists
program recognizes exceptional early career artists highlighting them to
an international audience during NCECA’s Annual Conference and
promoting them year round through blog.nceca.net. The awards include opportunities for increased exposure through exhibition and special events.

NCECA believes that those creating work offering
new/exciting/thoughtful perspectives on the ceramic medium, expanding
upon genres of creative production and inquiry are qualified as
candidates for its Emerging Artist awards. An Emerging Artist may be at
the early stages of receiving recognition for his/her work but is
currently underrepresented through exhibitions or publications that
might otherwise bring the work to wide attention. The intent of the
award is to recognize, cultivate and amplify vital, new voices of
creative endeavor in ceramics. The award enables these artists to reach
broader national and international audiences and impact discourse in the
field.”

Because the concept of emergence in the arts does not invariably
correlate with a specific age, or other quantifiable terms, NCECA
requires applicants to briefly describe why they perceive themselves to
be at an emergent point in their careers and how they anticipate the
award will impact the trajectory of their endeavors. The review
committee, at their discretion, may eliminate candidates that are
considered to be beyond “emerging.” Applicants are also required to
provide letters of support from two figures in the field who are
familiar with their work and drive to create. Letters should provide the
selection committee with a sense of confirmation of the candidates’
seriousness of commitment and potential for continued development.

Application deadline: September 30, 2014

Open to: artists working with ceramic materials/processes as a
significant component of their work. A current NCECA Membership, at the
time of application, is required to be eligible to apply for NCECA’s
Emerging Artists. Applicants may not be students.

Full details here.

guest post: “show me your inspiration” with Heather Woodson

by | Aug 1, 2014 | Uncategorized

Heather Woodson

My Work…
I have been an observer of human behavior before my first memories are
able to recall. I have been specifically intrigued with family dynamics
and body language. In my work, I strive to capture a visual
representation of specific emotions or behavioral traits. I work in cone
6 stoneware and a local clay that I mine in my suburban backyard. I use
a combination of commercial and hand made glazes and finishes. Some
works are fired in a Weber grill for a ‘pit fired’ finish and other are
fired to cone 6 in an electric kiln.

Christina Cordova

Artists who inspire me…
Christina Cordova’s ability to capture, express and invoke emotion, mesmerizes me.
Diego Valles, and the Mata Ortiz potters, inspire me to connect with the
earth and traditional methods. I am also in awe of their fluid forms
with simple, yet intricate finishes.
Demetre Chiparus combined metal and stone in the most seamless and
elegant way. His sculptures have their own energies and personalities.

Diego Valles

Demetre Chiparus

Heather Woodson
Ceramic Artist/Instructor
www.heatherwoodson.webs.com
http://hwceramics.blogspot.com

call for entry: Bump in the Night 2014

by | Aug 1, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

Download “WHAT
GOES
BUMP IN THE NIGHT 2014” prospectus
Las Vegas,
Nevada’s Clay Arts Vegas is pleased to present “WHAT
GOES BUMP IN THE NIGHT” an
annual national juried art exhibition, October 1 –
October 31, 2014 at the Victor F. Keen Gallery in
Las Vegas, Nevada. “What Goes Bump In The Night”
will feature that which captures the art of the
sublime, creepy, scary, things that make your skin
crawl and captures the pain of personal suffering:
there are many things in life that go bump in the
night some physical some emotional and some
psychological. All work will use clay as the
primary medium and capture what we fear in the
dark

Awards
There will be a
$300 award for best of show.
Entry
Requirements and Procedures
An artist may
enter up to 3 works, up to 2 images per work.
There is a
non-refundable jury fee of $10 per piece..

Payable
at CLAY
ARTS VEGAS STORE or check,

Application, Photos and fee must be received by
September 2, 2014

Work to be delivered by September 23, 2014