guest post: “show us your influences” with Amanda Barr

by | Jul 26, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

So you may have noticed that starting last friday I’ve begun (what will hopefully become) another weekly feature on the blog. Inspiration comes from numerous obvious and sometimes less clear sources. Fridays will now be a chance for readers of musing to share what inspires them.  So drop me a line with a few lines about you, your inspirations (3 artists, not neccessarily clay based) and some images and join in the fun!
Thanks in advance
xoxo
carole

My inspirations by Amanda Barr:
Author Neil Gaiman
Molly Hatch
Jason Bige Burnett
My
work is very much a reflection of my personality; bright, colorful, and
highly imaginative. Reality has often been painful, so I and in turn my
work, seek escape in other worlds. Seeing creatures in passing clouds,
dreaming of alternate worlds, delving into books about eras long past
make each day a new and fun adventure, for myself and I hope those who
use my work.
Neil
Gaiman writes some of the best science fiction and fantasy worlds in
literature today. His writing is funny, sad, exciting and above all
heart-felt. From his adult fiction (Startdust, Neverwhere, Anasi Boys,
Sandman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane) to young adult and children’s
books (Coraline, The Graveyard Book, Chu’s Day) he has never failed to
capture me completely. His 2012 commencement address-turned-book “Make
Good Art” is my go-to when I need extra motivation to keep going.

Jason’s
work has that blend of simple (form) and complex (surface) that has,
since I first saw a piece several years back, called to me. Playful yet
poignant, his work is everything I’ve strived to create. His subtle
manner of storytelling is some of the best around, and of course he is
as beautiful a person as his work.

 

Molly
Hatch’s work first spoke to me because of the historical references- I
loved Wedgewood long before I ever began working with clay. Her more
recent design work- moving into fabric, wallpaper, glassware- is
something I am fascinated with and would love to someday do myself. What
I love most about Molly is how she has elevated the functional pot into
artwork with her displays of teacups and teapots in frames and of
course her “plate painting” pieces such as Physic Garden with the High
Museum. 

Layered: Collaborations by Simon Levin & Amy Smith

by | Jul 9, 2014 | Uncategorized

Simon
Levin and Amy Smith are two artists that AKAR has represented
individually and then together in group invitationals with their
collaborative sets. On July 11th they will have a solo show entitled, Layered: Collaborations by Simon Levin & Amy Smith.
 

Lincoln,
NE artist Amy Smith and Gresham, WI artist Simon Levin have been
working individually in their studios, but jointly in concept. Shipping
work back and forth, they design pieces that are compelling and
articulate, that remain independent, yet enhance each other, creating a
whole that is greater.

This is a true dialogue between pieces, a literal back
and forth of making, refining and developing, a conceptual and formal
evolution evidenced in the paired pieces, where visions combine while
the essence of each is upheld, creating something new, unexpected and
compelling.

Amy’s calming porcelain pieces are cold and crisp while
Simon’s wood fired work is full of dramatic surface, but what they have
in common is the showcasing of raw clay. Once their pieces are paired
they reflect off each other and create something surprising and
beautiful. Amy and Simon’s collaborative pairings are unique not only
because of the contrast within their sets, but unlike most
collaborations these two have never worked on the same piece or even
step foot in the same studio.

Layered: Collaborations by Simon Levin & Amy Smith
opens this Friday, July 11th, at 9:30 AM in the Iowa City gallery and
online at 10:00 AM CST. View the show at www.akardesign.com.