sculpture | Musing About Mud

nceca wrap up…

by Carole Epp | Mar 23, 2016 | Uncategorized

Harvard Ceramics looking for a new Artist-in-Residence

by Carole Epp | Mar 22, 2016 | Uncategorized

About the Artist in Residence Program

Application Deadline: April 15, 2016
Notification of Residency: May 9, 2016
Residency Dates: September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017

The Artist in Residence Program through the Ceramics Program, Office
for the Arts at Harvard, offers dedicated artists the opportunity to
involve themselves in research and growth, pushing their art in new
directions in a dynamic, urban studio connected to the Harvard
community. Individuals will have the opportunity to build relevant
skills in research, professional development, technical ability,
creative problem solving, teaching and community involvement through our
Artist in Residence Program.

The Artist in Residence Program offers

Personal studio space (60 sq. ft.) in addition to use of common studio space
7 day studio access
Free access to materials – clay, glaze and use of kilns (electric, saggar, wood fire, soda and gas) up to excess
Opportunities to take classes and firing workshops within the program
Paid teaching opportunities within the program
Solo exhibition in Gallery 224 of work completed during residency
Attend visiting artist workshops and symposium offered within the program
Exhibition/sales opportunities in two annual Show and Sales
Access to studio equipment including slab roller, extruder, spray booth, plaster mold-making room and glaze mixing area
Access to studio lighting and background material for documenting work
Website visibility
Access to Harvard University Library and Museums with provided ID.

Expectations of Artist in Residence

One year commitment
Must spend 20 hours/week of time dedicated to personal work
Must spend 5 hours/week dedicated to work within the program
One public workshop presentation
Provide presentations to classes
Participation in program events and special projects with the Harvard Community
Artist is asked to leave one work for the permanent collection
Responsible for own housing

Application Process

Application can be submitted via hardcopy or provide us with a
link to an on-line, downloadable, file-storage site (i.e. Dropbox):

Resume with personal contact information
Artist statement
Personal statement that reflects your reason for applying to the residency program
10 digital images, plus one optional detail per image. Files in jpeg
format at 300 dpi, with images’ longest dimensions exactly 7
inches/2100 pixels. Each image should be labeled with the following
format:
image number_first initial_last name (example: 1_j_smith.jpg, 2_j_smith.jpg, etc.). Images will be used for promotional purposes upon acceptance to the program.
Corresponding image list. List should address each image by number
in terms of: title, year, size of work, medium/techniques used.
Work should be current and completed within the last 2 years
List of 3 references – please provide, name, title, mailing and email address and telephone.
No discs will be returned if sending hardcopy
THERE IS NO FEE FOR APPLICATION
Notification will be made via email

Send invitation to online, downloadable file storage site:
Kathy King, Director of Education, at [email protected]

If sending hardcopy, mail to the following address:

Ceramics Program, Office for the Arts at Harvard
Attn: Artist in Residence Program
224 Western Avenue
Allston, MA 02134

Important Dates

April 15, 2016 – Application materials must be submitted
April 25 – April 29, 2016
– Finalists will be notified to arrange a phone/Skype interview with
Co-Directors Kathy King, Director of Education and Shawn Panepinto,
Director of Operations.
May 9, 2016 – Notification will be made via email.
May 30, 2016 – Selected artist must accept or decline the residency.

All interested individuals are welcome to visit the Ceramics Program
prior to application and or acceptance. To arrange a visit and receive
more information, contact Kathy King, Director of Education at kking@fas or Shawn Panepinto, Director of Studio Operations and Outreach at panepint@fas or call 617-495-8680.

monday morning eye candy: Zak Helenske – Guest Post by Ceramic Artists Now

by Carole Epp | Mar 21, 2016 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, technical tuesday

Zak Helenske puts to use similar languages to create a thread across different bodies of work. He makes functional pots, installations, and cast iron sculptures. At first glance, these various works and different media may not seem related to one another. However, his different works carry corresponding elements that quietly remind the viewer of his thread of inspirations including architecture, industrial aesthetics, and pattern.

Helenske describes part of his inspiration saying, “I am charmed by the anti-monumental, and challenged by the spatial balance between pottery, architecture, and community.”

Within his pottery, Helenske uses simple, varied cylindrical forms and lightly treated surfaces with remnants of pattern and other line work. The decoration references structures and are reminiscent of blueprints or bridge support cables. By using an atmospheric soda firing method, Helenske sacrifices some control over the outcome of his pottery. This process, though, ties his work together as the soda acts to the porcelain like nature and elements do to architecture.

Helenske speaks of the importance of pottery, “Pots are a part of our domestic infrastructure, facilitating rituals of beauty, nourishment, and gathering.”

Helenske received his BFA from North Dakota State University and his MFA from Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Crafts with a concentration in ceramics and ceramic sculpture. He has been an artist in residence in foundries, casting workshops, and ceramics studios, including Pottery Northwest in Seattle, Washington where he now lives and works.