Ok, now my stuff...

Not everyone has seen my work from this summer, so here are some of the highlights. My focus was tactile functionality. I wanted to create some pieces that created interesting tactile experiences, but remained completely functional. Here are some of the pieces.

New Work

Finally have something to post up here!  I have three ceramic pieces in an art exchange show between three colleges in the Harrisonburg, VA area.  The show is called "Three" and is between Bridgewater College, Eastern Mennonite University, and my school, James Madison University.  There are a few students with work in the show from each of the three schools.    

One is a non-functional (dysfunctional?) combination between a cup and a teapot, titled "Both Ends Up." The other thrown piece is combinations of wheel-thrown vase forms attached end-to-end and glazed together in groups of three.  The wall-hanging is based upon an idea I had in a sculpture class, thinking of the idea of how things define a landscape, the way humans mark nature...and thus we have the tree that branches into telephone poles.  Let me know what you think!  

Christine

teapot incident...

so i put my teapot in a show at second friday in lititz. i knew i shouldn't have put it out, but i was a little too vain and put it out in spite of my gut feeling that something terrible was going to happen to it. Sure enough, the wind blew my friend's painting over onto it and the handle shattered off. I guess it's not that big of a deal but I would really like to try and glue it back together, but i can't find anything that works. I tried an all purpose crazy glue and it got some of the handle together, but it won't attach to the body of the teapot. Any suggestions? oh and the lid is fine though i just didn't put it on.

Summer is coming....

So summer is coming, (or is already here for a few of you). I think one of the ways to make this blog work is to make and share new things. We see what each other makes in class, so it isn't that big of a deal to have it online. We'll need some projects to do over the summer so we can share individual solutions to some common themes. I don't want to be the one that initiates the projects.... I do that all year long. I'd like to hear from you. Any ideas?

the call out...

I'm officially calling out Christine for some picts. Being the only non-PA member, I think it's your obligation to represent the James Madison's. (JMHS and JMU for those unfamiliar) Do it.

You should see.

Keeping an eye on the exhibition world, this looks like a winner. It's at the Clay Studio in Phildelphia. Best place to see clay work in Pennsylvania.

Their blurb:
"This Exhibition highlights small works, sculptural, functional and decorative objects. Each artist was asked to create a work using a wall mounted plexi-glass cube, 4"L x 4"W x 4"H. What they chose to do with the cube was up to them. Most created objects that fit comfortably within the confines of the box. Some chose to break out of these confines. All however, celebrate the diminutive object and truly demonstrate that size doesn't always matter."

Click Here to see the show

Artists of the month

It's ladies night at the NCAN. Here are two amazing women's websites that all should see. Very different in their style, but equally masterful in their skill. Shanna and I took our classes together at JMU, and I was able to meet and work with Margaret on a number of occasions when I lived in VA. Check it.

www.shannafliegel.com
www.margaretboozer.com

So maybe I was wrong...

I finally figured out why nobody has been posting...... because nobody can.... I have to assign who can post new material, and I somehow missed that along the way.... I'll need to send you another email, and then after you accept, you'll have the same privileges that I do. Sorry for the confusion and the threat of violence.

When pots are like socks.

Opening a kiln is often compared to opening a present on Christmas morning. You have hopeful expectations and an anxious excitement to see what the kiln fairy has brought you this fine day. Many times you open the kiln to find exactly what you've always wanted, it's the best present ever! And sometimes you get socks. You pick them up hoping for a hundred dollar bill hidden below, but low and behold, you've got a pair of socks.
Tonight was supposed to give the Christmas presents I've always wanted. Three firings, 10 pots, and my three metal raku cans all lined up ready to give me gifts. Argyle socks, dress socks, sport socks, and the socks I'm sure I'll never be able to match once they go in the dryer for the first time.
It's just the way things go. Even those of us who feel like we have somewhat of a grasp on how to do all this often fall flat on our face. We just normally don't post it on the internet.
The reason for this post isn't to brag that I got some fabulous new socks. I just wanted to try and find some humor in what has been a night of over firings, thin glazes, over and under reductions, and just downright ugly pots. Hooray for clay.

On posting.

I'm hoping that your screen looks like mine, because if it doesn't, and you can't post images, The NCAN is going to have to move....
In the top right of the screen there should be some options. Click on "New Post". A new screen should come up and if you are half tech-savvy, you should be able to figure it out from there. If you can't figure it out, send me an email, include your address, and I'll come over and smack you. It's not that difficult. Happy posting.

So who'll be first...?

Who wants to be brave and post something to get critiqued? Pictures are fun.

The Nixdorf Ceramic Alumni Network

So......... while i despise the term "blogging" because of it's connotation with being a bunch of weirdos sitting behind computers gossiping about the coming and goings of other weirdos, generally amounting to nothing more than wasted bandwidth. Not here... not me. I have/foresee a problem that will happen in the near future. I'm going to lose my mind very soon, and will quickly lose touch with many of you. While many of you are creating wonderous things in college, and will hopefully continue beyond, we don't have a forum for sharing. I want to know what you're making, what you're interested in, and what questions you might have. The best thing about the ceramic world is the sense of community and sharing. While I'm trying to conquer the world through the ceramics room here at Warwick, I may need you, and you may need me. This is our place to share, critique, comment, harass, complain, ask, and praise your high school ceramics teacher. We can all help each other, and above all, give me a little glimpse into the creations of your art world. I hope this works.....