Utilitarian Clay Conference: Celebrate the Object

I have been holding off on posting anything about this until I had the final list of artists and bit more information about the Arrowmont Utilitarian Clay Conference this fall, but the cat is finally out of the bag!  Registration starts in a couple of weeks and it is limited to only 200 people, Wowza! That's not too many!

So sign up right away if you want to go.  Here's the crew of presenters (I am so excited to hang out with these artists for a week!):  Jen Allen · Nicholas Bivins · Blair Clemo · Sunshine Cobb · Molly Hatch · Bryan Hopkins · Brian Jones · Lindsay Oesterritter · Doug Peltzman · Peter Pinnell · Monica Ripley · Emily Schroeder Willis · Deborah Schwartzkopf · Kevin Snipes · Shawn Spangler · Shoko Teruyama · gwendolyn yoppolo 

Top 5 things to do in Seattle during NCECA

#5.  Top Pot Doughnuts

#4.  See some beautiful woodwork at Urban Hardwood

#3. Check out the Grover/Thurston Gallery located at 319 3rd Ave S with Jeffry Mitchell

#2.  Come and visit the Lillstreet Gallery Booth at NCECA from March 27th to the 30th to see some incredible pots from Illinois potters (with yours truly included!)

#1.  And last, but not least!  Come and see the Subtle Change exhibition at Parklane Gallery in Kirkland, WA (it's on the Kirkland/Bellvue NCECA Bus Tour or you can take the 255 bus from downtown Seattle for $2.50).  It features work by Kim Dickey, Sam Harvey, Leanne McClurg Cambric, Emily Schroeder Willis and Holly Walker.  Here is a preview!

Julia

Before

and after

Oh the places we will go

I feel like each month I make a resolution to myself to post more and I continually find myself swamped with more and more things.   I feel like I could break up this post into several different ones, but since we have now moved in February, I feel like I just need to go ahead and do all of them.

At the beginning of last month I did a 2 day workshop at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky and had such a great time!

On the way out to Kentucky I ran into a familiar face, which started a treasure hunt...

 

Every morning when I take the train to my studio/work I see this image, so I think its kind of fun when you run into Andre the Giant in an unfamiliar location!

So, I then began looking for more "OBEY" stickers at the airport and found this one:

So, I am curious if you have bumped into any of these in your travels?

Anyhow, back to Centre College....
We had such a fun time together for the two days.  They have a great studio that is located just off of the train tracks and if I was working there, I would be so interested at all of the things passing by, I think I might have a difficult time working!

 

It's very nice being a pinch potter because there aren't that many tools to bring with you other than your fingers!

Here is a great view of their studio space.  Isn't it awesome?

Everyone was working so hard and making incredible work!  My visit coincided with the beginnings of their "Porcelain Class", so we worked on a few techniques and then left them to their own interpretations.

The other thing I have to add is that whenever I travel to a new place, my absolute most FAVORITE thing to do is to go to the local grocery store.  Call me weird, but I am always so intrigued by what certain areas carry that other parts of our county don't.  For example, in Chicago, we have "Atomic Hot Dog Relish" that is literally neon green and cornmeal crust pizzas.  So, here was my trip to the grocery store in Danville.  I will leave it to your own interpretation as to what would sit at the table were you to be invited over for dinner....  Cheers!

 

Dishing it Up!

This morning I found a lovely little email in my Inbox.  Apparently, I am featured in a new Canadian Design Magazine titled, Pure Green!  I hadn't ever heard about this magazine before, but I am really impressed by the layout and the way they have documented the work throughout. It's quite beautiful!  I ordered my copy today since I want to see what else they have up their sleeve!

Also, if anyone wants to own that little pink and grey delight, it is available through the Lillstreet Gallery.

E is for Edition

So... I am finally going to let everybody in on an idea I have been stewing over for several months.   Beginning in 2012,  I will start limiting the number of cups I make each year and create a 2012 "Edition" of cups, so to speak. 

For those of you who make functional ceramics, you know that often times cups can be one of the most finicky objects to make and you end up investing FAR more time into it, than you could ever reasonably ask.  For this reason,  I will only make 50 cups for the 2012 year.  Each cup will be stamped with the year on the foot and then (if I can figure out a way to make it cohesive and attractive), it will also be marked with its number for that year (ie. 13/50).

All that to say, if you would like to purchase a mug, I would recommend picking one up sooner rather than later!  Here are a few that are still here from 2011 that I haven't posted or shipped off (yet!)

 Cups still available from 2011

A few more that are still available 

Heading to Kentucky!

Centre College

Sorry to any readers for the ENORMOUS lapse in posts.  Things have been busy with expected and some unexpected interruptions.  I will be posting more (hopefully) in the next few weeks with more of the latest happenings.

For some exciting news, last week I was invited to do a workshop at Centre College in Kentucky.  I am really excited to be heading out there and to  meet some new folks!  I haven't ever been to Kentucky before, but last March, Matt and I visited Cincinnati (my first time) and it was beautiful!  I look forward to heading out that direction and hopefully inspire some art making in any budding new ceramicists.

D is for Donut Vault and SOFA

I sincerely feel like no trip to the Loop is complete unless you at least take a peek at the Donut Vault.  The line to get a donut often times runs around the block, but if you hit there after the morning rush, you can usually snaggle a donut or two. 

On Friday morning I took three of our Lillstreet Artists in Residence, courtesy of Bruce Robbins, to the Chicago SOFA exhibition.  I have to say, I am finding myself more and more intrigued with the work from the Intuit side of the SOFA expo, there is something about the naivete of many of the artists that i find more endearing and sincere versus the more commercial SOFA-fare.  Nevertheless, we saw some great stuff and afterwards headed to the Donut Vault for some $1 coffee and gingerbread donuts.  Yum-ee!  Here are some of my favorite shots of the trip!

Totally loving the styling on this Wendell Castle sculptureSuch a nice surface on this Sheila Hicks wall piece, "Convergience II"This Tramp Style Cabinet was amazing! C. 1900-1925, the pinchy surface of it has me spinning with ideas!Another "Outsider Artist", Joseph Yoakum, really peeked my interest with his abstracted landscapes. How he created surfaces and made the landscape do extraordinary things was just beautiful!   Unfortunately, I didn't get the name of this artist, but I really enjoyed the almost grotesquely beautiful still lives that this glass artist composed, it was almost too much to look and the reflection of the light on the glass surface was almost blinding at some vantage points. Mark Pharis had this sweet set of vases at the Lacoste Gallery Booth    ...you realize it is all of these Japanese animae dolls melted together and sliced into this sheet. wow.This piece from the Megumi Ogita Gallery was really great. At first glance it seems like some abstracted painting, then upon closer examination...One more Tramp Style Clock...man I love that surface!

such incredible carvings! 

Then....off to the Donut Vault! The answer is "yes, and even better than they look!"I love Chicago!

C is for Cup Show!

Jayson Lawfer and I have been asked to jury a cup show at the Clay Studio of Missoula.  The applications are due to be received by November 18th, so the deadline is coming up quickly!  It's actually a very reasonably priced juried show - $22 for 2 entries.  Make sure you send in your cups! Jayson and I are really excited about seeing what you all have made!

Here is the prospectus you can fill out and send in with your images!

B is for Bruchenhein

or Eugene Von Brunchenhein, or EVB, whatever you want to call him.  EVB has quickly become one of my favorite artists.  Currently there is a show up at Intuit Museum for Outsider Art of his work.  It is mind blowing!  I went this morning with my studiomate Jen FitzGerald to check out the show. I could probably go and see it every day until it closes and not get tired of it.  Apparently, as I learned today, he dug all of his clay from a clay pit nearby in Milwaukee.  None of his worked was ever fired in a kiln, only in his oven, so the work is extremely fragile.  He also made a series of pieces out of chicken bones.  It is absolutely incredible work.

Eugene Von Bruchenehein, censor vesselEugene Von Bruchenhein, vaseEugene Von Brunchenhein, crownEugene Von Brunchenhein, censor vesselEugene Von Brunchenhein, vaseI love that this sculpture of his turns a mason jar cap into a pedestal!

Eugene Von Brunchenhein, chicken bone sculptureMove EVB chicken bone sculptures

A is for Apple

For the past month, my husband and I have been gorging ourselves on the AMAZING apples we get at the farmers market down the street from us.  It's been so fun trying out new varieties and realizing that there is a whole other world of fruit!  I must say, I have become quite addicted to Northern Spy's, Mutsu's and Melrose apples.  They are delicious!

What I enjoy almost as much as the fruit, are the faces my dear husband makes for me from our fruit bowl before he leaves for work. What an artist! 

I will even put in a few oldies, but goodies. Enjoy!

I like the vitamin "mole"Banana Rama

Not fruit, but I loved it when Matt said he could make a million faces out of any breakfast. A bacon mustache!

Bright eyes

Breakfast face

Pilsen 2nd Fridays

Matt and I have been trying to do a bit more exploring in Chicago.  A lot of times it can be difficult to do this since it seems nearly every weekend there is something happening at Lillstreet that I want to participate in.  But this weekend we headed south and we went to the Pilsen 2nd Fridays event.  WOW. I was really amazed at the quantity of artists who were showing.  There were so many fabulous gallery spaces, it just made me drool. I told Matt, if it wasn't for him, I would be moving in to a new space on Saturday.  Two of the highlights for me were artists Michele Lauriat who made incredible guash paintings that were nearly 12 feet high.  Absolutely stunning.  They completely engulfed the viewer, but what mesmerized me was how she layering the paint and the negative space, which felt to me like lapses of memory in recalling a landscape in your mind. 

York Beach, by Michele LauriatLogging, by Michele Lauriat

The other person who blew me away was designer Chris Jamison.  He founded the workshop, Plywood Office, the work is simple and beatifull crafted.  I want two of the Stripe endtables!

Stripes End Table by Plywood Office

The Horsey Desk, by Plywood Office

Currently.

Here are some show postcards from current exhibitions I am in.  It's always a fun thing when you get a little spotlight!

Here is the card from the Harvest Exhibition in Edwardsville, Illinois at the Edwardsville Art Center

And here is the exhibition card from Willock & Sax Gallery in Banff, Canada.

Enjoy!

Here and gone!

Wow.  I can't believe that it is only about two weeks after I unloaded my last kiln.  Well, the good news is that the refired work turned out quite nice and it filled out my studio space to the brim!  Also, now my work will be available at two new places, the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Overland Park, Kansas and at Willock & Sax Gallery in Banff, Canada.  Good news for you Canadian collectors (wink, wink.)     But the sad news is that I think there are only 5 pieces or so left in my studio from the most recent firing!  I knew there were quite a few shows and galleries that were requesting work, but I really didn't think it was going to wipe me out in the way that it did.  If you are looking for something specific, let me know.  I have a handful of cups that are still available and some serving dishes.  I will post a few studio shots too of a few of the pieces that came out. Enjoy!

Ravenswood ArtWalk today and tomorrow!

If you want to see some of the goods from the most recent firing, you can stop by my studio today from 11-7pm or Sunday 11-6 and I will have my work on display.

My studio is located at 4401 North Ravenswood Ave, Studio #203  in Chicago

This weekend is the 10th Annual Ravenswood Artwalk where hundreds of artists in our neighborhood open their doors for the public.  It's a great way to see some incredible artist and to get out and enjoy this great fall weather.  You can check out the Ravenswood ArtWalk website for more information!

The results are in...

So, things ended up pretty bad out of the kiln. There was a strange occurance where the kiln had a hot spot in the front of the kiln, exactly where the lower cone pack was, giving the illusion that the kiln was one temperature, when it was really about 200 degrees cooler.  I ended up refiring everything in an electric kiln and thankfully, it turned out pretty great.  I will be posting images here and on my Etsy page.  A lot of work is being shipped off to upcoming shows, but you can always contact me if there is something in particular you are looking for.

But in the mean time, you can enjoy my little rainbow of glaze :)

Wizard of Oz

Well, this post has totally shifted gears from what I wanted to do, to what I think it will become.  As I was loading work into my kiln on Wednesday, I kept thinking about the movie the Wizard of Oz.  At the beginning of the movie, it starts in black and white and then it switches to color when the get to Oz.  I was thinking to myself, That is just like firing a kiln!  You glaze your work and the bright blue or green glazes just look like a drab shade of grey, but when you unload your kiln you get that beautiful POP! of color. 

All that to say the past week has been filled with long hours of glazing and finishing a huge kiln load of work.  As any ceramicist will testify the kiln firing is the most nervewracking part:  You make all of your work, put it in the kiln and wait for the results for 2 days.  A lot of times it's also referenced to Christmas anxiety, the similar feeling of seeing your presents under the tree and waiting to unwrap them to find out what you got!

Well,  I debated about not posting after finished my firing yesterday because it could probably go down as one of the worst firings I have ever had!  I won't get technical, but essentially the top of the kiln is undercooked and the bottom of the kiln is overcooked. Ugh.  It went from Christmas anxiety, to complete dread.  I have several shows which need to have work mailed to them on Monday and I am already trying to plot out what  I already have fired that I can send to them.  That's a horrible feeling.

Tomorrow morning I will unload the kiln and find out how bad the damage is,  but until then....

Pro-cess

When I was teaching in Canada, I always loved the way Canadians said the word process.  It always sounded so cute to me, they would say it more like "pro-cess" versus the american "pra-cess".

This summer I was fortunate enough to have an amazing girl email me and ask if she could help me in the studio, how can you say no?  She was so amazing to have around and helped me out with all sorts of smaller projects that I have never quite had the time to get to.  One of those projects was my "pro-cess".  She helped me document the way I work so when people want to know how I make what I make, I can point to a series of images and show them.

So here are Megan Kelley's beautiful images that help document my process:

images by Megan Kelley

Musik

Le Loup BathsE VaxBibioI am ramping up for a big firing in the next few weeks, which means,  I will need to be in the studio more than normal in order to fire this kiln on time to ship off work for shows.  This also means, a lot of time listening to the radio/ipod/podcasts.  My taste in music has changed over the years and I find myself listening more experimental and electronic music (in addition to, of course, Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me, All Songs Considered and This American Life on NPR).  I feel like electronic music is the classical music of modern day; a series of rhythms and textures which often carry the same abstracted narrative quality as so much classical music.   A few groups I have been listening to lately are: Le Loup , Baths, E Vax and Bibio.  I really find it so interesting how they mix together organic and digital sound, with sometimes peppering in a bit of vocals.

This summer while teaching a workshop at Santa Fe Clay, someone asked me what I listen to in the studio.  I have had other people ask me that question, but a lot of times I have equated music type to a specific activity, meaning: the music should be in tempo with the speed in which I should be getting something done.  It wasn't until one day this summer that I went for a run and put on a group which I would normally equate to a slower pace.  I ended up having a fabulous run and I have since shifted how I separate my music out.  All that to say, I am going to be putting my nose to the grindstone for the next few weeks and I am really curious what other people listen to.  If anyone has some fun stuff, feel free to post or email!

Tip toe through the tulips

Well...not quite tip toe and not really tulips, maybe rather, biking through the bonsai's.  This weekend was beautiful here in Chicago and my husband and I went biking from our place down town up to the Chicago Botanic Gardens, which is a MUST do for anyone visiting the city.  It's a little out of the way, but completely worth it!  A lot of inspiration in the color and in the textures.  What a great afternoon! 

Beautiful zinnias Brick wallyes, those are indeed square shaped trees!Lovely pinks and greens

 

Brick Path