Week Four Readings

Citizen Potter

I found the whole Pottery Liberation Front idea to be completely awesome! It’s just such a cool concept and it’s not a form of activism people would generally think of so that makes it even more unique. I also loved the “Pots in Action” idea. The concept of viewing the independent lives that pots take on apart from their makers creates a really intriguing phenomenon. Usually once a piece of art is made and sold the artist has to sever his or her attachment to that piece, but with this idea the artist can still retain a connection to his or her work and see it in new exciting contexts.

Design Revolution

I was really struck by the notion of “feedback-triggered change.” The idea that one’s energy consumption would be drastically changed merely by making the information readily available really speaks volumes to our own ignorance when it comes to use of energy. Basically people aren’t aware of how much they are using, so they don’t care. It seems really simple yet highly effective. I was also intrigued by the author’s ideas about beauty, and how we should look at it as a means to catalyze already great ideas rather than prioritize it over function or human relevance. Seeing beauty as a mere enhancement to something that already has value is a pretty interesting idea.

Week Three Readings

Maxim Velcovsky

I was most struck by his idea that people keep their fine china locked up and use cheap disposable containers every day. I find it interesting that he wants to reexamine the way we view these objects and what we deem precious. It is definitely fascinating how simply changing the material something is made out of can completely changes its context. I was also intrigued by his affinity for porcelain and how he says it’s like magic the way it goes from liquid to stone. It’s a pretty cool way of looking at the whole process and it imbues it with a sense of wonder.

Victor Margolin – Reflections on Art and Sustainability

I found the most interesting question raised in this reading was the idea of how to classify artists who generate ideas and plans rather than objects or actions. I have often wondered if these individuals should be classified as artists as they are not technically creating works of “art” in the literal sense, but yet what they are doing does constitute art. It definitely raises an interesting debate on the difference between art and design, and I doubt there can ever be a concrete definitive answer.

Final Project Proposal

For my final project I plan on making a series of tiles inspired by Islamic tile design. I plan to relate this to my overall body of work, which is an attempt to represent music through painting. In my more recent painting projects I have been exploring the concept of breaking the canvas up into different pieces and using small canvases placed together to form a larger painting. I feel the tile design project would be a natural extension of this idea, and would give me the opportunity to explore these concerns through ceramic design and help further my experience in dealing with the depiction of music through visual art. I plan on focusing much of my attention on the carved lines in the tiles as well as colors in glazing to achieve a musical quality yet still adhere to a symmetrical design.

Week Two Readings

Home Cooking - A Case for Handmade Tableware

I absolutely loved the parallel drawn between pottery and food. The two are so inherently linked as functional pottery is meant to be used with food, but the concept of “fast food” versus “home-cooked meals” is really interesting. I don’t know if I completely agree with it, though. I mean, yeah, the quality and importance of handmade pottery over mass produced store bought pots is obvious, but I don’t think using bowls from Target is as harmful as eating McDonald’s. I never heard of a pot that caused a heart attack…:-p But seriously, I thought it was a really cool concept.

Cups on Loan

 

What a cool idea! I love what they say about wanting to allow people to experience art in their own homes without having to buy actual pieces. It really makes it accessible to people who might otherwise not get the chance to have that kind of connection with handmade ceramics. I also think the idea of taking photographs of the pieces in use adds an interesting dimension to the project and  helps give the pieces a context in which to exist. Overall very neat!

Hoon Lee

Hoon Lee is a Korean-born artist who mainly creates performance based installations. He earned his MFA from New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University and a Master's degree in ceramic art and industrial design from Seoul National University of Technology. He is currently the coordinator of the Ceramics program at Grand Valley State University's Department of Art and Design in Michigan.  He has several pieces on his website; a few more traditional sculptures, a series where he paints slip on the floor, and a series of broken dishes. Honestly, I don't really quite understand his concept since much of the site is written in Korean. However, in his artist statement he says, "In the work, the clay and human body are not mere objects but rather subjects. That is, both I as an artist, and the clay are subjects and are objects. Concepts on the clay and the human body and the results of these concepts yield my work, and this is shown in the expressional form of performance and installation."

Analia Segal

Analia Segal is concerned with re-examining and reshaping the everyday trappings of the home. She has several series displayed on her website, each addressing a different aspect of domestic design. There is one series focused on walls in which she alters wall tiles, a series of carpets where she creates dysfunctional floor mats that introduce the concept of tripping, a series of pencil drawings about architecture, and a series of blinds which explores what we show and what we keep hidden. All of these series focus on altering the design or function of an aspect of architecture or domestic design.

I found the most intriguing to be the walls, as they seem the most aesthetically interesting to me. She states, "A wall is the place where the body entwines with its habitat. It is the arena where sensuality and rationalism coexists." In these installations, she is examining the relationship between one's body and surroundings.  "By manipulating the surface of walls, tiles or carpet, I am transforming the architectural space into a locus for exploration. The fleshy quality they acquire as a result of this interaction reinforces the contrast between the transience of the body and the endurance of architecture. "

Analia Segal's Website

Josh DeWeese

Josh DeWeese is primarily interested in the artistic function of pots in our everyday lives. He uses high temperature clay and processes such as wood firing and soda/salt firing to achieve extreme surfaces.  He also employs a number of different glazing techniques to depict a loss of control and sense of alchemy. He draws an interesting parallel between clay and the human body.“The language of pottery is the language of the body, with necks and feet, bellies and shoulders, and lips to touch our lips. The intimate relationship that develops with use strengthens this association. A personality develops, and the pots become our friends. In this friendship they become reflections of our humanness, and help give meaning to our lives.”

Reading Response

                I really liked the piece by Emmanuel Cooper on page 97. The thing that attracts me most to it is its unique gravelly texture. I just want to touch it! One of my favorite elements of sculptural work is texture, and I love work that elicits a tactile response (I hate going to museums and galleries and not being able to touch things!!) I find it interesting that he uses roads and pavement as his inspiration, as those are not usually things that you would think of as inspiring. In his other work on this page I really admire the colors and application of glazes. The difference in texture and design between the gravelly pot and the colored bowls is pretty remarkable.

                The other artist who stood out to me was Kochevet Bendavid on page 101. I love the craftsmanship of her work; it’s so gestural and organic. It kind of reminds me of times when I was throwing and I completely lost control of the vessel and it came out lopsided and weird looking. Those were always my favorite pieces! They were just more interesting to me. I know her distortion of conventional form is intentional and deliberate, which makes it even more impressive. The application of glaze and the colors she uses are also quite intriguing. These sculptures really invite the viewer to take a close look and pose many questions as to the meaning of the work.