Artists Describing Their Art:
Alyssa Parsons - As an artist, I am dedicated to creating functional pottery that serves a purpose in everyday life. I am particularly drawn to crafting cups, planters, and bowls, as I believe that these items are essential to any household. Working with clay is an incredibly rewarding experience for me. I love the way it allows me to push beyond my comfort zone and experiment with different forms and shapes. When Im working on the wheel, Im always surprised by the final product, as clay has a mind of its own and often doesnt turn out the way I had envisioned. The glazing process also has a rewarding ending. Glazing consists of different reactions when exposed to high temperatures and even the same glaze can come out differently every time. Yet, this unpredictability is part of what attracts me to the medium. Clay is soft and malleable, and it responds to our touch in a way that few other materials do. When introduced to heat, it transforms into something strong and sturdy, capable of withstanding the rigors of everyday use. This transformation is fascinating to me, and it inspires me to create pieces that are both beautiful and practical. ...
Skip Bleecker - Art Forms Most of my work consists of wheel thrown porcelain forms based on organic patterns of microscopic and macroscopic organisms. Some are based on seed pods, teeth, pollen, sea animals, squash, and even watermelon, but as the development proceeds, they merge and take on new forms of possible and imaginary organisms. All are hand made, one of a kind pieces, usually done in a series, so there might be some similarity among some pieces, but no two are ever exactly alike. Seed Pods For most of my life, I have been both attracted to and very allergic to, large numbers of trees, grasses, and bushes. I have refused to become trapped indoors just because of these allergies, and as I began to develop my own sculptural forms, I examined both macroscopic and microscopic forms in nature. By examining the form and structure of seeds and other natural objects, I found great beauty in these simple forms, and developed simple organic sculptural designs, based on slightly abstract versions of these natural objects. ...
Riley Young - I started to work with ceramics because it was a medium that held me accountable. There are no shortcuts or cheats in ceramics, it takes time and patience. Ceramics was also a way for me to rethink the everyday, common objects in my life. This began as an obsession with bowls and has since spiraled into anything you can find in a kitchen. I enjoy the fact that everything is made to be touched, loved and eventually broken after years of use. Working primarily in stoneware using clean, simple glazes on functional pieces of pottery I bring into focus the beauty of everyday kitchen objects. Although the materials guide that first encounter, the form follows suit. I create works that fit in the hand perfectly, with an emphasis on touch and feel, enhancing our simple, everyday moments. We all have different relationships with objects that are handmade versus commercially produced. Handmade objects often have a personalized feel, almost as if to be communicating an emotion. This is a collection of various works that showcases a variety of different techniques and mediums. I bring the philosophy of touch and texture from my ceramic works into my two dimensional works such as ...