Week 3 MN Nice

In the photo block below Erin is placing her extruded text tiles on the shelf to be fired, the next 2 images show my work area- calendar, test glaze, tiles and tile rack all ready to go. A big thank you shout out to MN NICE graduate Robin for sharing the pothos plant to help green up my work station! The last picture on the bottom right is the very well attended reception for the artists receiving fellowships and residencies in 2015. 

The little pot below is waiting to be fired, inspired by marks made by hammering on metal. Rather than handles, this piece has 2 faces, each struggling with a secret question...

This bowl in progress is in its second stage waiting for the glaze firing to cone 10. It's a continuation of the dysfunctional function concept.

That's it for now!

MN NICE

Two weeks into the MN NICE ( I've learned that here we say it like one word sounds like "mahnice" ) and I have to say it's been a whirlwind!

The first session was an overview the history of Imperial Chinese pottery, review of the get to know you assignment "If your house was on fire what 10 things would you grab as you ran out the door?" And a look at the first group's glaze test tiles.

The next day we visited the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art and discussed the Ceramic exhibition curated by Warren MacKenzie.

My meeting with the incredible Ursula  Hargans set me on the first steps in my course and I am working with a fresh focus in the studio I share with 3 other Nice People.

During Week two we had a presentation by Gary Erickson of Macalester College of his travels in Jingdezhen, China and a hands on demonstration of underglaze decal applications. And back again to more time in the studio!

Tales from the Side of the Road

Some snapshots taken on my trip from Pennsylvania to Minnesota. Traveling through PA, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois on Day one. Headed to the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis for a new fork in the road in my journey in clay.

Bobtown in October

October was a full month an we made a lot of progress at Bobtown Elementary. Sketching the Bobtown Bulldog onto a paper background, learning about artist Chuck Close, and his use of maquettes and the importance of a value scale in his work.

5th graders made a portrait from life of their neighbors across the table using line to create the shape of their features and a value scale of 1-5 to shade it. This reinforced what the learned from their art teacher.