Mug Sale Coming Up!

Please join us for our annual Mug Sale Wednesday March 6th 9am-3pm in Jenkins Fine Art Building Lobby.  Free coffee, tea, or hot cocoa with every purchase!

 

Carrie Longley and Autumn Brown visit ECU During Metals Symposium

During last week’s ECU Metal Symposium artists Carrie Longley and Autumn Brown shared their techniques for combining clay and metal.

Carrie Longley demonstrated her use of China Paints, slip, trailing, carving and press molding.

Carrie is currently an Assistant Professor of Fine Art at Indiana University East, and holds a BA in Studio Art from Wittenberg University, and an MFA from Indiana University.  Her work investigates the relationship between the art object and scientific specimen, celebrating the space between illusion and reality.

In the workshop, Carrie used a solid chunk of Cone 6 stoneware to hand-build her forms.  She added the basic textural or structural surface then dissected the piece by hollowing it out.  After bisque firing she performs a series of glaze firings, beginning with a satin translucent green covering the entire piece.  Finally, china paints are used to create the effect of bruising, and layers of washes are used to emphasize textures.

Autumn Brown demonstrated how she creates porcelain tiles and places them in a copper setting to make broaches, necklaces, and sculptural objects.

Autumn holds a BFA in Metalsmithing from the University of Georgia and received her MFA in Metal Design from East Carolina University.  Currently she teaches Metalsmithing and Design at Pitt Community College and helps run a studio space called Dirty LAM in downtown Greenville, NC.

Autumn uses Cone 6 oxidation porcelain to carve and press-mold channels for melting enamels and various metals.  She fires the porcelain with the metal in an enameling kiln at 1500-1535 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes.  The decorative porcelain pieces are then set into constructed metal frames with clutching prongs that hold the porcelain into the metal backing.

For more images of these workshops click the album below:

ECU Metals Symposium: Carrie Longley and Autumn Brown

Senior Shows: Daniel Kennington and Jessica Barrett

Graduating Seniors Daniel Kennington and Jessica Barrett installed their senior exhibits at the Greenville Museum of Art this month.  Their mixture of functional and sculptural ceramic work carried a theme of mapping and recording both manmade and natural landscapes.  The result is a combination of carefully carved lines and irregular wavelike patterns that work together as a delightful melding of the organic and the rigid.

Daniel Kennington takes inspiration from his travels and the innumerable memories generated along the way.  Kennington maps his excursions by drawing topographical maps on the surface of his pieces as a way of permanently recording each journey.

Jessica Barrett’s work displays representations derived from large patterns that emerge after layers of the earth’s surface are worn away by erosion.  Barret describes her work as “abstracted environmental art, grounded in pleasure and aesthetics”.

For more photo’s of this event click the album below.

Senior Shows

Wood Firing at Blue Hen Pottery in Seagrove, NC

Guild members traveled to Seagrove last week to fire the wood kiln at Blue Hen Pottery.  The kiln was built last year with the help of guild members (Click here to see photos), at the home and studio of ECU MFA Alumni Anne Pärtna.  Anne invited guild members back to fire the kiln, camp out, and share good food and a few laughs.

While in Seagrove, the group took a trip to Seagrove potter Daniel Johnson’s studio.  Daniel showed some works in progress and talked about his processes and the challenges of running a pottery studio.

 

To see more photos of the firing and Daniel Johnston’s studio click the album below.

Seagrove Nov 2012

Jason Briggs Visit

To sum up our time with Jason Briggs last week I have three words: bizarre, hilarious, and marvelous.  He is open about his materials, processes, and dealings in the art world, and as you can see from his website he adds a bit of humor to almost everything.

We spent most of our time with Jason talking about ceramics, making art in the real world (i.e. after school), and sky vodka.  I’d say we pretty much figured it all out.

The processes Briggs uses to create his intricate works are tedious and careful, but instead of sitting through long awkward silences while he smooths a tuft for the 100th time, Briggs tells jokes and stories, along with some professional advice and crowd banter.

Thanks to Jason for making the trip to Greenville, and sharing advice, techniques, and fun times!

For more pictures of this event click the album below:

Visiting Artist Jason Briggs

Visiting Artist Jason Briggs Comes to ECU

Ceramic sculptor Jason Briggs is visiting us this week for a demo and lecture.   His sculptural work is often surprising and provocative, resembling body parts, upholstered furniture, and stretched skin.  He uses clay, steel, and hair (yes hair!) to create his sometimes creepy, sometimes sexy sculptures.

“Though my objects contain strong visual references, I am more interested in the implied tactile ones; the things that stir in me a compulsion to touch.  Beyond other external inspiration lies this basic, primal impulse. I recognize – and act upon – a profound desire to push, poke, squeeze, stroke, caress, and pinch.” -Jason Briggs

Jason will be here Thursday and Friday, November 8th & 9th.  This event is free and all are welcome!  See tentative schedule below:

 Thursday, November 8, at J-102 Ceramics Survey Room

9:30am     Artist Talk
11:00am   Demonstration
Noon       Lunch (location TBA)
1:30pm    Demonstration
4:00pm    Afternoon Break
6:00pm    Roundtable Discussion with Students

Friday, November 9, at J-102 Ceramics Survey Room
9:00am     Demonstration
11:30am   Lunch (location TBA)
1:30pm    Demonstration
4:00pm    Wrap-Up

Nina Hole Fire Sculpture in Cary, NC

This weekend a few guild members traveled to Cary, NC to take part in the Nina Hole Public Sculpture event at the Cary Arts Center.

Nina Hole’s Assistants working on the top of the sculpture.

We helped roll out and cut slabs that make up the huge sculpture.

….and learned about how they construct the piece, then fire it in place.

To see more pictures click on the album below:

Nina Clay Fire Sculpture in Cary, NC