Week 3 - I’m Productive
This week in class, we finished going over everyone’s semester plans, and welcomed Jesse Albrecht for a demo/artist talk, as well as a mixed media show in the gallery upstairs. I really enjoyed Jesse’s talk and demo — I appreciate his fluid approach to throwing and making, and found a lot of value and wisdom in how he spoke about his artistic practice and life experiences. It was also great to connect with Jesse over Montana; he lives just 45 minutes from where I’m from! I hope to check out his studio next time I visit home.
Outside of class, I put in ~8 hours this week coiling and refining details on my monolith base. It’s sitting just shy of 36” at the highest point. About 6 more inches to go. I’m getting nervous about how heavy this thing is. I’m hoping that I built the bottom 1’ thick and structurally strong enough to support the other 2.5’ of clay on top. I’m also nervous about how my plan for building the middle part will pan out. More on that to come.
I also spent ~8 hours applying for a spring residency at Hambidge in north Georgia. I applied for a summer residency last winter and didn’t get it. I feel that this application I just submitted is 100% better than the former, though, and I intend to keep applying until I’m awarded a residency, so I’m glad to have met the earlier deadline this year. I feel so much more confident in my portfolio and in articulating what my work’s about. This is the first of many residencies and opportunities I’ll shoot my shot at this fall, and it felt like a good warm up for those. Plus, I updated my artist statement using some of the new writing.
Other things:
My big Propriocepta ring is now installed at the Louisville Art Center, thanks to help from Molly and Drew. They let me suspend it right in the middle of the show, which was awesome.
I broke a goblet. Put it to rest for now next to my stool by the kiln yard. ):
To leave with some good news, my piece in the Clay National XVIII at Carbondale Clay Center received the “Staff Selection” (second place) award! I’m really honored. And the extra cash is awesome, too.