Exhibition installed

Monday was the reception for my exhibition at the Kaneko Gallery, American River College Sacramento. Last Friday, not wanting to take risks with students bumping into ceramic works, we installed the majority of the pedestal pieces in two central islands. In addition there are two on pedestals against the wall and two hanging works. There was a large turnout of students during the reception and I had the opportunity to talk about my work and answer questions. I'll return on Dec. 3rd for a second reception and on the 4th to speak to a class. There are eleven ceramic pieces on view, six of which were created during the previous three semesters.

Meanwhile, I've made some additional small elements for the works already posted. The new longer artificial turf is supposed to arrive next week at long last after which I'll finally be able to have them professionally photographed. It has taken multiple phone calls and emails over a month for it to be delivered. I've started tracking down boxes for shipping the wood/steel bases. Unfortunately the quote for shipping tubes was prohibitively expensive. Last weekend I went to the Berkeley Art Museum and  Berkeley Art Center exhibitions. The Art Museum had large scale installations by the graffiti artist Barry McGee. I found several great resource books there as well. The Berkeley Art Center's "Local Treasure" was a powerful show of ceramic sculpture by Richard Shaw, Annabeth Rosen, Pete Voulkos, Stephen De Stabler, and Nancy Selvin.

In the details

My current studio time is all about refinement and detail. Now that I've finished my research paper on Beauty and the Grotesque, I'll be fine tuning the work from this semester. I'm so glad Jann suggested I do something with the opening under the hanging form. I found small sewing pins and poked them through the artificial turf. This spiky bulge reflected in the mirror adds another layer of mystery and intrigue.

detail of reflection in mirror

larger detail

full view

Next I'll be cleaning polishing the steel elements in the pedestals. On the "Vagabond" piece, the slant has been corrected and welding is now tacked from below but the steel is very uneven with color. Jann also suggested I make the wood grain less visible so I'll be sanding and repainting the plywood surfaces as well. I am still waiting on the more realistic remnants from Turf Evolutions to complete the other works.

I've trimmed the base to a round on the wooden pedestal; the square form didn't seem to fit. There are now more piano wire "feelers" and I'll also make more "blobs" to hang off of the slats. I'll substitute the taller turf in the base when it arrives.

new piece & images

These pieces were presented to Jann Nunn yesterday. They are nearly finished but need some refinement in both pedestal and appendages. The welder agreed to modify the last pedestal due to not meeting my initial specification of a 30 degree slant and for cleaner welds at the mid point. I am going to repaint the wood component of the steel pedestals grey, clean & polish the steel, and make some additional "drips," among other things.

Towards completion

There really isn't a good place to photograph the new work in my studio. I'll bring them to be professionally photographed when done. Yesterday I picked up the three welded pedestals and a metal hook for the fourth piece. The ceramic form that rests on the wooden pedestal is back in the kiln for its fourth firing; the others mostly had three.

I'll post the wall piece after completing the mount for it. The wood forms and mirror have been cut and it just needs to be put together and painted. These works (plus the one not photographed yet) will be presented on Monday to mentor Jann Nunn. Titles haven't come to me.

This piece was created in the last studio session but was waiting the fabrication of the pedestal.

The bottom piece is back in the kiln.

This piece is also in the kiln for another round of color. It is hard to see, but there are ceramic pieces hanging off the wooden framework as well as one that is suspended down the center. It also has piano wire appendages with plastic ends.

"Stretching Function"

Last night was the reception for the "Stretching Function" exhibit at the Davis Art Center Tsao Gallery. The clear plexi stands under the pedestal works provide lift and make them appear to hover. These are my bowl forms included along with 10 other artists' work. It runs from 10/11 through 11/18. I have works in 3 other group shows in Sacramento, Woodland, and Davis. Next month, I'll be sharing the Kaneko Gallery at American River College, Sacramento with a 2-D artist.

New pedestal

The welder I had employed to fabricate the steel elements of the pedestals dropped out of the picture. I'm meeting with someone new tomorrow. Meanwhile, I've built a new wooden pedestal for a piece that is cooling from the bisque firing. No photos yet so I trust it didn't blow!  The three most recent works should be out of the kiln by morning. There will be some ceramic forms resting (dripping) through the woodwork and another suspended down the middle.

stand in progress with clay forms nestled in

complete except for top board

another view

in the works...

The welder returned the first completed pedestal because there was too much tension on the rods for him to work with. Although I thought the holes were measured out, it turns out the spacing was irregular. The wider rods were not really what I wanted anyway so I bought a third (or is it fourth?) set of 5 steel rods and had them cut shorter to alleviate the pressure outward. Although there is more "slop" in the new holes, the tension is gone. Some of the wood forms will need lots of putty to fill those old holes or re-cut. I really hope that this pedestal can be welded so I can move forward!  There are two more to be built plus a wall mount. The next one up is more complicated. I hate spending so much time with pedestal fabrication instead of clay!  That said, I've just started building a wooden framed pedestal for a fifth piece yet to be made. I am literally working from the ground up this time.

This new piece hangs from the wall and a hook. I need to hand build one more piece to fill the kiln before firing it up. Two are ready to be bisqued at this point.

total height 25.5" x 6"w, top to hang a hook and rest on a mirror, bottom part hangs below

template for wall mount

side view of wall support

Pedestal prototype for piece shown in previous post. 

It slides through the middle while another part flows off the base.