emerging artist: Mayumi Yamashita

by | Feb 23, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

Artist Statement:
People make us happy but also angry and disappointed. People are curious but also foolish. We never seem to learn, despite knowing deep down that we’ve taken others for granted and knowing that we shouldn’t have. ​

​Mayumi’s work deals with our emotions, relationships and everyday-life and incidents with a twist and a hint of humour. Why doesn’t humanity learn from mistakes of the past? Why is it that we create things of beauty but we also destroy them? Why is humanity so “wonderful”? She plays with these questions and creates ceramic sculpture inspired by what we do, what we are and how we live. ​

​She aims to create a fusion between man-made and natural forms and objects in her interpretation of humanity. By adding tiny human figures to these forms, Mayumi’s work offers a unique perspective on humanity:​

​​‘Without the small figures, my work might be just an object but as soon as I put teeny tiny people onto the piece, it starts to tell a story itself. I enjoy playing with it and have been fascinated with how the tiny thing affects whole piece.’ ​

​Mayumi’s work is narrative but doesn’t always tell the whole story allowing the audience to project their emotions and ideas into the work and to interpret them in their own way.​

​‘I’m not trying to shake people’s shoulders and tell them that we should appreciate each other more. My work is nothing like as “noble” as that. I just want to see how the audience interacts with my pieces and how they make up their own stories and how they often seem to giggle. That’s all I want.’​

www.mayumi-yamashita.com

emerging artist: Caleb Zouhary

by | Feb 22, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

“The
inspiration for my work comes from food presentation.  People go to great lengths to present their
meals in an eloquent manner, and my work serves to aid in their presentation
through the form, function, and surface treatment of my wares. I reference specific
foods when creating my functional vessels, and I work to create a form that
will compliment that meal to its fullest potential.  My ceramic vessels are based on traditional
forms, but as the designer, I am able to alter them in ways I think will enhance
their functionality.  I further the idea
of presentation in my work by finishing the pieces with colors and patterns
that will compliment the food being served with them.”

www.calebzouhary.com

emerging artist: Judy Abdelaziz

by | Feb 1, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

My
journey into clay began with my love of all things beautiful (art,
music, nature). After taking a pottery class in 2004 I fell in love with
creating beautiful things out of clay. Although in the first few years I
took a few pottery classes, I have further developed my work through
attending many demonstrations and workshops. Most of my development has
been through experimentation.

In 2008 I started selling my work
at art and pottery festivals where my work was done primarily on the
potter’s wheel. My work was functional and very colorful. Then in
December 2012 after taking the class at the John C. Campbell Folk School
with Sylvia Coppola, I now enjoy making most of my pieces with a
combination of slab and wheel techniques. The new pieces are more
decorative, though some remain functional. 


 
My
work has been exhibited at various shows at Mint Hill Arts where
recently I won first place in the 3D category at the Winter Juried show
and in 2011 I won an honorable mention for my tall coffee pot at the
Juried Spring show. Recently I also won first place for my butterfly
cruet at the Summer Art Explosion show at Falling Rivers Gallery as well
as an honorable mention for my Teapot on Fire at the Members Only show
in November. My goal in 2014 is to have my own show at a local gallery. 

New Day Pottery can be found at Art Fairs, exhibits around North Carolina and in various gift shops and galleries. 
Check out my blog or Facebook page for more information and for updates on what’s happening in the studio.

 
Judy Abdelaziz
New Day Pottery

emerging artist: Francesca D’Angelo

by | Jan 26, 2014 | call for entry, emerging artist, job posting, monday morning eye candy, movie day, residency opportunity, show us your influences, technical tuesday

 

 

Artist Statement
My
clay is wobbly
Sliding
swiftly through my fingers
Wobbly
on clay dome. Wobble on
Open.
Pull up. Thin out. Slap around
Sometimes
they make it
Sometimes
they don’t
Toss
it in the bucket
Start
again
Open.
Pull up. Thin out. Slap around
Pinch
it off
Now it
will sit
Sit.
Stiffen up. Be patient
In a
bucket I mix a little of this
A
handful of that
The
mixture is becoming binder. A texture
Score.
Bind. Attach. It looks good there
And
there. I grab another
Score.
Bind. Attach. Step back
The process
is familiar
Working
as a one woman assembly line
Bisque.
Glaze. Fire. Sandblast. Luster
Fire
again
Each
action creating a symbiotic relationship
Bisque.
Glaze. Fire. Sandblast. Luster
Or I toss
it in the bucket
And start
again