Through the depiction of guardian figures, tomb sculptures and shrines, I depict my community current and forthcoming. Join me in the creation of a new figure. It might be human, it might be animal, it might be magic. Working from drawings, I’ll use basic slab and modeling techniques to make and assemble a two foot sculpture. The head will be made and altered from a press mold and the body decorated with sprigs. I will also briefly discuss finishing techniques. BIPOC and need-based scholarships available; please email [email protected] for details.
Born and raised in the border city of El Paso, TX, George Rodriguez creates humorous decorative ceramic sculpture addressing his identity and community. Brought up by his mother and four older sisters, George quietly observed the love and hard work needed to maintain his family and community. His art began to manifest as search for his individualized voice and propelled him to infuse journal like representational sculpture with humor and sweetness. George received a BFA in ceramics from the University of Texas El Paso then went on to receive an MFA from the University of Washington. His world curiosity grew as a recipient of a Bonderman Travel Fellowship where he traveled the world through most of 2010. His work can be found in the permanent collection of the National Mexican Museum of Art in Chicago and the Hallie Ford Museum in Salem, OR. George is represented by Foster/White Gallery in Seattle, WA and is the Artist in Residence at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture in Philadelphia.
Learn how Yoko creates intriguing and layered surfaces through her techniques for working on a wet clay surface, including sgraffito, carving, and underglaze painting. She will also demonstrate how she creates her own stamps, combines different surfacing techniques, and paints with glazes to create a unique appearance. Yoko will introduce the tools, materials, and process she uses as well as the cone 5/6 oxidation glaze formulas she fires with. If you are interested in adding more details to your pots or sculptures, this is a perfect indoor adventure to explore at home!
BIPOC and need-based scholarships available; please email [email protected] for details.
Yoko Sekino-Bové was born in Osaka, Japan. She worked as a graphic designer before her passion for ceramic art took her onto a new path. After receiving an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Oklahoma, Yoko moved to Washington, Pennsylvania, and started working from her home studio. Her porcelain work has been exhibited in galleries, museums, and most importantly, many private homes (mainly kitchens). Yoko participated in several residencies, such as the Arts/Industry residency at John Michael Kohler Art Center, the Archie Bray Foundation, and at Cerdeira Village in Portugal. Her work has also been shown in Canada, Portugal, Japan, Latvia, Turkey, Dominican Republic, and South Korea. Her works are featured in “500 cups”, “500 platters and chargers”, “500 teapot volume 2”, “Humor in Craft”, and “Cast” as well as a variety of periodicals. She writes articles for The Pottery Making Illustrated Magazine and Ceramics Monthly Magazine.
August 18th, 2020 is the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, giving women in the US the right to vote.
Who gained the right to vote when the 19th amendment was ratified on August 18th, 1920? The amendment stated that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.” It was a partial victory, but who was still excluded? Native Americans, most Asian Americans, and although African Americans were technically included, it was not until the 1965 Voting Rights Act that racial discrimination was prohibited. Even today, many BIPOC citizens still face disenfranchisement.
We are taking advantage of this anniversary to celebrate the work for women’s rights that has been done, while simultaneously acknowledging the work that remains. Statistics show that women earn only about 80% of what men earn, while women of color earn only 65% of what white men earn.[1] The US Congress is only 23% women,[2] and we still have not seen a woman president. The struggle of trans and woman identifying people is still in its infancy. These facts are the tip of the iceberg of remaining disparities that we must continue to dismantle.
Women have fought hard in so many ways, against extreme injustice, to gain a foothold for themselves and others, for their children, and for all children. This work, both public and private, is deserving of celebration and admiration.
We asked 50 artists to each choose two women they admire and honor them by making a modern-day commemorative plate. We welcome all perspectives on this topic, and we embrace a wide definition of women, transgender, and female identifying people. The people each artist chooses can be famous, anonymous, or their own private inspirations. The artists selected reflect the true wide range of cultures and gender identities of people making art in clay. By choosing artists across cultures and gender identities we welcome an illustration of women important to each artist within their varying experiences.
We are excited to present commemorative plates dedicated to women who these artists feel embody the spirit of female empowerment, and who deserve recognition for their contributions to society.
We look forward to walking into a gallery of heroes who will inspire us to keep fighting for justice and equality.
[1] “Racial, gender wage gaps persist in U.S. despite some progress”. Pew Research Center. July 1, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
[2] Women in the US Congress 2020, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University.
[1] “Racial, gender wage gaps persist in U.S. despite some progress”. Pew Research Center. July 1, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
[2] Women in the US Congress 2020, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University.
Cover Photo: Sue Tirrell
The Clay Studio National is a biannual exhibition that showcases the wide range of ceramic art being made in the United States today.
Exhibition Dates: June 20th – August 2, 2020 – Reception, June 20th
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to the current situation we have made some changes to this year’s exhibition in order to best benefit artists.
Lauren Sandler is the Assistant Professor and Program Head of Ceramics at Tyler School of Art, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
Sandler is an artist and educator whose work deconstructs mythologies and investigates narratives of power and perspective. With fragmented forms, allegorical vessels and mundane assemblages, Sandler amplifies interdependence, highlights stories obfuscated or erased and implicates our assumptions of normal and worth. With a background in anthropology, she examines the myriad chronicles told by objects and develops work where the visceral and structural meet a shared intersection of body, culture and history.
Full Details and Application HERE.
