On Home.

Photo here.

Photo here.

This is a subject I constantly think of.
I was reading through a post Kate wrote about homes and it is such a strong question for me every day. What is home? Where is it? What does it mean? I am constantly asking myself these questions, trying to find answers in the work I make. I am getting closer, everyday, to finding out what quality it is that makes a place a home, but I don't think it will ever be solved for me completely. I think it must be a combination of elements, rather than one specific piece.

Laura Cooperman

Not only does Laura Cooperman have a great first name, but she also creates the most amazing paper sculptures in a subject matter close to my heart.
I've been toying with the idea of using paper instead of ceramics lately. It's much more accessible and more directly relates to what I'm most interested in - the recording of memories.

Visual Territory

On the left, Recollect 3 sits in the gallery

Late in February, I went to the closing of Visual Territory to see the show and pick up my work. It was really nice to see my work surrounded by so many other talented artists.

Sherry Leedy, in her essay said these kind words,"Ultimately the 37 artworks chosen for Visual Territory were distinguished by their maker's ability to transform and transcend purely personal meaning, to reach toward what is universal, and speak to us all."

Jason Laferrera

Maps are getting more and more popular. I found out about these prints on Design Sponge. Laferrera uses historic maps, often from the area the animal is found, to create the image.

Andy Vogt

These sculptures by Andy Vogt evoke an interesting mix of decay and renewal. Click on them to see them in full scale. These cropped versions don't do them justice.

Found via all the mountains...

Hello Again!

The past 4 months have been a bit nuts. I'm still here, currently in a city covered in snow and clad head-to-toe in cozy, cold-deflecting clothing. Right now I'm working 2.5 jobs, reading a little, eating and cooking a lot, and occasionally making something new.

Next month I'll be in an exhibition at Pittsburgh State University, in Pittsburgh, KS titled Visual Territory: Exploring the intimate territories of personal experience and the global landscapes of place and environment. I'm looking forward to it! I want to give my congratulations to some of my friends, Ariel Bowman, Tess Stilwell, and Robert Lugo, all at KCAI.

Also! I updated my resume. Now you can see what those 2.5 jobs are all about.

Houses - Finally!

Photos by Brian Ferry

I have always been a fan of Brian Ferry's photography, seen here on his blog. It always puts me in mind of the best simple moments that beckon from a long since gone past history.

These recent images especially relate to me - and I to them.

Reading

Lately I've been absorbed in this book, The Geography of Home. It has a lot of really interesting ideas about how we as contemporary Americans look at the places we live. I highly recommend it if you're into that sort of thing.

A Quilt, Completed

Pieces of Memories was shown at the KCAI Ceramics Department for the Spring 2010 show. It was also bought! I spent a lot of hours making this quilt and I couldn't have done it without some friends of mine who helped me in the 11th hour before it was hung. Thanks to Lora Campbell and Tess Stilwell!

The quilt pattern was based on a design from a quilt my grandmother, mom and two aunts made for my other aunt when she was married. My aunt has since passed away but my uncle continues to treasure the object made by so many loving hands. Each piece of the quilt was individually made and strung to create the end result. I hope you like it!

I still have to get the other objects I made this semester photographed, which may take awhile. It's good to at least get this one up here.