Kuraoka Says to Know: Tony Marsh

Second from Kuraoka's 'To-Know' list is Tony Marsh. Marsh is an Alfred graduate and has been teaching at Cal State Long Beach for near 20 years. He is currently the Head of Ceramics, and has been for years. Marsh is most famously noted for his perforated vessels which are a shinning example of technical skill and conceptual prowess. Personally, the artist's work has taught me not to be afraid of subtraction... and also how much fun it is to punch holes in things.

(images via the Frank Lloyd Gallery)

Kosho Ito

I recently read an article about Japanese artist, Kosho Ito. A retrospective is currently up in the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, following a previous retrospective at the Ibaraki Ceramic Art Museum. This is my very first introduction to Kosho Ito, who is a visionary in the world of ceramic art and, sadly, someone I feel I should have already known about. Please take the time to read the article from the Japan Times. It's very interesting and not too long. The area of Ito's work I find most fascinating is the freezing technique he uses to provoke a unique crystallization effect in the clay and slip he uses. I would love to know more about that.

(images via Kalonsnet and ArtCatalyse; article via freakaroni)

Kuraoka Says to Know: Patti Warashina

It's official, the semester has begun. My two studio classes are with the master potter, David Kuraoka. His energy intimidates me a bit, but I'm looking forward to what I presume will be a challenging and rewarding semester. One of the requirements for his classes is to learn about other contemporary masters and artists. Not surprisingly I'm already more than familiar with near half of the artists on the list he's provided us. I thought, however, it would be interesting to those of you reading and useful to me as a student to write about these artists here at (Mud)Bucket.

First from the list is Patti Warashina, one of my favorite ceramic sculptors. Her pedestaled figures are my favorite, though her ceramic and bronze busts are equally impressive. Their gestures, imagery, color, and mixed media details delight my eyes and imagination. The scale of these sculptures, near six feet tall each, is awe-inducing. The artist's work is characterized by a dark sense of fantasy and humor that leaves a wickedly charming impression on its viewers. Warashina is Professor Emeritus at University of Washington where she taught for over 25 years. She is largely responsible for the university's recognition as having one of the nation's finest ceramic programs. Her contribution to contemporary ceramic art can be witnessed in the plethora of younger artists she has inspired.

(images via Jane Sauer Gallery, Texas Tech University, Howard House, and artist's website)

Ginger Markley

I found Ginger Markley's sculptures while reading the glaze catalog for local ceramic supply house, Leslie's. Markley's sculptures pop from the pages (as I'm sure they pop from the pedastals) like the characters of children's storybooks. Imaginative and believable enough to create an engaging wonder. I think Tim Burton ought to hire her right away.

Markley's blog and her Etsy, where I just bought one of her little bunny sculptures. Eek! :)

(images via artist's own website)

Off Subject: Bruce Munro

I know, I know... more light. But that's my thing folks. Nothing makes my jaw drop more. Watching this video I can just imagine myself in that field among all those illuminating bobbers swaying back and forth around me like the wheat fields of some alien terrain light years beyond my imagination and the feeling that image evokes swells inside me almost orgasmically. I can't even imagine what the feeling would be in their physical presence. But that kind of reaction from just a YouTube video... wow. That's the feeling of success from the other side. That's the feeling that makes me love art. See more of Bruce Munro's sculpture on the artist's website.

Thanks, Aesthetic Outburst, for the heads up.

(images and video via Field of Light)

Eva Hild

I can't believe I missed this exhibit at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Eva Hild has got to be one of the most amazing sculptors on the face of the planet at the moment if not ever. I'm kicking myself, right now. I'm actually just very sad to have missed seeing her work up close and personal. Please take a look at the images of her commission work. The bronze sculptures are humbling and look as remarkable in their intermediary states as in their finished ones.

(all images via artist's own website)

Gwendolyn Yoppolo

Gwendolyn Yoppolo makes beautiful pottery inspired by her own fascination with photographing the world around us using an electron microscope. So her work is not only beautiful but also totally kick ass, conceptually. The artist is currently in long-term residence at the prestigious Archie Bray Foundation. Jealous.

P.S. The autobiography on her website is really cute.

(images via artist's own website)

Jason Walker

I went looking back into an old notebook for class for some inspiration the other day and came across a collection of inspiring images I had gathered years ago. I decided to look up several of the artists and the most amazing thing happened. I discovered new work from most of the artists since the time I had compiled the images for my private enjoyment, and, to boot-- the new work was all fantastically more inspiring than the original artwork I had been so intrigued by.

Jason Walker is one example of this. I first discovered his work as pottery. I was inspired by his incredible skill for painting provocative illustrations into his sculptural pottery. His hand was magnificent. It still is, but the artist's work has steered further and further into sculpture and his illustration has become infused with color as opposed to the monochromatic palate that had first captured my attention. To top it off, the statement of Walker's work has become more focused and thus even more provocative. The artist's sculpture pits nature against man in a manner that eerily exposes the reality of this rivalry.

Delicious.

(titled images via Hummingbird Bed & Breakfast; untitled images via Ferrin Gallery)

The Potter

(film directed by Josh Burton, found via Ceramika Sylwia Kolasińska)

accessCeramics

Where have you been all my life, accessCeramics?

Talk about an invaluable resource. This organization seeks to create an online database of images of contemporary ceramic art. Ugh! We have needed this for soooo long. I am so excited to search through their existing database, which is continuously being added to by a panel of curators. Users can search the site for images according to technique, glazes, firing style, etc. If you are a ceramic artist with professional images and a solid artist's statement you are even encouraged to submit your work for consideration as part of the database. Wow- The possibilities! I think I might get lost here.

Frances Lambe

Irish artist, Frances Lambe creates the most beautiful sculptures which perfectly balance the concepts of simplicity and intricacy, a skill I lust after.

(images via artists own website and Jane Sauer Gallery)