Dolls & Idols: Ceramics and Felt

At the end of the summer, I fired some work in the Anagama kiln at Salem Art Works. Much of what I fired were limbs (arms and legs) about the size of a baby doll's. Since then, I've been felting bodies and adding beads and buttons. This is the beginning of a body of work exploring the relationship between idols and dolls.

The last piece (below) sits on a mat of felted wool and silk.

Teapot Designs

Deer

Creature

This work is a fusion of the ceramics work I did last year, and my current methods of illustration. It's part of a new body of work. The human limbs are Sculpy painted with acrylic, the body silk with a wire armature.

I'm working with ideas of hybrid animal/humans found in mythology around the world. We relate to the human aspects of such creatures, yet are distrusting of their bizarre combination; they are reviled or worshiped, sometimes both at the same time. The size of these new pieces is that of dolls and playthings, which raises questions over whether the piece is a doll or an idol. Though the stitches show and the methods of creation visible, the materials are rich (silk, gold thread, and gold beads).

Cat

Ceramic arms, legs, and head with blue-black sigilatta.  The tail is posable due to wire armature.  

Camel

Ceramic legs and head with burnished sigilatta.  Back zips open to reveal sewn junk food (pizza, ice cream, cake, hamburger, and doughnut). 

Treeman

Figure sculpted solid during two class sessions with a live model.  Hollowed out, given texture, and branches (which can be removed for easier transportation).  

This piece was glazed with the same glazes as the hand (Adrian Arleo glazes from the Lark figures book) but fired in oxidation.  

Hand

from a continuing studies class at MICA, Spring 2009.  Instructor was the wonderful Trisha Kyner.  

Hand is a little larger than life-size.  

Juried Ceramic Exhibit

There's a juried ceramics exhibit in the Middendorf gallery in MICA's Station Building from March 31st until April 8th. There's a wonderful selection of work from MICA students (though there were just as many wonderful pieces that didn't make it into the show). Pegasus, below, won the Grand Prize!

Pegasus: ceramic with white sigilatta, fabric, wire, and thread.

Solo Show

The ceramic work I did this summer at the Salem Art Works will be on display in the Gateway Gallery at MICA from February 19th - March 10th. The reception is February 27th from 5-7pm.

Finished Pieces

Gorgonack finished with inks.  

Bakemono finished with inks, nail polish, and toy car.

Finished Pieces

Walter finished with inks and gold paint.  

Annabelle finished with inks.

Creatures from the Summer

Skrimsl, glazed ceramic.

Vessel with bird stopper.

Images of Creatures from the Summer

Entling, glazed ceramic.


Ia Kuba, ceramic, inks, nail polish.


Korybantes, glazed ceramic.

Medine, bisqued ceramic.

Monty, ceramic, inks, nail polish.


Thank you to Julie for helping me photograph the work.

SAW

Vessel (bird is the stopper) from the wood kiln.

More from SAW

Frog baby inspired by a conversation with Emily Grey. 

Greenware frog baby

Unloading the wood kiln Amy Anselmo and I built from a pile of hard and soft bricks.

Glazed dragon

Inside the electric kiln

SAW

Cats from SAW

Porcelain cat with boots.  

Monty.  

More from SAW

Three-headed creature on scrap pile (its' natural environment).

Bull in greenware state.  

Ceramics at Salem Art Works

I am currently two weeks into a month-long independent study at the Salem Art Works in Salem, NY.  The pieces in the following pictures were photographed prior to being bisqued.  

The two heads in the middle can be placed on the neck stalks of any of the figures.