Newest Wall Sculptures - Spring 2012

Is tomorrow really, June 1st? Where does the time go?

In late March I was contacted by Harris Warren Gallery in Wake Forest, NC and arrangements were quickly made for a June exhibition. Well, here we are - Goodbye Spring. Hello Summer. It's been a whirlwind, but I'm proud to say that I completed 4 new wall sculptures for my show "Variegated Disposition" opening next Friday, June 8, 2012.

Anthocyanin, earthenware, 27” x 38” x2", May 2012

Continuation, earthenware, 31" x 35" x 2", May 2012

Dissipate, earthenware, 30" x 12" x 2", May 2012

Provide, earthenware and cast glass, 27" x 15" x 2", May 2012

 In addition to these, I'll also have 4 other works on exhibit. If you're in the area, please stop by.

Oh yeah, and there's one other work in progress...

 Baby #2 (aka "Peanut") is due in September.

What an exciting Spring it's been indeed! Now onto surviving the hot Summer months of Florida!

Cheers!
Meagan

New Sculpture - Tribella familiea

Well, the progress was slow but the pace was steady. I finally finished up this piece and had it photographed just before the holidays. (Thank you Charlie Cummings for the wonderful photos!) 

Tribella familiae
earthenware, cast glass, steel, found objects
20" x 10" x 11"
2011



I'm excited about this piece. It presented a lot of technical challenges that I slowly hammered my way through. (clay shrinkage to account for, found objects to add, glass to cast, and then recast, etc)



As with any new sculpture, I can see places I'd like to develop further in the next piece, but that's what keeps the work exciting. Growth and change. And there's been a lot of that going on around here lately. Our "baby" is almost 15 months old and he keeps his Mama on her toes! Sometimes juggling everything feels like a 3-ring circus, but I'm learning to embrace the chaos and relish studio time.


Cheers to a New Year!
Meagan

"Silver Lining" - newest mixed media sculpture

There are always challenges with new work.

Aesthetic challenges. (Does that look too much like an alien head?) Technical challenges. (Did this piece really take me 16 firings!?) Conceptual challenges. (How can I express the ideas in my head?)

But you've just gotta push through and make your work. What's that saying? "The answers for your next piece are always found in your last?" Or something like that.

I did finally finish up the new, experimental sculpture I was working on for the Arrowmont Instructor Exhibition. A week late (Karen, thank you for the generous extension!) but better late than never. And it arrived before the Opening. whew!

But here it is. I'm still planning on investigating this form and developing the concept, so this is really just a starting point. It's a small piece - about the size of a grapefruit. I plan to increase the scale with the next one too.

Silver Lining, Earthenware, fused and slumped glass. 4 1/2" x 6" x 4 1/2".

Here's the Artist Statement that goes along with this piece:

"It’s 3:00am. Or is it 4:00?

I was just drifting off when I heard his small cry pierce through the walls. He must be hungry again. Already? I check the clock once more, but my brain is too cloudy to register the red numbers glowing back at me. Pulling my exhausted body out of bed, I pause briefly, take a deep breath, and walk to the nursery.

We settle into our worn, green velour chair. His small head rests in the crook of my arm. I fight to keep my eyes open. My mind wanders. I am filled with anxiety and uncertainty.

Then, there’s a brief, silent pause.

He looks up at me with a tiny grin, and I can feel the silver lining."

Looking forward to the next round of challenges - personal, professional or otherwise!
Meagan

New Ceramic and Glass Sculpture - problems with progress

I've been working on a new, experimental sculpture for the upcoming Instructor Exhibition at Arrowmont and I'm pretty excited about it! Sketches for this piece have been in the works for awhile, but it just wasn't sure how to build it. Then I watched the demos at NCECA, and a light bulb went off.

Unfortunately, I'm having problems with the glass slumping through these little windows. The problem is easily corrected by re-firing, but I'm running out of time. (Work is due to Arrowmont next Friday!)

Whoops! See that ugly gap! Time for a re-fire.

Thankfully, my new test kiln is making those firings a lot quicker! Looks like I may be cranking her up everyday so that I can make that deadline. More pictures soon. And keep your fingers crossed that I don't run into any unexpected disasters or delays!

Best,
Meagan

Thoughts on Time and Tranistion

Here we are. The end of March 2011. The past year has been a blur of inspiration, excitement, and change.

I finished a post-baccalaureate ceramics program at The University of Florida, went to my first NCECA conference in Philadelphia, spent a month in Montana as a resident at the Clay Studio of Missoula, taught a workshop at Arrowmont, took a class with Michael Sherrill at Penland, oh, and had a baby!!

(Ceramic Wall Mosaic at Penland School of Crafts)

My head is spinning! I feel like I have hardly had a moment to process some of the ideas that started forming last March. March of 2010.

I still have boxes of work from traveling and teaching I haven’t even unpacked. (And if you know me, that totally goes against my ultra-organized way of life. Those packed boxes are driving me crazy!)

(Test tiles I made while at The Clay Studio of Missoula that are still waiting to be unpacked!)

The bottom line is that my experiences from the past 365+ days have me itching to make some changes in my work.

What changes? I’m not exactly sure yet. Do I switch to cone 6? Try a new clay body – porcelain or white earthenware? What new, exciting glaze recipes can I find? Do I continue to make wall sculpture? Slabs or extruded forms? How can I incorporate more cast glass? Oh, oh, and that mold making, resin-casting technique John Byrd demoed at Penland still has me thinking.

I imagine the changes I make will be gradual. As a new mother, the world I lived in for 30 years is now different. My perspective and experiences are forever altered. Even time has new meaning.

So, as I slowly sort through these ideas, I also wonder what I will be thinking next Spring as I watch the azaleas bloom, Cooper toddling alongside.

(Photo by my wonderful father-in-law during Cooper's first beach trip.)

Unsuccessful but Necessary

Well, I unloaded my work from the kiln on Monday. As usual, it takes me a few days to look at and process the work.

As soon as the work was cool, I eagerly rushed off to Lowe's to get the necessary hardware for assembly. Back in the studio, I quickly started to thread the bolts, washers and nuts into place. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was up against some serious technical difficulties! Ugh!
I had anticipated being able to tighten the hardware enough so that the pieces would stay snugly in place. This, unfortunately was not the case in 2 out of 3 new works. Even with rubber washer to help absorb the force, the ceramic pieces wanted to spin about in all directions. Great if I was making a windmill, but not so much for a stationary hybrid-flower-type form.

Though I am disappointed with the outcome of this work, I still feel it was a HUGE learning experience. And I've been able to go through that learning curve much quicker because of the focus I'm able to get during this residence.

I am reminded of a quote from the book Art and Fear - "Even the failed pieces are essential."

So, with that in mind, I'm off to the studio to make and learn more!

Cheers!

Meagan

In the kiln...

Loaded and fired an electric kiln with fellow resident Danny Crump yesterday - my first firing at The Clay Studio of Missoula. Here's a picture (pre-firing) of the various pieces and parts for three new experimental sculptures, my "warm-up" work from Monday, samples for my upcoming workshop at Arrowmont, and a couple trial plates and cups. (Plates and cups you ask?!? Yep. More about this challenge later.)

(Note: Imagine that white plaster mold isn't there for support and the pieces are bolted together.)

Tomorrow's plan - glaze, load and (hopefully) fire the kiln again. Cant wait to see some of this new work "finished." I have plans to include various glass and steel parts, so they may not be truly completed until I get back home to the studio in FL. But a trip to the hardware store for nuts and bolts is in my near future.

Cheers!
Meagan

New work - Residency project 1

I'm off to the studio to continue working on the project I started yesterday. And I must say, I'm pretty excited about it. It looks a lot different than the 3d sketches I did on Monday; almost as if it was made by another person. But I feel this piece is finally starting to incorporate ideas and techniques I've been striving for in my new work. (More on that later.)I was also amazed how much I was able to accomplish in one day! Granted, it was a long studio day - 7:45am til 7:00pm, but I was feeling great and really into a groove. It normally would have taken me 3 weeks at home to make this much progress! Cant wait to see what I'm able to do today! Cheers!
Meagan

Studio Warm Up

My first studio day in Missoula-

Yesterday, I spent all day working on small, 3D sketches of various floral forms. These maquettes were a great warm up exercise! And man did I need the warm up. It can take a while to get settled into a new space and find a routine.

The first thing that took some adjusting to was my clay body. I have been using the same clay body for at least 5 years now. (Lymen Red from Highwater Clays.) But out here in Montana it makes more sense to get it from The Archie Bray (only 1.5 hrs from Missoula) than to have 100lbs of my usual stuff shipped from the East Coast. So I made the switch and the two are definitely different! I don't know yet if I prefer one over the other, but I'll have to report back after my month-long residency. ABF Earthenware is darker brown when moist and seems smoother. It has virtually no grog compared to the Lymen Red I'm used to working with at home. I'm curious to see the fired color and compare shrinkage, absorption and warping.

The second issue I'm tackling is related to this gorgeous weather I've been experiencing. Humidity. Or lack there of. In Florida (80-100% humidity) clay dries very, very slowly and often needs to be put into a dry box or blasted with a heat gun to speed the drying process along. Not necessary here in MT! Slabs seemed to get stiff with the blink of an eye! I will definitely have to adjust my work time and modify some of my usual building habits.

These small pieces not only helped me learn more about my new clay and environment but they were great visual studies. I picked several flowers on my walk to the studio and took the time to really observe the structures, textures and colors of each. So, with the some 3D sketching and traditional sketching done, I tackled my first "real" project today. And I must say, I am pretty excited about it! But more about that one tomorrow. I'm off to bed!

Best,

Meagan

New Plaques and Improvements

So, I mentioned in yesterday’s post that I was able to finish a record 60 plaques in just 8 studio days! And though this was definitely a rush job, the quality of the tiles was in no way compromised.

Actually, the opposite is true. I believe the plaques are getting better with each firing. I have a lot fewer “duds” – tiles that just don’t work for one reason or another. Warping seems to be under control. The patterns and line-work are stronger. And most glaze problems have been resolved.

For me, these tiles are a way to experiment with pattern, texture, and color. Because of this, even the “duds” are important. By studying them, I’m able to evaluate what works and what doesn’t; learn from my mistakes. I’m happy the success rate it up!

I’ve been making these plaques for 4 years now. People often ask how long I will continue to make new ones. And the answer is the same for all my work. I will continue to make them as long as I feel challenged creatively and I see room for growth and improvement. When I get bored or dread the process, it’s time to move on to something new.

Happy Creating!
Meagan

New Work - UF Post-Bacc Program

Finally getting around to posting pictures of the work I did Spring semester at UF. I start exploring a new direction - moving the work from wall relief sculpture to working completely in the round. Like most new ideas, I feel it's taken me some time to digest and think about the changes that I made, and the changes that I still need to make.

I won't lie, this change was definitely a struggle for me! There were days when I felt I had no idea what I was doing - technically or conceptually.

I had problems with clay shrinkage and incorporating found objects. I questioned if the ideas I was hoping to covey were coming through in the work. I had work blow up in the kiln! So, several attempts ended up in the trash or with the shards destined to become more stepping stones for our garden.

But, I kept pushing and reminding myself that "when you feel like you know what you're doing, you're probably not growing."

Now that a little time has passed and I've had a few weeks to process the experience, I am excited about this new direction and the possibilities I see for expanding these ideas.

So, here are a few pictures and my artist statement...

Fortis cultivativo, earthenware, steel, glass

(Note: Now on view through July 5 at "Art in Bloom", Marion Cultural Alliance; On Top of the World Location- Ocala, FL)

Natural and manufactured environments coexist within contemporary urban settings. City parks and botanical gardens are thoughtfully integrated into residential developments and commercial centers. These man-made garden atmospheres seem to emphasize an underlying desire to escape the hectic stress of everyday urban life by surrounding oneself with beautiful, natural environments.

Incrementun multi, earthenware, steel, cast glass

(Note: Now on view now through Oct 8 at The Arrowmont 2010 Instructor Exhibition, Gatlinburg, TN)

My sculpture focuses on a self created species: a visual hybrid that reflects both nature and industry. These mixed-media works synthesize plant forms like pods, leaves, and stems with radial mechanical elements and machine parts. The link between industry and nature is emphasized further through materiality. The constructed sculptures incorporate materials such as steel and concrete with traditional craft media such as clay and glass. The textured, crusty, surface treatments of the stylized terracotta forms further suggest the coexistence of these worlds.

Evoco vita, earthenware, steel, cast glass, fused glass

(Note: Now on view June 3-July5 at "Ancient Arts", Marion Cultural Alliance; downtown location- Ocala, FL. Opening reception this Friday!)

The imagined hybrids represent the need for balance in our everyday lives. Parallels can be drawn between industry and work, and nature and pleasure as society strives for professional success and personal happiness.

Thanks again for reading and following along with the changes and progress in my work.

Best,
Meagan

UF Post-Baccalaureate Ceramics - A Year in Review

It's official. I finished up the special study, post-baccalaureate ceramic program at The University of Florida last week.

Though I had hoped to do more blogging during my journey, I found I ultimately needed to spend more time focusing on being a student and becoming more immersed in my work.

But I did want to take a moment to reflect on the past two semesters - what I've learned, what I'll miss, what I'm excited about for the future. The past few weeks, people kept asking, "So, was it worth it? Did you get everything out of the program you had hoped? Was it was you expected?" My simple answer is a hands-down "YES"!

Our wonderful group led by fearless leaders Nan Smith (far left) and Linda Arbuckle (far right)
Not pictured - Fall Graduate TA Kristin Schimik & Spring Graduate TA Charlie Cummings.

What I will miss the most is definitely the people! We truly had a wonderful group. We worked well together - sharing ideas, constructive criticism, and good times. For me, getting out of my studio at home and interacting with other people was priceless. I learned so much from just working in the same room as these artists! There were definitely ah-ha moments when I would observe how someone was constructing a piece or we would problem solve together.

Overall, I wasn't at school, on-campus as much as I would have liked to have been. It was tough juggling the UF-student world, with my married, Ocala world, but I think I did it without compromising too much of either. Commuting back and forth to Gainesville and coordinating what materials, work, and tools to haul on what days was a challenge. One thing's for sure, I definitely will NOT miss that hour-long commute, the subsequent fight for parking, the bus ride to the art building, and then the commute back home!

So, what did I learn? Wow! That's a hard one to put into words, but I'll do my best to sum it up.

I learned that when you push yourself to stretch in new directions, great things can happen. I learned that if you feel like you know what you're doing, the you're probably not growing enough. (It's also ok not to know what you're doing for a while, but important to keep on working.) I learned to think more critically about my work and analyze it from a different perspective. I gained confidence. I was humbled. I learned new techniques. And I started a new direction with my work.

Our end of year exhibition - Fresh from the Fire
Opening Reception: April 9, 2010, WarpHAUS gallery, Gainesville, FL

Here are a few quick snapshots of the work/artists in our group. None of these photos do the work any justice, so I encourage you to check out the website links where provided.

Sarah Tancred

Lauren Faust

Hannah Pate

Eric Lewis

Alisha Lewis

Alan Schulte

Ashley Neukamm

Rachel Sonenblum

Sarah Marraffino

Chloe Rothwell

I failed to get a good picture of Rebecca Rhyne's final presentation. She had her work, a series of 5 ceramic heads depicting intense emotion, thoughtfully installed in a small room off the side of the main gallery.

A group shot of my newest work. I plan to do a longer post talking a bit more about the transition I'm making from relief sculpture to work in-the-round.

Though school is done, the learning never truly stops. I finished up the semester full of ideas for new work. I'm looking forward to getting back into my studio to start these new projects.

Also, I cannot wait to get back to into our garden! It has been sadly neglected, and is in need of immediate attention! I often find it ironic that I spend days in the studio making work about being out in the garden. So, it's time for me to get outside, enjoy Spring, and be inspired!

Thanks for reading along. I hope to be checking in more often from now on.

Cheers!
Meagan

Pole beans, okra, tomatoes, dill, squash, arugula, parsley... oh the fun work to be done. Cant wait!

Stressing the Good

I started playing this game with myself a few months ago. Shortly after I started the post-baccalaureate ceramics program at the University of Florida, I found that my stress level was steadily increasing. I had grossly underestimated how much time would be involved in going back to school, and was struggling to maintain my current work load while challenging myself creatively and artistically.

Sick of hearing myself complain about it, I made a conscious effort to remove the word “busy” from my vocabulary.

I’m finding this new game kinda fun. AND it’s actually alleviated a lot of my stress. By not focusing so much on everything I have to do and how little time there is to do it, I’m actually able to get more done and the whole experience is much more enjoyable. I realized that I was expending a lot of energy worrying, when that energy could be put to better use on positive thoughts and actions.

I guess I bring this up now because the holidays are upon us and 2010 is just around the corner. Like many, I do a lot of reflecting this time of year. What changes did I make? What was I able to accomplish? (check out Alyson Stanfield’s Art Biz Blog and Art Marketing Podcast for my favorite end-of-the-year exercise.) What would I like to do differently? How can I re-prioritize my time? How can I live the happiest life possible?

There's a quote posted in my studio that says “She succeeds beautifully by doing nothing more than being the best possible version of herself.” That is what I want; for each of us to be the best possible versions of ourselves.

Thank you for reading and keeping up with me throughout the year. Happy Holidays to you and your families and I will see you in 2010.

Cheers!

Meagan

Newest Work: Botanical Building Blocks, earthenware and fused glass, 22" x 22" x 2", 2009.

Botanical Building Blocks, detail.

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New Work - "Urban Escape"

Wanted to post a few quick picks of some recent work.

Urban Escape, 38" x 38" x 1 1/2", earthenware, glass, steel, fiber

Thanks for checking in on the progress! The ceramics post-baccalaureate program at the University of Florida has been great! Final critiques are this week. I hope to post few words of reflection as well as pics of our final projects by next Friday.

Cheers!
Meagan
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New Work - City gardening and pocket parks

Thought I post a few quick images of some new work. This piece was inspired by Pocket Parks - or community gardens that are planted on vacant lots within large cities where space for parks can be hard to come by.
Each 'box' or 'building' is 6 x 6" square and between 1 - 2" high. They are all mounted on a steel background that has been treated with a copper heat patina to give it that cool, moss-green color and texture.
Here are a few details...


the garden...

I got some helpful feedback on this piece during our recent critique, and I'm already excited about the changes I'll make in the next one.

That's it for now. Thanks for checking in!

Best,
Meagan
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