Work in Progress - A new adventure

Thought I'd take a moment to share some, well, personal news with you.

This is not your typical artwork-in-progress blog post. My current "project" brings with it a lot of exciting changes, hard work, unexpected adventures, and unconditional love.

My husband and I are expecting our first child the end of October! Needless to say, we are very excited about our growing family and our little bundle of joy.

Though this is a planned addition, I must admit that I have had my moments of panic and uncertainty. How in the world can I be an artist and a mother at the same time!? Or a mother and an artist? I already feel that there aren't enough hours in the day to get everything done!

Being the type-A personality that I am, I was hungry for answers, advice and information. So to ease my fears and concerns, I started my "research."

In addition to reading the usual pregnancy and child rearing books, I dove into The Divided Heart: Art and Motherhood by Rachel Power and I highly recommend it to any artist-mother with questions or concerns about work-life balance.

Here's a little about the book from the publisher's website.

"Do women still confront the attitude that a dedicated artist will avoid having children for the sake of her career? In The Divided Heart, Australia’s most respected artists, writers and actors speak frankly about the wrench between motherhood and their artistic life.

Rachel Power navigates through the divided heart of the artists to reveal the shocking, funny and moving truth of the overwhelming demands of motherhood and the undiminished passion for their work.

This book will resonate with anyone who has ever wondered, ‘Who will I be when this baby is born?’"

Links to other helpful info:
Clay Parent - Mud Mamas and Papas
Studio Mothers: Art and Life (just found this one)

Our growing "bean" at 18 weeks. Boy? Girl? Time will tell. We're keeping it a surprise.

Thank you for reading and sharing our excitement with us!

Cheers!
Meagan

It's Studio Stroll Time Again!

Come check out Asheville's River Arts District this weekend, June 12-13 from 10-6, for the June 2010 Studio Stroll. Visit 120 working artist studios and galleries. Free rides available on the Asheville Historic Trolley between studios.

This will be my 11th Stroll at CURVE studios & garden and there have been a lot of exciting changes happening. Since the November stroll a host of top-notch artists have moved in and many favorites have rearranged their spaces adding a fresh new look.

Where is CURVE studios & garden you ask? It's #6 - 12 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC. In Asheville's River Arts District across from 12 Bones Smokehouse. You know, 12 Bones, the amazing BBQ joint where Obama and Michelle eat when they go to Asheville!

Happy Strolling!

Meagan

Ancient Arts - Opening Reception, Ocala, FL

Well, just because I wont be at the Opening of the Contemporary Clay Biennial in Grand Junction, CO tomorrow night doesn't mean that I won't still be out enjoying some art.

It's First Friday here in Ocala, FL, and a group of downtown artists and businesses have recently organized a monthly Art Walk! It's so exciting to see the changes Ocala is making to support the Arts!


To coincide with the Art Walk, Marion Cultural Alliance is hosting the Opening Reception for Ancient Arts at Brick City Center for the Arts. This invitational show emphasizes ceramics, sculpture, encaustic, glass, wood, and drawing and I am honored to be a part of the group selected! The reception is from 6-9 tomorrow, June 4th and the show runs through July 6.

Ancient Arts
June 4 - July 6, 2010
Brick City Center for the Arts
Marion Cultural Alliance
Ocala, FL

Opening Reception: June 4 from 6-9pm

Hope to see you there!

Best,
Meagan

Contemporary Clay Biennial - Opening Friday

I am very excited and honored to announce my piece "Urban Pocket" as selected for the Contemporary Clay Biennial at the Art Center, Western Colorado Center for the Arts, in Grand Junction, CO.

The opening reception is this Friday night, and Oh, how I wish I could be there! If you're in the area and able to attend, please take some pictures for me. I'd love to see the show installed!

Contemporary Clay Biennial 2010
Juried by Ceramist and Clay Times columnist Pete Pinnell
May 14 - June 26, 2010
Opening Reception - Friday, June 4, 6:30 - 9pm

Juror Pete Pinnell - Clay demonstration and workshop June 5-6, 9-5pm.

Urban Pocket, earthenware, steel, wood backing, 9 x 40 x 4", 2009.

Marion Cultural Alliance is celebrating the Grand Opening of their newest gallery space near On Top of the World in west Ocala. It is important for me to be involved in my local community, so I am excited to be a part of this inaugural event!

If you're in the area, stop by tomorrow night for the Opening Reception.

Best,
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!