Artist Statement
As a ceramicist, the purpose of my work is to give function to my forms. I strive to create vessels that are useful, and at the same time, beautiful.
As a ceramicist, the purpose of my work is to give function to my forms. I strive to create vessels that are useful, and at the same time, beautiful.
Résumé of Art Experience in Wheel Pottery
I was introduced to wheel pottery at the age of 12 at the Hidden Valley Summer Camp in Freedom, Maine. In the fall of 2007, I enrolled in my first wheel pottery class at the Clay Art Center (CAC), in Port Chester, New York, a 54-year old non-profit center dedicated to advancing wheel pottery, sculpture and hand building. In June of 2010, I was admitted to the Honors Art Program at Greenwich High School (GHS) as a ceramicist. I am completing my second year in the GHS Honors Program and supplementing my study of wheel pottery at CAC.
Classes
After two 10 week terms in the Teen Wheel class that consisted of two hours/week plus open studio time, I graduated to adult wheel classes where I have since been enrolled. As I am a full-time high school student, the Clay Continued class taught every Saturday for three hours/day, 14-weeks/term provided me with flexibility and in-depth instruction on wheel throwing techniques, different glazes and shaping new clay bodies. I have taken this particular class since the fall of 2008 through the spring of 2011 and have benefited from instruction by Kyla Toomey, Jon McMillan, Andrew Coombs and Kristina Stafford. These CAC resident artists received their BFAs and taught at the center for a year or two before returning to graduate school. In the summer of 2009, I added a Fine Tuned Wheel course taught in the evening by Georgia Tenore who studied at Haystack and apprenticed at Scargo Pottery in Dennis, Massachusetts where I focused on glazing techniques. In the July 2010, I took a Large Scale Wheel Throwing course taught by Kevin Thomas where I focused on throwing 15 plus pounds of clay.
Workshops
In April 2009, I attended an all-day workshop taught by Linda Sikora and Matthew Metz who each create unique utilitarian pottery. Ms. Sikora works with loose patterns of polychrome glazes, which melt and drip in the firing and Mr. Metz carves patterns and images into his clay before glazing. In June and November 2010, I attended all day workshops taught by Denis Licul from Rijeka, Croatia who introduced me to Raku. In preparation for each workshop I made six medium-sized bisqued pots of stoneware clay. During Ms. Licul’s classes I learned about raku glazes, stains, firing process and post firing reduction. In April 2011, I attended a two-day workshop on Naked Raku taught by Ms. Licul and Emma Kieser. Unlike past raku instruction, this workshop introduced a different technique where a clay slip is applied to the surface of the bisqueware, but once fired, the slip peels away, shrinking and separating from the surface, exposing the surface to different degrees of post-firing reduction and creating different black effects.
Exhibitions and Awards
Two students are selected annually from the entire visual art department at GHS for the Greenwich Arts Council Creative Achievement Award: I was one of those two students selected for my work in wheel pottery in May 2011. At the Mud 2011 Exhibition of Ceramics from high schools throughout the country, I received an Honorable Mention Award at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan, Connecticut in April 2011. In January 2011, I was awarded a Silver Key Award for Ceramics by the Scholastic, Inc. Art and Writing Award in Hartford, Connecticut. In addition, I have exhibited my work since 2009 at the Clay Art Center’s annual Rising Stars exhibit; the Greenwich Board of Education’s Havemeyer Art Show in March 2011; the Stamford Art Association in February 2011 and the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Foundation in February 2011.
Community Service
Art is more than creating; it requires giving back to one’s community. Both CAC and GHS promote this concept. For the past four summers, I have been an assistant wheel pottery teacher to kids who enroll in CAC’s wheel pottery summer camps. As part of community outreach, I demonstrated wheel pottery techniques at the Town of Port Chester’s open fairs, drawing kids and families into participating in art. I also demonstrate wheel pottery for CAC patrons at an annual fundraiser, which finances scholarships for low-income kids to take art classes and supports adult artist in residence programs. Each January since 2008, fellow artists and I gather in the studio to make as many bowls as possible that will be donated for auction at the annual Rye Presbyterian Church-Clay Art Center Empty Bowls Project. This worthwhile project raises hunger awareness in the community and benefits a local soup kitchen.
During my junior year at GHS, I sought and received permission from my Honors Art Advisor and Head Master to bring a smaller version of the Empty Bowls Project to our Greenwich community. I made about fifty bowls and rallied fellow art students to make at least two bowls or help fire and glaze the 125 pieces. Every single bowl sold out in six hours. We charged $5 for a handmade bowl and a scoop of ice cream. In addition, I donated several larger pieces that I made throughout the year. Like the small bowls, my large ones also sold. All totaled, we raised $852 for the Lower Fairfield County Food Bank. The experience was so rewarding for all participants that we intend to lead the 2nd annual Empty Bowls Project at my high school next spring!
I was introduced to wheel pottery at the age of 12 at the Hidden Valley Summer Camp in Freedom, Maine. In the fall of 2007, I enrolled in my first wheel pottery class at the Clay Art Center (CAC), in Port Chester, New York, a 54-year old non-profit center dedicated to advancing wheel pottery, sculpture and hand building. In June of 2010, I was admitted to the Honors Art Program at Greenwich High School (GHS) as a ceramicist. I am completing my second year in the GHS Honors Program and supplementing my study of wheel pottery at CAC.
Classes
After two 10 week terms in the Teen Wheel class that consisted of two hours/week plus open studio time, I graduated to adult wheel classes where I have since been enrolled. As I am a full-time high school student, the Clay Continued class taught every Saturday for three hours/day, 14-weeks/term provided me with flexibility and in-depth instruction on wheel throwing techniques, different glazes and shaping new clay bodies. I have taken this particular class since the fall of 2008 through the spring of 2011 and have benefited from instruction by Kyla Toomey, Jon McMillan, Andrew Coombs and Kristina Stafford. These CAC resident artists received their BFAs and taught at the center for a year or two before returning to graduate school. In the summer of 2009, I added a Fine Tuned Wheel course taught in the evening by Georgia Tenore who studied at Haystack and apprenticed at Scargo Pottery in Dennis, Massachusetts where I focused on glazing techniques. In the July 2010, I took a Large Scale Wheel Throwing course taught by Kevin Thomas where I focused on throwing 15 plus pounds of clay.
Workshops
In April 2009, I attended an all-day workshop taught by Linda Sikora and Matthew Metz who each create unique utilitarian pottery. Ms. Sikora works with loose patterns of polychrome glazes, which melt and drip in the firing and Mr. Metz carves patterns and images into his clay before glazing. In June and November 2010, I attended all day workshops taught by Denis Licul from Rijeka, Croatia who introduced me to Raku. In preparation for each workshop I made six medium-sized bisqued pots of stoneware clay. During Ms. Licul’s classes I learned about raku glazes, stains, firing process and post firing reduction. In April 2011, I attended a two-day workshop on Naked Raku taught by Ms. Licul and Emma Kieser. Unlike past raku instruction, this workshop introduced a different technique where a clay slip is applied to the surface of the bisqueware, but once fired, the slip peels away, shrinking and separating from the surface, exposing the surface to different degrees of post-firing reduction and creating different black effects.
Exhibitions and Awards
Two students are selected annually from the entire visual art department at GHS for the Greenwich Arts Council Creative Achievement Award: I was one of those two students selected for my work in wheel pottery in May 2011. At the Mud 2011 Exhibition of Ceramics from high schools throughout the country, I received an Honorable Mention Award at the Carriage Barn Arts Center in New Canaan, Connecticut in April 2011. In January 2011, I was awarded a Silver Key Award for Ceramics by the Scholastic, Inc. Art and Writing Award in Hartford, Connecticut. In addition, I have exhibited my work since 2009 at the Clay Art Center’s annual Rising Stars exhibit; the Greenwich Board of Education’s Havemeyer Art Show in March 2011; the Stamford Art Association in February 2011 and the National K-12 Ceramic Exhibition Foundation in February 2011.
Community Service
Art is more than creating; it requires giving back to one’s community. Both CAC and GHS promote this concept. For the past four summers, I have been an assistant wheel pottery teacher to kids who enroll in CAC’s wheel pottery summer camps. As part of community outreach, I demonstrated wheel pottery techniques at the Town of Port Chester’s open fairs, drawing kids and families into participating in art. I also demonstrate wheel pottery for CAC patrons at an annual fundraiser, which finances scholarships for low-income kids to take art classes and supports adult artist in residence programs. Each January since 2008, fellow artists and I gather in the studio to make as many bowls as possible that will be donated for auction at the annual Rye Presbyterian Church-Clay Art Center Empty Bowls Project. This worthwhile project raises hunger awareness in the community and benefits a local soup kitchen.
During my junior year at GHS, I sought and received permission from my Honors Art Advisor and Head Master to bring a smaller version of the Empty Bowls Project to our Greenwich community. I made about fifty bowls and rallied fellow art students to make at least two bowls or help fire and glaze the 125 pieces. Every single bowl sold out in six hours. We charged $5 for a handmade bowl and a scoop of ice cream. In addition, I donated several larger pieces that I made throughout the year. Like the small bowls, my large ones also sold. All totaled, we raised $852 for the Lower Fairfield County Food Bank. The experience was so rewarding for all participants that we intend to lead the 2nd annual Empty Bowls Project at my high school next spring!