Work In Progress

Multiples project

Donut teapot

Donut Teapot

http://ladynin.com/donutteapot.html

http://www.ratliffpotteryandtile.com/images/yellow_donut_teapot.jpg

http://www.brushyforkcreek.com/IMG_0769.JPG

http://www.funcollections.com/ENK-627-Cat-on-Donut-Shaped-Teapot-_p_618.html

http://images.replacements.com/images/images5/china/S/sadek_blue_and_white_donut_shape_tea_pot_and_lid_P0000305476S0045T2.jpg

Finished Cups on Loan

Ron Mueck

He is an Australian hyper-realist sculptor; he started off as a model maker and a puppeteer. Mueck depicts the human body in great detail in his works but never makes them life-sized because according to him, "...it never seemed to be interesting. We meet life-size people every day." He uses multimedia such as latex, fiberglass resin, and hair to complete his sculptures and on average takes up to 4 weeks on each of his projects.       


http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/ron_mueck/images/in_bed_542.jpg
http://insomni-art.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ron-mueck-4.jpg
http://www.boingboing.net/images/51681233.jpg
http://www.theylta.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Ron-Mueck2.jpg

Sunflower Seeds

- Small porcelain pieces that are painted to resemble sunflower seeds.

- In order to make these "sunflower seeds," the workers get large boulders of clay and add water to create a proper texture for the porcelain. The porcelain was then poured into molds of sunflower seeds. These "seeds" are then fired, haindpainted by the locals from the town of Jingdezhen, and then fired again.

- The project is more successful as handpainted replicas because it's made by the people and holds more value; it's as if the Chinese population is being represented through these porcelain seeds.

- All the materials are handmade; the porcelain was taken from the Chinese earth, this gave the seeds strong ties to China and its people.

- The purpose of this installation is to protest against the oppressive government in China. If the seeds represent the people and their need for comfort and safety, the enormous amount of seeds he made conveys the message of how important it is for the government to focus on pleasing its people instead of harassing them.

- The sunflower seeds represent the Chinese people and are a symbol of comfort, security, and stability to the people during Mao Zedong's regime.

Work In Progress

Research

    Lorna Meaden's work is heavily inspired by 18th century European porcelain and silver works. Her pieces use a lot of line, shape, and color to convey a feeling of an older era. I chose this artist because her mugs had great shape in them that we don't see too often in the 21st century. I also liked the glazes she used to give it an antique air. Lorna currently lives in Durango, Colorado and works as a full time potter; she uses and prefers porcelain over any other type of clay. She has a MFA in ceramics and a BA in art and has taught ceramics in several colleges. Lorna has received many awards over the years such as the Sean Shanahan Purchase Award, the Merchandise Award, and the Elmor E. Craig Award. She has also represented her artwork in  galleries such as the Harvey/Meadows Gallery in Aspen, Colorado and The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


<a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2008/12/16/2008527821.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://www.austinchronicle.com/binary/216b/arts_feature-39157.jpeg"></a>
<a href="http://lornameaden.com/images/Gallery/Theis%20Gallery/Full%20Size%20Pages/Watering%20Can.htm"></a>
<a href="http://media.ceramicartsdaily.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/lorna-meaden-pitcher.jpg"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alissa_steve/452682648/"></a>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvczkE9xVsKK93JYS0yjAgDHT2mHx3RjyMuHq4LPmxrk8LQcb8q-heQthb-0HCAQPwlfUJPM1VADem4gzOkhLTK6u0gDLuYDnvyUoxp3PpOz30je3A96jl78kifbBEzMMsaWjAdmARnGD/s320/Lorna_Meaden.jpg"></a>

Assignment #1

a) I think this is a very innovative program and the very idea of borrowing mugs is quite bizarre to me. Nevertheless, I believe it will be successful in its mission to infuse a little bit of art in the homes of all people and encourage “cultural interchange.” An increase in publicity would greatly benefit this cause; I’m sure the more people who know about this amazing opportunity, the more people would participate. Social outreach programs such as this are important because they educate and bring awareness of many cultural movements to people of all backgrounds. If similar rules and consequences are maintained, then I am sure that this program will be as effective and beneficial at our high school.