If you listen carefully, and perhaps with a little imagination, you can hear the dawn being greeted when you study MORNING SONG, a hand built, raku fired paper clay sculpture that is part of the “Avianus Abstractus” Series. (2019) (14 ½” x 9” x 8”)
Ceramics
Aftermath #2
AFTERMATH #2, like AFTERMATH #1, was seven years in the making. The main body of the piece is part of a tree limb shattered by Super Storm Sandy in 2012. The only work done to it was wire brushing it to remove dirt and evening the bottom. The base is unglazed bisque fired paper clay. While the original inspiration for AFTERMATH #2 was cleaning up after Sandy, the final impetus to finish it was the images of the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. (14” x 8” x 7”) (2019) ($225)
Aftermath #1
AFTERMATH #1 is a sculptural piece that is seven years in the making. The main body of the piece is part of a tree limb shattered by Super Storm Sandy in 2012. The only work done to it was wire brushing it to remove dirt and evening the bottom. The base is unglazed bisque fired paper clay. While the original inspiration for AFTERMATH #1 was cleaning up after Sandy, the final impetus to finish it was the images of the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian. (19 ½” x 9” x 9”) (2019) ($245)
MAGMA in Kent State’s Emerging Glass Exhibit
I am very pleased to announce that jurors Davin Ebanks and Benjamin Johnson have chosen my stained glass/paper clay wall hanging MAGMA to be part of the “Emerging Glass” Show which will be held in the Payto Gallery, part of the Center for the Visual Arts at Kent State University, 325 Terrace Drive, Kent, Ohio 44242 from September 4, 2019 through October 4, 2019. It is particularly gratifying to be part of the “Emerging Glass” Show because MAGMA was one of only 15 pieces chosen for this national juried show from over 160 entries from glass artists across the country.
HESITATION, DEJECTION, and REVULSION accepted at the Fe Gallery
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
I am very pleased to announce that three of my hand built, raku fired paper clay sculptures from the “Cognitive Emotions” Series: HESITATION, DEJECTION, and REVULSION have been accepted into the “Pattern and Abstraction” Show at the Fe Gallery, 1100 65th Street, Sacramento, CA 95819. For this national juried show, only 54 pieces were selected from 784 entries, and I am honored to have had three of the 54. The Show will run from June 2, 2019 until July 26, 2019.
ATTICUS PAINE GALLERY
I am very pleased to announce that five of my pieces DARK MOON RISING, a smoke fired/raku wall hanging, its companion piece HIGH MORNING SUN, ORACLE, a mixed media/found object sculpture, REQUIEM FOR A MUSE, a raku fired paper clay assemblage and THE GREEN MAN: WINTER SOLSTICE, a mixed media sculpture will, along with work from other members of the Cheltenham Ceramics Collective, be part of the Opening Exhibition for the Atticus Paine Gallery. The Atticus Paine Gallery is located at 107 Central Avenue, Cheltenham, PA 19102 and the Exhibition will run from June 2, 2019 until July 7, 2019.
GMO #37
GMO # 37 is a mixed media sculpture using a found object and hand built raku fired paper clay. Somehow, using a purely natural object (a piece of yew root), and something completely manufactured (paper clay), seemed the appropriate way to depict a “genetically modified object”. GMO #37 is part of a series of mixed media sculptural pieces I’m going to be concentrating on this year. For want of a better title, I’m calling it my “Look What I Found” Series.
Prelude
PRELUDE, part of my “Look What I Found” series of sculptures using found objects and hand built paper clay elements, draws upon my “Rim of Fire” series for its inspiration. The pieces in the “Rim of Fire” series use stained glass and paper clay fired together to depict the early moments of a volcanic eruption. PRELUDE, as its name implies, is of an earlier moment: the clouds of ash are rising but the eruption has not started. PRELUDE is composed of distorted Styrofoam, handmade paper clay, resin, underglazes, and acrylic and enamel paints.
Skepticism in the 311 GALLERY – ABSTRACTS MATTER SHOW
I am very pleased to announce that jurors Kim Balentine, Cheryl McCardle, and Jenna Webb have invited my hand built Raku fired paper clay sculpture SKEPTICISM into the 311 Gallery show “Abstracts Matter”. SKEPTICISM, part of my “Cognitive Emotions” Series will be on display at 311 Gallery, 311 West Main Street, Raleigh NC 27601 from February 28, 2019 until March 30, 2019. There will be an opening reception from 6 until 9 pm on Friday, March 1st.
Prometheus
In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to mankind for which he was punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by vultures. My PROMETHEUS, a hand built and raku fired paper clay sculpture deconstructs the myth by having Prometheus part of and one with the rock holding the chain rather than being held.(8” x 8” x 8”)
John Fansmith 