Chrystalis

CHRYSTALIS, hand built with extruded elements from stoneware and raku fired, gets its title from the combination of two words: chrysalis and crystal. Normally used in reference to one of the life stages of a butterfly, the definition of chrysalis includes “anything in a formative or undeveloped state” a concept represented here by the dark, rough textured, unglazed and amorphous base portion of CHRYSTALIS. In contrast, the top portion, the crystals, is highly formed, smooth, geometrically shaped, glazed and glossy. CHRYSTALIS is all about combining these two disparate concepts in a single image (and then successfully firing it). 7 ½ “ x 10” x 8 ½”

ERUPTION (AT THE HOT GLASS SHOW)

I am very pleased to announce that juror Nancy Weisser, invited my stained glass/ceramic piece, ERUPTION, into the Allegany Arts Council’s HOT GLASS EXHIBITION & COMPETITION. ERUPTION will be on view at their Saville Gallery, 9 N. Centre St, Cumberland, MD from August 12^th until September 2^nd 2017. Cumberland MD is a delightful town and the Show reception on Saturday, August 19^th was a lot of fun. In addition to juror Nancy Weisser, I had the chance to meet and talk with a number of very talented “hot glass” artists from around the country. After seeing the show I was even happier to be a part of it.

THE BOYS IN THE HOODS

THE BOYS IN THE HOODS is part of my summer exploration of “Hooded Figures” but was intended to be an ensemble piece from the beginning. As an ensemble piece, it also differs from the individual figures such as WATCHER OF THE NIGHT, by having been titled before completion and perhaps being a little more light-hearted. It’s a piece I spoke to rather than the other way around. Hand built and raku fired paper clay mounted on MDF. 6” x 9 ½” x 4”

TEMPERED

TEMPERED is a two part, layered print/collage in which the background is a hard surface monotype, and the overlaid facial image is a collographic monoprint using a plate from my AN AMERICAN FACE Series. The word “tempered” can mean different things, particularly in this context, and I will leave each viewer to decide what it means to them. Image: 9” x 5”, Matted and framed to 14” x 10”.

HARBINGER

HARBINGER, the third individual piece in the Hooded Figure series, like WATCHER OF THE NIGHT and PROPHET, was titled after completion. To me there is an ambiguity to the piece, an awareness that something is going to happen, but an uncertainty of what that will be. A harbinger may presage good or ill, hence the title. Hand built and raku fired paper clay. 7 ½” x 4” x 3

PROPHET

PROPHET, like WATCHER OF THE NIGHT and HARBINGER, is part of my summer flirtation with Hooded Figures. The title to PROPHET was not planned but rather my first reaction to the completed piece – the facial expression and “body language” expressing my mental image of what a Prophet would, or should, look like. Hand built and raku fired paper clay. 6 ½” x 2” x 2”.

GREEN MAN: SUMMER

GREEN MAN: SUMMER is the fourth and last piece in the “Seasonal Green Man” series. It was the last because, of the four seasons, Summer is the most difficult one for me to visualize and express. I clearly “see” the colors and tones of Autumn, Winter, and Spring, but Summer is different and more of a challenge for me because I think I see it as a transition from Spring to Autumn rather than as having its own definition. Matted and framed to 18” x 14”

GREEN MAN: SPRING

GREEN MAN: SPRING, like the others in the “Seasonal Green Man” series is a collage created with pieces of hand inked and hand pulled hard plate monotype prints designed specifically to reflect the new growth colors of Spring. Again, while the primary and secondary contours remain essentially the same, the seasons have changed. Matted and framed to 18” x 14”

XOLOTL

In the Aztec religion Xolotl was a powerful and fearsome figure, the twin to Quetzalcoatl and Lord of the West who guarded the Sun as it journeyed through the night. My XOLOTL, while inspired by the Aztec deity, cannot be described as “fearsome”, unless, of course, you happen to be terrified of garden gnomes. Hand built of paper clay, glazed and fired to Cone 6. 8 ½” x 5” x 4”.

Untitled

In most of my work, regardless of medium, I’m a story teller making a comment or statement from my own particular (or peculiar) point of view and the title is an integral part of the piece. UNTITLED is different: I’m leaving it up to each individual viewer to see what they will in the piece and to set their own narrative as to what has happened, is happening, or is going to happen. UNTITLED is a hand inked and hand pulled double plate collographic monoprint which uses one of the plates from the AN AMERICAN FACE Series and an offset mat. Matted and framed to 16” x 12”.

John Fansmith

Artist