Raku

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.

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 1^st.

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”)

ORACLE

In ORACLE, two High Priests seek guidance in a desolate place amidst a surreal mixture of the natural and unnatural. ORACLE is a mixed media sculpture: the base consists of handmade paper clay using rehydrated scrap clay and recycled newspapers fired together with glass tiles; the “tree” is a found object, part of a yew root from a necessary brush cutting; the “Oracle” is composed of a different type of glass tile than in the base, and the “High Priests” are hand built and raku fired using a different type of paper clay than used in the base. Underglazes, epoxy, acrylic paint and shellac complete the piece – as I said, a combination of natural and unnatural. (11” x 13 ½” x 7”) ($325.00)

EBONY AND IVORY

In 1982 Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder recorded “Ebony and Ivory”, a number-one single. Subsequently, Paul McCartney also recorded the song with Michael Jackson. Since I can’t sing and have no musical ability, there are no audible elements to my EBONY AND IVORY, only visual ones. Hand built and raku fired using my own paper clay, EBONY AND IVORY is 7” x 6” x 5”.

DEJECTION

DEJECTION, like all the three dimensional pieces in the “Cognitive Emotions” Series relies on the primary contour of the piece to evoke a particular emotion and the glaze pattern and color to explore the role of cognition in that emotion. In DEJECTION the figure is erect but the head has a downcast aspect and a subdued and somber color. Hand built and raku fired using artist made paper clay. 15” x 12” x 11” on an MDF base.

REMORSE

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

In REMORSE, part of the “Cognitive Emotions” Series, the slumped posture of the figure and inclination of the head project the emotion and the color of the head in relation to the overall color of the figure signifies the importance of cognition in this emotion. Hand built and raku fired using artist made paper clay. 10 ½” x 8” x 7” on an MDF base.

VIGILANCE

In VIGILANCE, part of the “Cognitive Emotions” Series, the primary contour is intended to convey a sense of alert watchfulness while the colors within the piece indicate that this is a controlled emotion with a strong cognitive element. Hand built and raku fired using artist made paper clay. 10 ½” x 8” x 7” on an MDF base.

SKEPTICISM

To me, skepticism is one of the emotions with the greatest amount of thought involved in it. In SKEPTICISM, part of the “Cognitive Emotions” Series, the cognitive element, represented by the bright gold/copper color of the head and upper part of the figure, is the dominant feature of the piece with the more nuanced “emotional” colors taking a secondary role. In profile the figure is leaning back and away from what is being presented and the head is inclined slightly but skeptically. 16” x 12” x 10 ½” on an MDF base.

John Fansmith

Artist