The Hand and Tradition: A Conversation with Acoma Pottery

Acoma Flyer

Artist Statement:  In August of 2014, a group of Brigham Young University fine art students, faculty and art educators participated in a collaborative project traveling to Taos, New Mexico to attend a weeklong pottery workshop dedicated to teaching the traditional handbuilding methods of the Pueblo Acoma Native Americans. The goals of this collaboration included the enhancement of each participant’s art practice, an increased understanding of the fine craft and tradition associated with Acoma pottery, as well as the development of specific art curriculum geared toward elementary aged students in Utah. The workshop was taught by Claudia Lewis Mitchell and Monica Lewis Mitchell, daughters of Emma Lewis and granddaughters of Lucy Lewis—a renowned Pueblo Acoma potter. During the class, the very specific methods practiced by the Acoma potters were taught and unique insight into how the tradition has been passed down through the generations was given. To further contextualize the experience, the group was able to tour the Acoma Pueblo in Sky City, New Mexico as well as to camp at Chaco Canyon archaeological site, which was once inhabited by Pueblo ancestors. This unique experience also inspired the collaborators to create a similar experience after returning to Utah. Several of the group drove to Hobble Creek Canyon to dig up raw clay. This clay was taken back to the BYU ceramic studio, refined and formed into ceramic pieces using the methods learned from the New Mexico workshop. (This project was made possible though a generous grant from the Laycock Center for Collaborative Studies and the BYU Department of Visual Art.)

Radiant Orchid Project

Coming to a mall near you (tomorrow)!!!

Radiant Orchid Project
Opening:
October 3, 2014
6-7 p.m.
Provo Towne Centre Mall (near the food court)

This is a public art installation at the Provo Mall. Artists include Michael Sharp, Lim Kheng Saik, Dan Anderson, Amber Egbert, Peggy Hughes, Fidalis Buehler, Kody Keller.

Hope you can come and support us Friday night at the mall!!!20141001_083841 20141001_100410 20141001_103022 20141001_105835 20141001_111804 20141001_111823

Vote for me!

Please go to this link and vote for my tumbler.  If I get the most votes, I may win a solo show at the Baltimore Clayworks Gallery.

http://baltimoreclayworks.org/exhibition/exhibition_gallery/14/Solo_Cup_Show.html

"Patchwork Tumbler"

ART of OUR CENTURY

I will be in this exhibition until August 9, 2014.  It is located in the UVU Woodbury Museum at the University Mall in Orem.

Blissful Dissonance (gallery view)

Blissful Dissonance (gallery view)

Art of OUR CENTURY & The Natural Man

I have had a couple of my pieces included in Art of OUR CENTURY & The Natural Man at the Woodbury Art Museum.  The opening reception is Tuesday, May 20, 2014 from 6-8 p.m.  I would love to have friends and family there!

http://www.uvu.edu/museum/exhibitions/current.html

This is one of the pieces included in the show:

Stacked Form (close-up)

Stacked Form

Here is my new crazy double-decker stacked piece.  I have had a love/hate relationship with this piece all semester.  There have been a few technical issues, but I am warming up to it again:

Large Stack 32x15

Large Stack (close-up)

cup exchange

A group of ceramic students from BYU (myself included recently did a group show called “cup exchange.”  We invited anyone who wanted to participate to bring in a mug or cup from their cupboard and exchange in for one of our handmade ones.  We also asked them to write something about the history of their mug and display it with their mug.  Click on the link to check it out:

http://b-66.com/2013/11/23/cup-exchange/

CupExchange0017