Born on the Right Planet

Ai Weiwei

2011-06-27T15:36:00.000-07:00

'Coloured Vases'

2010

31 Original Han Dynasty Vases w/ Industrial Paint

Wherever Ai Weiwei appears, thunderous applause erupts

Thomas Hirschhorn

2011-06-15T05:51:00.001-07:00

Crystal of Resistance

@ Venice Biennale

http://www.crystalofresistance.com

Right here.

Right now.

This is what it's about.

Pope. L

2011-06-10T05:03:00.000-07:00

ATM Piece

Street Performance outside Chase Manhattan

Law prohibits panhandling within ten feet of an ATM.

Solution:

Obtain ten+ feet of sausage links.

Attach to door.

People refuse to enter.

Security Guard approaches.

"We have a black male, tied to the door with sausage links.

Franklin Evans

2011-06-09T13:52:00.001-07:00

timecompressionmachine

Vincent Romaniello

2011-06-06T05:03:00.001-07:00

Experimentation is key to my practice

Bruce Nauman

2011-06-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

I guess it's the intention that changes it from a stairway to a stairway as a work of art.

Because I said so!

Pink Panther

2011-06-02T04:39:00.000-07:00

Fetched $17 Million at Contemporary Art Auction

BOOM!!!

Gabriel Oroczo

2011-05-30T11:29:00.000-07:00

To live the process is very important in understanding why you are doing something.

Erie Art Museum Spring Show 2011

2011-05-30T08:58:00.001-07:00

Here is an image of the piece selected for the Juried Spring Show.

'The Unforeseen Path of Industrial Freedom'

2011

Wood Fried Stoneware, Porcelain, Brick, Latex Paint, Styrene, Vinyl

Rapture Performance

2011-05-30T07:45:00.000-07:00

It seems 'The Rapture' didn't happen. But this two hour performance was well worth the laughs and crazies.

COMPLEX SHIT

2011-05-30T07:40:00.001-07:00

OUCH.......

2011-05-30T07:36:00.000-07:00

MIA AGAIN...

but.......

At this particular moment in the art world, invention and personal vision have been demoted in favor of appropriation, of raiding the cultural icebox. For somebody to go out and try to make something that doesn’t remind you of anybody else’s work and is really, truly innovative—that’s very much against the grain of the moment. To me, it represents a gutsy move.

Chuck Close in response to Tara Donovan

'American Dreamin - Strategy Decay'

2011-03-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

'American Dreamin - Strategy Decay'

2011

Porcelain, Stoneware, Earthenware, Plastic Crate,

MAC Card, Styrene Pellets, Flour, Acrylic, Vinyl

Dinner Served

2011-03-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

'Dinner Served'

2011

Salt Fired Porcelain, Aluminum, Blown Glass, Steel,

Hand Crank Deli Slicer, Cast Acrylic Heart, Rice,

Silver Tray, Mahogany, Poplar, Enamel,

Latex Paint, Particle Board, Hardware

Freewheeling & Healing

2011-03-14T14:46:00.001-07:00

'Freewheeling & Healing'

2011

Wood Fired Porcelain, Salt Fired Stoneware, Acrylic Pal,

Adult Diapers, Corian, Ink on Panel, Latex Paint,

Enamel, Aluminum, Poplar, Vinyl, Hardare

Trap Doors

2011-02-08T19:02:00.000-08:00

'Trap Doors'

2010

Terra Cotta, Earthenware, Salt Fired Porcelain, Aluminum Cage,

Cast Ariegeois Pony, Pine, Particle Board, Vinyl, Hardware

Ambush, Truth, and the Rights to Public Domain

2011-02-08T18:57:00.000-08:00

'Ambush, Truth, and the Rights to Public Domain

2010

Salt Fired Porcelain, Terra Cotta, Styrofoam, Microphone,

Acrylic Castle, Enamel & Latex Paint, Pine,

Selected Logs from Afghanistan War 2004 - 2008, Hardware

A Lifelong Commitment to Being Cool

2011-02-08T17:16:00.000-08:00

'A Lifelong Commitment to Being Cool'

2011

Reduction Cooled Iroware, porcelain, Terra Cotta, Steel,

Marching Band Headware, 4.5 Pairs of After Six Shoes, Latex Paint,

Vinyl, Four 100% Nylon Jackets, Cosmetic Cotton Balls circa 1950,

Plastic Hangers, Particle Board, Hardware.

The Merry Monkster and His Orbiting Blue Balls

2011-01-31T05:59:00.000-08:00

'The Merry Monkster and His Orbiting Blue Balls'

2011

Industrial Cast Porcelain Wire Nuts, Inflatable Acrylic Globes, Glass, Styrene, Merry Monk Doll, Pine, Latex Paint, Hardware

____________________________________________________

just a quick sample of more work to come

Identity Sale

2010-05-16T06:28:00.001-07:00

Here is a picture of a work that I just recently created. The title is 'Identity Sale' and measures 40 x 30. Ink on canvas. Been using my thumb prints a lot lately.

This is my first attempt at blogging from my handheld as well. I have finally made the switch to the 3G network. Now I am always connected and is a bit scarry. Will see if I can keep up with my blogging now. I know it has been awhile but I am back now.

Akiyama Yo

2010-01-26T08:52:00.000-08:00

While an assistant at Peters Valley Craft Center in 2008, I was exposed to the work of Akiyama Yo. A former student of his was participating in a mold workshop and when she and I were discussing my work, his name came up. She suggested I have a look at his work and the program he runs in Kyoto. Boy, was I amazed when I first searched his name. His work and processes are truly amazing and speak to me directly in so many ways. Texture, line, surface, size... the list could go on and on. If inspiration was ever needed, he just may be the one to provide it! Below is his artist statement and some recent images.

The fact that many works go through a process of being formed in clay and then fired places them in the genre known as ceramic art, but I try not to thin of them as such. The reason for this is that I always approach a new piece in terms of what the clay and ceramics I work with actually mean to me. We take the clay from the earth upon which we stand, we manipulate it according to your will, and we transform it into something different: this is an effective way of taking another look at the long history of humanity and this perspective is an integral aspect of my artistic production.

Cracks, a phenomenon characteristically found in clay when it dries, play a central role in my work and in the patterns that result. Rather than focus on the interest of the shapes of the cracks, however, I prefer to concentrate on the images and meaning created in the relationship between myself and the cracks. The cracks could be said to bring out the energy in the clay and thus act as a medium for starting a conversation with the clay itself. I approach the clay as a substance with something to say and then my ego confronts that. My search for potential in my artistic production has focused on how I either adapt of confront the assertions of the clay. Each answer I find has informed the changes through which my artistic production has developed.

The first time I began to really understand what the firing process meant was when I realized that ceramic production was a war of artificially manipulating rock in the context of geological transformations of rock and clay and vise-versa, which take place all the time, but at an incredibility slow pace. My desire is to add my works. Which are my own humble contribution to creation, to these slow geological transformations. Within the small artificial space of the kiln, time is compressed and the traces of intention and consciousness which I imbue in clay are with are left behind as fossils. My hope is that the resulting works contain the premonition of further transformations.

Every day the world dies and is reborn. Where is the proof that we are living today, within the parallel processes of destruction and regeneration.

Falling Love

2010-01-21T07:18:00.000-08:00

Ceramic Crystals

2010-01-18T02:48:00.000-08:00

Its been five years now since I took my first ceramics class with artist Steve Kemenyffy. That first class was such an amazing experience. It gave me a completely different look and appreciation for all things ceramics. Since then, I have been obsessed with the material and have been striving to accelerate the medium forward in the fine art world. I experiment with the material on a day to day basis, trying new glaze and clay body combinations. A few years back, I was able to create this new process of growing three dimensional crystals during the later stages of firing. It was a shock the first day I opened the kiln, and saw this pile of what looked like white shaving foam all over the kiln. After extensive research, I was able to get the complete process of growing perfected and was able to stabilize the crystals in there finished state. These are some photos and examples of the crystals I was talking about. The one directly below is a shot taken inside of the kiln during the growing process.

Kosho Ito

2010-01-10T04:37:00.000-08:00

While reading the blog for e-yakimono.net, I stumbled across an incredible artist who is as interested in the pile as I am. Kosho Ito is a Japanese born artist who uses varying types of clay to create large-scale installations. His works are composed by mounting an infinite number of small objects by hand on the floor to create larger installations. The individual pieces themselves may appear identical, yet non of them are exactly the same. The countless formal differences in shape, forms, and color tones give an impression of what can be found in nature. Every tree may look the same, but each has its own soul, its own beauty and individuality. The works themselves are breathtaking and BEAUTIFUL. Everything ceramic art should be!

It is a real inspiration to see things like this that have or are happening in the ceramic movement. I myself am very drawn to this type of work and his philosophy on clay coincides with my own. Below is a piece I created in December 2008 for a solo exhibition in Cincinnati, OH at Funke fired Arts. It measures roughly ten feet in length and two feet wide. Created out of reduction cooled iroware and salt fired porcelain.

Morning Wonder...

2010-01-05T04:49:00.000-08:00

Good Morning. As the snow continues to fall, I find myself in hibernation mode. Sure a night of sledding and a few cold days at the studio have got me out, but other than that... I have just been working from home. As I was going through some images this morning, I found a couple goods ones that I decided to share. Above is an image of some Peter Callas vases from the anagama firing at Peters Valley last August. Below, a shot from the studio. Have been using a lot of molds lately- slipcasting and pressing. Tons of fun, and allows me to work in multiples. Which is what I love. The Power of Numbers! The image from the first of the year is a result of some presses as well.

New Year

2010-01-01T07:49:00.001-08:00

Yes... in fact it is the year 2010... the ball has dropped and its time to get back to work. This year is set to be filled with lots and lots of projects to be completed. Im going to be starting a new blog to coincide with a continuing project called 'Dissolving Tendencies.' For the year 2010, I will be keeping track of the amount of landfill waste I myself accumulate and then will be translating that waste into ceramic. I have a notebook handy at all times to keep track!!!

Check out the new blog for the project.

http://dissolvingtendencies.blogspot.com/

DONT JOE ME

Interglasstic Studios

2009-11-17T12:43:00.000-08:00

FINALLY! After two months of removing old wood and plaster, grinding brick, painting, etc etc etc.... The shop, (as we call it) is finally open. We are going on our third week of business and the studio/gallery is becoming better and better each day. If your in the area, stop in and check us out. Our glass artists are working on there torches non stop and I'm in the back making a mess in clay. O yeah, we have tons of artwork from local artists as well!

Interglasstic Studios

2516 Peach

Erie, PA 16504

Tuesday - Friday 12-6

Saturday 10-8

Sundays 12-5

Rendering Nature

2009-10-15T20:24:00.001-07:00

As I am about to hit the road and go deinstall my most recent exhibition, I think to myself... has it really been a month already? Above are a couple photographs from the exhibit. Haven't had the chance to examine all of them, but here are a few goodies from the stack.

The Dragon

2009-08-29T11:23:00.001-07:00

Finally made it back to Peters Valley to pick up my work that was fired in the anagama. Waited all week and finally... Friday came. The work came out fantastic. Those pictures are soon to come. Meanwhile, here are some images I took last summer at the valley.

Old School

2009-08-23T06:34:00.000-07:00

I was recently at a friends house and stumbled across an old work that I made in my first years of ceramics. It made me think a lot about where my career has gone thus far and where it might go. I was impressed with the works themselves, these appropriated plates I would experiment on... not knowing what was going happen and yet, not caring. The spontaneity of working with materials to which I knew very little about seemed so daft, but yet, exhilarating.

Now a days, everything is so calculated, so mundane. You put the tested glaze on the work and fire it. A day later you open the kiln. It's exactly as you envisioned it! No surprise! Its like opening that perfectly wrapped present on christmas morning. Your sitting there, anxious, starring at the red bow that sits a top the box, wanting to be excited. Yet, you already know what awaits.

Above are some earlier works that I created with in my first two years of working with ceramics. I was intensely working on a process of creating three dimensional crystals that would grow during the stages of firing. My attempts were very successful and are displayed in the above images. The sizes of the crystals vary, but for reference, the plates measure six inches in diameter.

The Old Home Place

2009-08-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

Well... I finally made it back to my hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania. The journey was long and was well worth the ticket price. I was able to meet some amazing people and share some unforgettable moments with them. A year in Kansas is an experience all in itself and is something I will look back upon for years to come. The best part is being able to enjoy the rest of my summer away from the persistent 100 degree days that Wichita is known for.

Erie is Home

Personal Favorite

2009-07-27T08:11:00.000-07:00

Im sure we all have our personal favorite tools in the studio. The one thing that can provide inspiration just by looking, touching, or even thinking about it. The feeling that one experiences when this bond is shared is at times... unexplainable. It's the little things in life that can at times, bring the most joy!

Installation Photographs

2009-07-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some photographs from my most recent installation entitled 'Dissolving Tendencies'

1. Feldspathic Sculpture w/ Black Gem. 5 inches

2. Ground Level 'Inhibitor'

3. Mound "Inhibitors'

4. 'Inhibitor Specimens.' There are a total of twelve in the environment.

5. Installation shot. Mound 5' in Height, 10' in Length

Dissolving Tendencies

2009-07-21T08:47:00.000-07:00

Finally got back around to the computer to get at least one imaged uploaded from my new installation. I had a lot of fun moving roughly two truck loads of dirt, 200+ solid concrete chunks, and hanging over 400 hundred doves in the gallery space. Was all worth it in the end. Installation comes down in one week and then its farewell Wichita, Kansas and back to Erie, PA. Only problem is how am I going to get everything home.... minus the dirt and concrete chunks!!!

Idiot Wind

2009-06-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

I woke up on the roadside, daydreamin' 'bout the way things sometimes are
Visions of your chestnut mare shoot through my head and are makin' me see stars.
You hurt the ones that I love best and cover up the truth with lies.
One day you'll be in the ditch, flies buzzin' around your eyes,
Blood on your saddle...

Damn Bob!!!

Doves a Flocking

2009-06-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

Installation has finally begun for my upcoming exhibit which opens on June 26. Had spent all of last week tediously tying wire to over 700 ceramic doves and there hanging devices. Above is a shot of some of the doves at the end of the second day. The overall shape is starting to come together and am on the verge of completing the first stage of the installation. My thumb is sore but, my energy and enthusiasm towards the project is still flowing strong. New ideas and insights are constantly arising and is making this an exciting and challenging experience.

More to come tomorrow!!!

Rain Rain, Don't Go Away

2009-05-12T16:30:00.000-07:00

On this planet, rain is condensation of atmospheric water vapor into drops of water that gather on nuclei of smoke, dust, and other matter suspended in the air. I find it interesting that rain is directly related to atmospheric pollution and that the more pollution there is, the more clouds there are, which in turn increases the chance of rain.

Since arriving back in Wichita, it has been raining non stop... There have been brief moments of sun, but just a tease. Just cloudy, dank atmosphere. Most complain about the situation, but I find it to be fantastic. There is less traffic, which in turn creates less pollution and is allowing the greens to get plenty of water before the upcoming dry, summer heat wave. Also it kept me in the studio working and allowed me to finally update my website. On a side note, I am enjoying the rain as it keeps it cool, but come summer, I will be wanting all the clouds I can get to protect me from the heat. Hmm......

So...... Pollution or Discomfort?

I choose discomfort! How about you?

'Dissolving Tendencies'

2009-05-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

An Installation capturing the beauty and energy of the natural world by bridging concerns of the environment and its resources through reuse.

Solo Exhibition

June 27 - August 2 2009

Wichita Center for the Arts

Wichita, Kansas

This will be the conclusion to my year long residency at the Wichita Center for the Arts. Truly a great place with a lot of good energy and history. It has been a real treat to be able to work and live out here in Kansas for a year.