This week the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collection opened it's cabinets and drawers for exploration. Here are a few of my favorites from this excavation of phenomenal ceramic work.
One of my first magical experiences in Kansas City was going to the yard sale of Allan Winkler. His home was exteriorly decorated with lovely blue glass bottles hanging in trees and sheets of metal crafted into anthropomorphic forms. I had no idea then that he was such a prolific artist, or honestly anything other than he had odd items for sale and a home of wonder. I have discovered that he has worked with cut paper, paint, ceramic material, and metal, designed clothes, made quilts, and is a musician.
So, picking up and touching his incredibly textural slab built piece made my year. The form is simple, but has so much fine detail in the slight glaze work and sgraffito. The backside reveals folds of clay coming together and has flashing from kiln firing. He also made two small indentions correlating to where the breasts of his form are on the front side. The whimsical quality of this form reminds me of one of my favorite artists, Joan Miro, but definitely more toned down in color and form. I am in love with the fingers and toes on this figure. The shapes of nail are just hinted at by carved lines. This piece is simple, but incredibly grand at the same time.
So, picking up and touching his incredibly textural slab built piece made my year. The form is simple, but has so much fine detail in the slight glaze work and sgraffito. The backside reveals folds of clay coming together and has flashing from kiln firing. He also made two small indentions correlating to where the breasts of his form are on the front side. The whimsical quality of this form reminds me of one of my favorite artists, Joan Miro, but definitely more toned down in color and form. I am in love with the fingers and toes on this figure. The shapes of nail are just hinted at by carved lines. This piece is simple, but incredibly grand at the same time.
This teapot is just one of KCAI graduate Michael Peed's work in the Ken Ferguson Teaching Collection. From examining his ceramic pieces I definitely see he has incredible skill with clay. His utilization of conceptual imagery is varied between works, but he has a knack for expression. In this particular vessel he utilizes molds of female figures and cherubs. His glazes - and possibly china paints - crackle and run creating movement throughout the form. The lines of red and blocks of blue reference the American flag to me and the female form with four extra legs reminds me of a cross between a ship's figurehead and an Indian goddess. The interior is the bright yellow of the cherubs and has 7 or more holes poked into the spout for the pot. The cracking of the figures and the quality of the glazes give a raunchy feel to the work, which is incredibly appealing. Its beautifully grotesque.
On the home page for Jen Watson she quotes the Pope of Trash, John Waters.," I respect everything I make fun of." In her portfolio, there are examples of fantastic kitsch galore. I was lucky enough to get to see her works in progress last year and am very excited in getting to handle her piece "Honey Boo Boo Child," a lithophane - a thin, transulscent piece of clay that reveals in image when backlit - of child pageant and TLC reality series star Alana Thompson.
Jen says that she, "is a collector of the discarded, and a curator of kitsch with an affinity for the tasteless and cheap." She exposes the ugly or crude sides of life and celebrates it for all of its delightfully honest nastiness. Her choice to immortalize a child beauty queen in all of her gaudy glory tickles me. The technical skill of this piece is impeccable. I believe she found a great way in which to talk about the competitive sexualization of young girls and how grandly absurd the child beauty pageant culture is. Jen doesn't shy away from loaded, subversive content and I very much respect her bravery and skill.
Jen says that she, "is a collector of the discarded, and a curator of kitsch with an affinity for the tasteless and cheap." She exposes the ugly or crude sides of life and celebrates it for all of its delightfully honest nastiness. Her choice to immortalize a child beauty queen in all of her gaudy glory tickles me. The technical skill of this piece is impeccable. I believe she found a great way in which to talk about the competitive sexualization of young girls and how grandly absurd the child beauty pageant culture is. Jen doesn't shy away from loaded, subversive content and I very much respect her bravery and skill.