Back from NCECA in Philadelphia, and still digesting all the great work i saw there.
My experience was akin to reverent elation at having a full five days in the SUNNY & WARM & uber nice Philly, meandering around the various shows within walking distance of the center city hub that convention goers came to. What a lovely and easy to navigate town! I can't wait for another chance to revisit the city of brotherly love.
NCECA 2010 had much to offer in terms of diverse work, demonstrations, informative lectures & new opportunities. For the first time, there was a green team table, which brought to the surface the subject of sustainability in ceramic studios. Their conversational survey asked some key questions which may lead us all to think about our practice on a greener level.
My most informative lecture was the panel discussion on "Ceramic Technology: Material Issues" about materials we use and the safe handling practices we need to be abiding by. I also really enjoyed the Lecture by Sharbani Das Gupta, "Dust to Dust", about the Hindi Bengali ceramic artists of Kumartuli, Kolkata in India, who spend months making gods and goddesses out of Terracruda to be used in a five day religious festival and then placed into the river to slake back into the earth once again. The undefinable quality of art blurs greatly when see through the visionary eyes of these master sculptors. It was a beautiful slideshow.
I experienced one of the most inspirational moments on my first day of shows, at the Eastern State Penitentiary. This dilapidated and now defunct prison was once home to infamous Al Capone for a few short months and numerous other inmates living in some very intense and sometimes isolated or squalid conditions, yet is now a somewhat preserved historical site which can be toured, much like our own AlCatraz island. There were several great installations of art here, amidst the prison walls... or ruins... Most notably among them was the "ESP project"'s piece by Rocky Lewycky, which involved 980 urns, approx. 7"x12" blocks, represented the cells at E.S.P. complete with the "eye of god" slit in the ceiling which was the cell dweller's only window, from which God would supposedly look down to view them, let them see their own misdeeds and reform them. This reformation was usually not the case however, and the urns represented the charring of the soul that one would feel being sequestered in such an environment. It was also supposed to "reverse" the acts of theivery or brutality among inmates, by offering something back through a wonderfully interactive procession, allowing the public to be corralled through the cellblock to choose only one urn, and be escorted out to take it home as a testament. This piece was beautifully laid out, down one entire length of cellblock, and was very moving. Here i am with my urn at the penitentiary's green house, and following pic is my urn at home. I am so proud to own this momento!
I couldn't possibly put all of my favorite ceramic work on this blog, since i took some 600 photos and saw over twenty shows. However here are just a few of my favorites:
Not sure who this is, but i believe it is from the Salt Gallery, and i just love it's expression! Si se puede!
"Actually I'm Korean", from the NCECA national juried student competition... it is also a teapot. Not sure of artist, sorry...
"Anti-Biotic", from same, by Christopher Adelhardt
I really loved the "Earth Matters" exhibition at the Galleries of Moore College of Art & Design. One of the standouts was from Australian artist, Gudrun Klix. After seeing the show, i found i felt compelled to buy her CUP at the NCECA cupsale. Purely sculptural, it is reminiscent of the tabletop piece she had in the show, shown below cup in a postcard.
Overall it was a grand time and i will be going to next year's event in FL, for sure!
For all of my exhibition photos, via Snapfish, please leave a comment here, and i will forward you an invite to view them!!
