If yesterday's half day was intense here at Holliins University at the Clay Symposium, a full day today was killer great. I staggered back to my room reeling with tiredness at 9 p.m., but upon uploading and looking through the day's photos, I felt recharged. So before exhaustion grabs me, I'm giving a shout-out to the symposium mastermind, Donna Polseno- wow as usual.
Donna keeping attendees informed so we can find our discussion groups this afternoon… Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
The format involves five clay artists. There are two wheel artists working in one big studio room, and three handbuilders in another.
Handbuilders, alphabetically:
Meredith Brickell, who interestingly enough was working on a a sculpture that would become an assemblage of bricks, symbolizing the impermanence of human existence and, conversely, the human desire to retain memory of prior humans.
Meredith creating the 2' x 2' slump mold for her sculpture. She will drape a large slab into it to begin the actual piece. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
Meredith Brickell working with coils and pinching to create the walls of her bricklike sculpture. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
Giselle Hicks, working on a complex sculpture of massed flowers, which will be attached on a large handbuilt base. (The pillow form is one she makes often, with complex surface designs, but is not part of the sculpture-to-be.)
Giselle Hicks. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
The petals for the flowers, pressed into Giselle's palm to give them the right curve.
The petals build around these flower centers, made from coil components.
One of many that will be part of the sculpture.
Gwendolyn Yoppolo, who pinched feeding-connected forms that were deceptively simple, and were based on a deep philosophical exploration of human relationships.
Gwendolyn Yoppolo pinching one of her vessels. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
Vessels designed for people to feed one another!
The wheel-throwers, alphabetically:
Suze Lindsay, seen here forming a pitcher from thrown and altered components:
Suze Lindsay showing thrown part for a large pitcher. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
Darting a thrown form to create a shoulder on the pitcher-to-be, which will be like the one to the right, only larger. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
And Linda Sikora, a potter exploring round forms:
Linda Sikora. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
Linda Sikora refining the lid gallery inside a round pot. Photo Mimi Stadler 2014
Plenty of rest needed by all to refuel for Day Three!