Photos and reporting by Robert Kokenyesi, Ceramic Artist, Beachfront Pottery, Godfrey, IL, 62035, USA. If you enjoyed this post, then like the post, and also like my Facebook page. Check out Beachfront Pottery posts on Instagram @beachfrontpottery. There is additional information about Beachfront Pottery on my web site.
The Venue
The Constructed Vision III multimedia exhibit took place in the gallery of St Louis Artists’ Guild in Clayton, Missouri from August 14 through September 12, 2020. Artworks were submitted from all over the USA to compete for being juried into the exhibit.
The Call for Entry
The call for entry read as follows: Constructed Visions III is a national juried exhibition seeking artisans (object makers) of 3D or 2D contemporary fine craft or sculpture that highlight process-driven methods. The artistic product may be functional or nonfunctional, but the process, technique, and material must align with the intent or content of the piece. The St. Louis Artists’ Guild seeks artwork in wood, metal, paper, fiber, glass, clay, jewelry, encaustics, and printmaking as well as non-traditional materials.
The Ceramic Art Pieces
His statement reads: The timeless quality that can be found in ceramic vessels and objects drives my work; it is a strong reflection of humanity revealing our history, values and spirit. Clay is a uniquely intimate material that allows one to create through the act of touch. Its infinite possibility of abstraction and expression is inspiring. Historical ceramic iconography, modern painting, sculpture and contemporary design all merge together and inform my work.
Currently, My research has been in soda and wood-fired architectonic porcelain vessels. These vessels loosely resemble a variety of man-made constructions such as huts, domes, cathedrals, temples, and urban landscapes. There are interesting parallels between pottery and architecture. Each is ergonomically designed to relate and interact with the human body. They are not only functional objects, but they also provide an outlet for artistic expression, creativity, and imagination. In my mind, architecture is sculpture that is inhabited and pottery is sculpture that functions. Many of my vessels are influenced by Deconstructivist-Style architecture with the use of freedom of form and a visible display of complexity in the structure, rather than strict adherence to functional concerns and formal design elements. Unpredictability, non-rectilinear shapes, which distort and displace elements of the composition, controlled chaos and fragmentation are all features employed in the formulation of my ceramic vessels. The surface of these objects becomes a canvas, which allows for further expression and detail within the composition. The application of stripes, Polk-a-dots and linear and nonlinear graphic imagery at once unifies and fragments the form. At times this combination of form and surface can echo historical artistic movements such as Op-Art, Cubism, Pop-Art and Modernism culminating in Post-Modern statement.
Many of my vessel forms are abstracted. Form, color and line, are independent from any directly recognizable, visual references that attempt to replicate the appearance of a visible reality. The primary focus is to construct ceramic pieces that are vehicles for conveying ideas, which employ both historical and contemporary artistic idioms. The conceptualized visual-language in these ceramic vessels are both playful and unpredictable. The viewer’s notion of form, design and functionality at times maybe challenged. The ultimate objective of my work is to create a sense of wonder and curiosity within my audience. Engaging them in a spirited conversation with each piece. To see more of his works visit his web site.
Her statement reads: I am exploring the space between different two worlds such like warm and cold, death and life, East and West, and, disgust and beauty. To see the in between spaces creates awkward imagining that are difficult for me to explain. I have been thinking these mixed and vague images that I found in-between spaces are related with recent society. The world is mixed now. The culture barriers are collapsing, ambiguous gender roll in society and people are attracted by virtual reality like a fake Instagram account. I am unconsciously affected by this environment. And I consciously try to represent this world through my work. For more of her art visit her web site.
Beachfront Pottery is grateful for being juried into this national multimedia exhibit, and for being able to share exhibit space with other well-regarded artists. This piece is one of the many (and ever increasing number of) bowls, vases and teapots I have made in the Seafloor Archaeology series. The people of the 25th century used discarded bicycle chains to affix the ceramic shards to each other to form bowl VI. Other pieces have nails or bolts connecting the individual shards. You can see more of my pieces on my Facebook page, and on my web site.