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    Ceramics as a Material

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | happy earth day!I have been asked over and over again in interviews “why clay?”, “why don’t you call yourself a potter?” and “what does it mean to be a ceramic sculptor?”.  I sympathize with this quote by David R Harper about working with a material like ceramics: “No one likes feeling like they belong on the outside and that they have to defend their material … especially when their material is older than any other material,” he says. “But we do.” This article is such a great discussion on the role ceramics as a material plays in the world of art and craft. Click the link to read on…

    The new age of ceramics blurs the lines between art and craft
    by LAURA BEESTON | The Globe and Mail
    “In the world of ceramics, there has been a curious – and compelling – blurring of lines between art and craft. While contemporary artists embrace the medium and play with form, artisans are elevating everyday items to objets d’art”

    Playing with Art Underwater

    Last weekend I got to hang out with my twin niece and nephew Maddie & Tom at the lake- so much fun with these two! I brought a few pieces of art with me to play with in the rocks which was an adventure to hang onto the rocks, not tip the boat or drop cameras in the water but then my nephew used his waterproof case on his iphone to take video of my work under water in the lake. Check out the video here: Seed Pod Series Underwater

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | playing with art underwater

     

     

    Summer Sculpting Workshop Session 3

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | summer sculpting workshop session 3

    Today we’re working on some watermelon paper mache bowls using a balloon as our mold. We’ll be looking to the color wheel to learn about complementary colors and choose which pair of colors we’d like to use to paint the surface of the melon bowls. I think an abstract purple and yellow watermelon would look pretty tasty!

     

     

     

    Creative Play Time

    Got the opportunity to relax with the family this week at the lake. Can’t help but be inspired by the change of scenery as you drive from the Pacific coastline inland towards the Sierras.

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | creative play time Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | creative play time Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | creative play time

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Bone Series Installation Photos Are Up!

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | bone series installation photos are up

     

    If you haven’t had a chance to get to the Sculpture IS: 2015 exhibit at Sierra Azul Gardens in Watsonville, you can check out a sneak peek of my Bone Series Installation here on the website.  View the portfolio…

    The show is up until October 31st, so make sure to get out there and check out all the amazing work in the garden. Also, click the link to read the Santa Cruz Sentinel article about the show. Enjoy!

    In The Studio

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | in the studio
    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | in the studio Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | in the studio

     

    I’ve been playing with new compositions of some lichen shaped forms lately. I’m imagining them to be wall mounted and curve in a way that they appear to be crawling or growing along the wall. Thoughts?

     

     

    Summer Workshop Session 2

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | summer workshop session 2We’re in full swing of week two of our summer sculpting workshops at the studio. We started off the week with clay succulent containers that have texture and pattern decorating the outside. We also made balance bowls, students were challenged to create a bowl that did not touch the table with a flat bottom, this has yielded some interesting results! Next up, we’ll be casting our arms in tape to create figurative sculptures with a focus on form, working with wire to create creeping spiders and painting our clay projects. Its going to be a busy week at the studio!

    A few spots are still available if you’d like to join in on the fun: Sign Up for Summer Workshops Today!

    Series Showcase: Small Nests

    jenni ward ceramic sculpture | nest series
    Small sculptures can make a big impact on a space. These little nest pieces are hand held in size, they feel good to pick up and hold, like a found shell or stone. They are inspired by forms in nature, each piece hopes to find the place where art and nature meet. The nests are all handmade and have a small ceramic form fused on the inside that is protected by its outer ceramic shell. A variety of these unique small nests are available in the shop.

     

     

     

    Garden Party at Sierra Azul

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Garden Party at Sierra AzulGot some press today in the Santa Cruz Sentinel for my Bone Series at Sierra Azul’s Sculpture IS: 2015 exhibit! Such an amazing line up of artists in this exhibit, I’m so proud to be showing my work alongside them. The show is up until October, make sure that you get out there to see it!

    ArtPrize 2015 Acceptance

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | hive series | in the field installationSo excited to announce that my Hive Series Installation was accepted at the 7th annual ArtPrize event in Grand Rapids, Michigan and my work will be shown at the Calvin College‘s (106) Gallery in downtown Grand Rapids!

    This year ArtPrize runs from September 23 – October 11 and offers artists the opportunity to win more than $500,000 in awarded prizes. Half is decided by public vote and half decided by a jury of art experts. You might of seen the 2014 grand prize winner going viral on social media: Anila Quayyum Agha’s Intersections.

    So if you’re in the Grand Rapids area, get out and rock the vote!