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    Week two of my residency at Buffalo Creek Art Center

    Even thought the two pieces in this photo didn’t survive, I feel like I made some progress this week…
    Week two of my residency at Buffalo Creek Art Center | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    I was able to get a few kiln firings going, which really let me know where I stood on my experiments. I had a few collapses and a little breakage but I also got a few gems out of the kiln. The flanged bone forms and the aspen leaf forms I was playing with actually became beautiful translucent porcelain pieces. These results gave me the confidence to go ahead and make more pieces improving on my building and slow-drying techniques. I’ve kind of decided that if I can figure out how to build these ultra fragile porcelain pieces (which require the slowest of drying process possible to succeed) in the desert, in summer and get good results- I’m golden.

    Week two of my residency at Buffalo Creek Art Center | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    Oh! And as a side adventure… you know that 10,000+ foot peak that was just begging to be hiked from outside my studio window, yeah… we bagged that peak!

    Week two of my residency at Buffalo Creek Art Center | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

     

    Planning for Open Studios 2018!

    Planning for Open Studios 2018 | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    In my previous post ch-ch-ch-ch-ch changes… about the new status of the studio, I mentioned that I may not be able to participate in the annual Santa Cruz Open Studios event… well, I’ve got some good news!

    I was lucky to be invited and hosted by artists Nora Dougherty & Bridget Henry at their gorgeous space up the coast this year. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to spend the weekend with these talented ladies and I’m looking forward to seeing you all there.

    Mark your calendars for Oct 13, 14, 20 & 21 | 11 – 5
    5221 Coast Rd Santa Cruz (5 miles north of Western Dr)

    Week one of my residency at Buffalo Creek Art Center

    Buffalo Creek Art Center was as beautiful as the website had promised when I pulled in last Friday. Its back nestled into the eastern Sierras with Carson Valley laid out in front, each nook of the property offers a new corner to explore. And off the property, there are lots of mountains waiting to be hiked!

    Week one of my residency at Buffalo Creek Art Center | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    On my first day here, I set up my studio space with a large window over looking the mountains and was also introduced to one of my studio mates Harry Pollit who was working on carving an abstract wax form that will later be cast into glass. Our other studio mate Austen Brantley, who creates figurative work in clay, joined us a few days later and the three of us have settled into a rhythm of studio life.

    Week one of my residency at Buffalo Creek Art Center | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    I got to work using two different types of porcelain that I had wanted to experiment with to attempt to create very thin edged forms similar to those in my Bone Series but a little more delicate. It’s pretty warm here and it’s hard to get these thin forms to dry slowly, so cracks started forming quickly, I also lost a few pieces to wind and general studio casualties but the survivors are loaded in the kiln and we’ll see how well they do in the firing. In the meantime, I also have been taking the time to work on some tedious umbel forms that I just never gave myself the time to create in my own studio. It’s been an interesting first week of my residency and I’m looking forward to the next three. Tomorrow I’ll unload the first bisque, assess the experiments and continue the problem solving from there.

    Gratitude!

    Gratitude | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculptureA super, gigantic THANK YOU to everyone who kicked off my Iceland Residency Fund and became a patron of the arts!!

    I’m already $725 into my $2500 goal because of you! It was so amazing to wake up in the morning, to see all of your contribution emails in my inbox- I truly felt the love and I can’t wait to send out my surprise thank yous to everyone upon my return!

    Still want to contribute?? You can become a patron by donating here!

    ps: you can also buy art in the online shop to support this art adventure too!

    Sculpture IS: 2018

    Sculpture IS: In the Garden 2018, marks our twelfth sculpture exhibit in partnership with Sierra Azul Nursery & Gardens. The jurors, Susana Arias and Jeff Rosendale, selected over 80 sculptures created by more than 40 artists and collaborators. Visit the stunning two-acre demonstration garden; relax under the umbrellas, bring your picnic lunch, and spend an afternoon enjoying the exhibit.

    June 1 – October 31
    Opening reception June 14th 5-7pm
    Sierra Azul Gardens
    2660 East Lake Ave | Watsonville CA

    And, I’m off (again!)

    I feel like this spring has been a non-stop traveling art show and it’s not ending anytime soon! I’m on my way to the Buffalo Creek Art Center in Gardnerville, Nevada for a month long artist residency. This invitation only program is in its second season of hosting sculptors on the 25 acre property. I’m so excited to go, meet the other artists and create in this beautiful environment with uninterrupted work time. I plan on using the time to do some experimenting with different clays and different techniques, hoping to achieve some successes while expecting a lot of failures too, it will be a process over product journey of learning.

    And, I'm off (again!) | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    I’ll be posting photos of what I’ll be working on and inspiration from the gorgeous environment of the eastern sierras as things develop. Wish me luck and more coming soon!

     

    Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes…

    Two years ago I made the announcement that after 12 years in our home studio, we were moving to the westside of Santa Cruz. It was a huge change for us and we were really excited for all the possibilities. The past two years at Mission Industrial Art Studios has been even more amazing than we could of expected; the community of artists who work there became friends, a 1400 sq ft warehouse became our basecamp and you- the community of art lovers- joined us at events, for classes and drop-in visits- it’s been pretty incredible and we’re so grateful.

    Just a few weeks ago, the powers-that-be at Mission Industrial notified all the tenants that due to issues with ADA compliance, it is too high of a liability for the property to be open to the public any longer. Therefore all of the tenants are no longer allowed to participate in art events like Open Studios, hold classes, or have the public come onto the property. Everyone was stunned by the news and it has taken time to digest what this means and how each of us will move forward. And to be honest, we’re not exactly sure how Earth Art Studio is going to move forward yet but I wanted to keep you in the loop.

    Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes... | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    What we do know is that we will not be resuming classes at the studio but we may offer some workshops outside of the studio space, those opportunities will be announced in our monthly email blast. And while, I was delighted to officially be accepted into the Open Studios Art Tour for this coming October, I’m still researching my options for a venue, if a suitable one can’t be found, I may not be participating for the first time in over 15 years.

    In the short term, we plan to stay put since the idea of moving the studio again in addition to the lack of spaces available for light industrial artists is daunting but we are keeping our eyes open for options – please let me know of any leads if you’ve got them!

    In the meantime, since you can’t visit the studio to buy art any longer, the online shop is open 24/7 for all your art buying needs and will be added to and improved on to make an even better art buying experience for you. I’m also working on more venues to show and sell my work from that are outside of my studio space and will announce those as they happen.

    Thanks for sticking with us as we go through these ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch changes!

    (also sorry if that song is stuck in your head all day after reading this!)

    new residential installation!

     

    If you’ve thought about how my work might look in a residential space but you weren’t quite sure, check out these new images of a framed Bone Series and a large Nest Series piece in their new forever home. Their new owner was so thrilled with how they fit seamlessly into her cozy, modern space that she was tearing up at their installation. I love the little surprises like the reflection of the Nest piece on the glass dining room table!

    More Images…