the dirt

RSS feed

    BIGGEST NEWS OF THE YEAR!

    BIGGEST NEWS OF THE YEAR (so far!) | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculptureJust a few days ago, the artists at Mission Industrial Art Studios got word from the powers-that-be that we WILL be allowed to have our studios open for this years Open Studios event in October! YAY!!

    If you’re unsure why this is the BIGGEST NEWS OF THE YEAR, then read this post first about all the changes at Mission Industrial. Then this post about what I had planned to do for this years Open Studios.

    With this new exception in place, I will now be showing my work in my own space, 2523 C Mission St, Artist #307 in the catalog and I can’t wait to see you all there! Now that you’re all caught up, aren’t you excited!?!?

    I should also note, that none of the other changes at Mission Industrial have been revoked, so we are still unable to hold classes or have other events and as it stands now, this could be the last Open Studios at Mission Industrial, so make sure that you get over here to check out the eight artists participating.

    October 13, 14, 20 & 21 | 11 – 5

     

    Rock Candy gems are rocking the online shop!

    Rock Candy | shop | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture
    The Rock Candy Series colorful ceramic gem-like forms are now available in the online shop! They are intriguing objects mounted on the wall or placed in the garden as colorful eye candy.

    Rocks are organized in the online shop by color but sold individually, mix and match to create your own creative composition.

    Each rock ranges in size from 1″ – 4″ and they are $35 each regardless of size. There are 14 colors to choose from!

    SHOP NOW

    Summer Love!

    Art Hearts | shop | Earth Art StudioA variety of new Art Hearts are now available in the online shop!

     

    Choose from 12 different styles available as ornaments or on metal stems. Bring one as a housewarming gift around your favorite bottle for your next bbq! The perfect gift for your summer love!


    SHOP NOW!

     

    Featured Work: Specimen Series

    Sometimes it’s easy to forget about older works when there’s so much shiny new goodies coming out of the studio! So, I wanted to bring to light the last four remaining pieces from the Specimen Series. These little bento box style sculptures hold abstract forms reminiscent of the collection of rocks or shells that you keep near and dear. Each box has a small loop one the back for easy hanging. They are available in the online shop or if you want to see them in person, come to the Blue Umbrellas Art Fair next weekend! They may be a few years old, but they’re still treasures waiting to be added to your collection!

    Featured Work: Specimen Series | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    When your series has a Gen 2…

    I work in series. It’s a way for me to use a concept, process or technique and experiment with all the possible variables of those working parts. Generally, I come to an end with a series when I feel satisfied in my exploration or when the series evolves and changes so much that it develops into something completely new, occasionally I revisit a series years later with new inspiration.

    I’ve been working in my Bone Series taking inspiration from the forms, textures and structures of bones for many years now with many different results. I don’t think that I’m anywhere close to being done with this exploration but I do think that I’ve created a second generation of this series- which seems weird to me.

    When I was at my residency at the Buffalo Creek Art Center and I was experimenting with porcelain, I wasn’t really trying to make something, I was just experimenting with new materials and seeing how far I could push them. What I ended up with was what I’m now nicknaming the Gen 2 of my Bone Series.

    Take a look at these two pieces side by side. The one on the left is from 2015 and was used in an In the Field Installation on a shipwreck in the Atlantic Ocean, it’s made from stoneware with a matte white glaze and has high temperature wire ‘tentacles’.  The one on the right is from last month, made from extremely thin porcelain, no glaze and also has high temperature wire ‘tentacles’. The two are totally different and totally the same. I’ve never had this happen in a series before and I’m not sure where this will lead but I really like the way it’s going so I’m going to follow…

    When your series has a Gen 2... | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    Wall Mounted Hive Success!

    I had always wanted to try to get the Hive Series pieces on the wall and I thought it was possible but I had never really taken the time to experiment with wall mount designs. Well… I finally tried it and it worked! Here’s a little but of my process…

    Wall Mounted Hive Success! | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    First I mocked up a prototype on some scrap wood, it was nothing pretty and is not pictured here, but it helped me find the pattern of attachment points for each of the layers of ceramic pieces and it gave me confidence that the wire looping from the clay to the wood would actually hold them down. So moved forward and cut large circles for the base that the pieces would rest on, drilled holes for the wire loops, then sanded and painted them. Then one layer at a time I attached the pieces with the wire loops and did a dot of extra strength epoxy on the edge of the wood where the pieces rested not so much to keep them attached as much as to keep them from shifting position.

    Wall Mounted Hive Success! | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

    Once all the pieces were wired on and epoxied to hold their place, I added a second smaller circle of wood to the backs. This piece has the hole to hang on a screw on the wall and it also has three screws connecting it to the larger circle with small spacers in between the circles to allow space for the twists of wire. I think this gives them a clean backside hiding the wire ends while also floating them off the wall a little bit- which also makes them slightly easier to hang. And here’s the result…

    These three are available in the online shop with free shipping in the US and three more will be added in a few weeks! Enjoy!!
    Hive Series | shop | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture