Interconnectedness

Thursday, June 25:  Today I made connections and reconnections. 

I completed construction of my third double-walled clay vessel since beginning the Open Studio session.  It is a satisfying part of my process, where all the loose clay coil “threads” are joined to each other around the paper armature.  Once the armature burns out in the firing the internal void is exposed by an organic grid structure of interlaced coils with no beginning or end. 

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Add comment July 1st, 2009 at 03:55pm pksullivan

There seems to be a pasta buzz…

I couldn’t help but smile to myself when I read fellow Open Studio’s artist, Siri, title her previous blog post: “Are you making ravoili?” because I, too,  I have been receiving similar comments about my work as well.  Not exactly about ravioli per se, but rather questions such as, “Is that pasta?” “Is that dough?” have been  common inquiries from many of the visitors.   I am really enjoying the experience of hearing the visual and tactile connections that people are making, because from these responses is where I feel new content shifting, and new realms are opening up.   Yet, the funny thing is, I have always always wanted to work with dough, but it never seemed strong enough to hold the crisp shapes that I wanted.  So thank you visitors, for discovering these connections and opening my eyes to seeing something new in my work that I’ve wanted to share for quite a while.  A very inspiring week indeed!

 

 

 

 

#1 Works in Progress:  Rachel Miller                                                           #2 Works in Progress: Rachel Miller

Add comment June 29th, 2009 at 10:29am rmiller88

Figurine Plaster Casting

This week I was quite excited to begin casting my figurine.  Attached are photos of the set up - preparing the figurine for casting, followed by a photo of the figurine after the first half of the plaster mold has been poured (this piece was cast as a two-part mold)

Bridget Parris

Add comment June 26th, 2009 at 04:44pm bridgetparris

Finished Model of the Base for Lamp

Monday I finished the model for the “base” section of my lamp - with a little help from some friends: Artists Mary Cook and Lee Heekin generously offered their time and company to join me in the MAD Studio and did some sculpting while I was in the midst of plaster casting.  This project is so involved, I have been concerned about finishing it by the end of the Summer, enlisting some help moved the process along.

This piece is going to be a real trick to cast because it is quite large and detailed.  Looking forward to some help next week from guest - Kathleen Shuen.

Bridget Parris

Add comment June 26th, 2009 at 04:43pm bridgetparris

Getting the projectors ready

In two weeks, we start what is hopefully the first of many film series done in cooperation with the Museum of the Moving Image (full details here. We’ve been offering various programs in the theater, including films, for 9 months now, but this will be the first time we’ve used our pair of 35mm projectors for a full program. So, I’ve spent much of the past few days helping to get these machines ready for use.

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Add comment June 23rd, 2009 at 04:01pm Josh

In Print/In Process with Furniture Designer Paul Loebach

 

Furniture designer Paul Loebach was at MAD last week, discussing his creative process, the new technologies he uses to create his work, and some of the issues surrounding manufacturing and design. His lecture on Thursday night and studio workshop on Saturday afternoon were part of MAD’s series with American Craft magazine called In Print/In Process, which brings artists featured in the magazine to MAD’s Open Studios to discuss and demonstrate their work. (more…)

Add comment June 23rd, 2009 at 12:29pm Erin

“Are you making ravioli?”

Last week I got this question 5 times! HA! It’s brilliant how one week I’ll get the same question 5 times and the next week no one will ask. I love these little nuances of working in the open studio. For example: I have 4 finished brooches that I keep out so people can see what they look like when they’re glazed and the enamels are on, I’ve had them out for weeks and one week at least 6 people picked up the same brooch and asked if it was tin. And it’s funny that where I sit in the room determines if people come in or not. So I try to move the table close to the door and sit so you can see me right when you get off the elevator.

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Add comment June 23rd, 2009 at 12:27pm Siri

Partition

Partition

Today is the opening for a show of mine in Brooklyn.  All are welcome.   If you cant make it to the opening please check out the installation which will be up from now until the end of August.
The Partition dinnerware pieces where previously on display in the MAD on the 6th Floor.

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Add comment June 23rd, 2009 at 12:08pm christian.swafford

rapid prototyping

I have brought in a step by step presentation of 3d printing and rapid prototyping.  with these visual aides it makes it much easier to explain the process of rapid prototyping. It has already made it easier and more engaging for museum goers and helps relate my work to the work in the Object Factory show on the 5th floor of MAD.

Add comment June 19th, 2009 at 04:24pm christian.swafford

Faux Porcelain

Faux porcelain odes to modernism.
my work has shifted.  The odes to modernism i was previously working on have evolved to include material trickery.  I am taking the finished models and painting them white and then lacquering them to give the illusion of porcelain.  The end product will be complicated geometric forms that appear to made from porcelain (which would be close to impossible).  I have done this previously with 3d print outs and rapid prototyping disguised as ceramics.

Add comment June 19th, 2009 at 04:24pm christian.swafford