Kickstarter

By traveling to the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemet, Hungary I will be immersed in a culture where ceramic figurines, architecture, and traditional domestic wares are an integral part of the everyday experience. At the International Ceramics Studio, I will be working along side European artists that frequently visit the center, and who integrate traditional, and industrial ceramic processes in the creation of work that is relevant to contemporary conversations. This rich environment of exchange and cultural dialogue at the ceramics studio will allow me to expand on my interests in decorative arts from the 20th century, as well as my interest in integrating narrative and historical imagery into my studio practice.

While at the studio, I will work with the prized, ultra-white Herend porcelain that is only available in Hungary to expand on a series of work titled The Audience of Monkeys. This series depicts monkey characters that are smoking and drinking. The figures act as critics, or audience members when part of a larger installation. The monkeys also speak to the tragic human tendency for gluttonous behavior by drawing on the art historical use of smoking monkeys as symbols for the folly of man. By creating the figures in Herend porcelain the work will address the human desire for vanity and power, as the figures will be made from this rare and much sought after material.

The ceramic studio is a compound style center that has communal living, eating and working spaces to create a close knit, professional environment of artists from around the world. The center hosts visiting artists that give workshops and lectures several times throughout each month, and boasts an impressive permanent collection of contemporary and historic ceramic art. This rich environment will further my professional career and development by exposing my work to an international audience, and provide the opportunity to connect with a diverse group of peers in a professional setting.

Funding for this project will cover my residency expenses at the center, and help pay for my materials and firings while I’m there. Backers have the options of several handmade sculptural, and 2D gifts. Thank you for considering this proposal. I appreciate all of your encouragement and support through helping to fund my project!!