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Funded! This project successfully raised its funding goal on February 22, 2012.

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I am a student at the Kansas City Art Institute wanting to attend a residency at the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemet,Hungary

 I hope to fund this kickstarter so that I can travel to Hungary and participate in a residency at the International Ceramics Studio in Kecskemet. I will learn china painting techniques in greater depth from participating residents and by viewing the use of the material in historical and contemporary examples. During my visit I plan to visit the Herend Porcelain Factory, the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest, the Zsolnay Porcelain Factory in Pecs, the Boso Collection in Kecekemet, and the International Gallery for Ceramic Art in Cesky Krumolov, Czech Republic. I am interested in obtaining a better understanding of Eastern European ceramic practices and history.  The expenses of the four-week trip will include workshop participation, hands-on experience with materials such as Herend porcelain, glazes, slips, and plaster, and the cost of firing kilns. 


The opportunity to explore different cultures while refining my body of work will exponentially help my career as an artist, educator, community leader and activist. 

My ceramics is intended to be a biographical narrative that tells the many stories of my life. The objects I create speak of personal subjects - my experiences with obesity, racism, and class division.  I use the associations with ceramic material and forms of pottery, such as elite fine china and porcelain, to discuss these issues with humor and irony. My strongest concepts are influenced from the juxtaposition of cultural elements in the form of mass media and current events. Using historical ideology within pottery as a vehicle to introduce a modern theme is of great importance because it allows me to add more dimensions to my artwork.

Drawing imagery on my pottery creates a direct way to tell stories to diverse audiences, including those from communities like the one in which I was raised. I often use images of animals as allegories for human narratives. As a result of experimenting with many different ways of decorating wares, I have found china painting to be the most effective for the results I desire, conceptually and technically.  China paint has historically been used to create ornate wares for elite families and dynasties. Using china paint on porcelain, to depict graffiti-inspired imagery, like the graffiti I painted as a teenager in North Philadelphia, illustrates elements of different classes, thus executing my goals in regards to content. I hope to influence positive change by creating a platform to view our cultural differences and to consider our similarities.

 

 

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59
Backers
$2,720
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Funding period
Jan 22, 2012 - Feb 22, 2012

  • Pledge $5 or more

    1 backer

    Hand-written thank you letter for your support

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2012
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    4 backers

    Post card with hand-drawing

    Estimated delivery: Feb 2012
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    6 backers

    3x3 inch ceramic tile with one of a kind hand-drawing. (Not china-painted)

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $25 or more

    11 backers

    Wheel thrown tea-bowl with slip design or Wheel thrown tumbler.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $40 or more

    6 backers

    China painted tea-bowl with one of a kind design.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $50 or more

    13 backers

    Pair of cups. Choice of tea-bowls or tumblers.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $100 or more

    4 backers

    China painted plate with one of kind design.

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $150 or more

    3 backers

    Mid size china painted jar

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $250 or more

    0 backers

    China painted teapot with four tea-bowls

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
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    0 backers

    China painted dinnerware set: Four china painted tea-bowls Four china painted plates or One china painted charger 18' +

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $1,000 or more

    0 backers

    Large china painted dinnerware set: eight tea-bowls eight plates and one Charger

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012
  • Pledge $1,500 or more

    0 backers

    custom work of your choice

    Estimated delivery: Mar 2012