New work: Tablespace at The Fosdick Nelson Gallery at Alfred University.

The show Tablespace just opened at The Fosdick Nelson Gallery at Alfred. This show presents a cross section of ceramic work from current studio artists addressing the subject of function and the site of table or other  situations. Participating Artists: Andy Brayman, Paul Eshelmann, Tomoo Hamada, Sarah Jaeger, Ole Jensen, Paul Katula, Sandy Simon, Sonngard Marcks, Lisa Orr, Mark Pharis, Robert Sutherland, Sam Uhlick, Takeshi Yasuda and myself.

Here is the writing that accompanies my piece.

The place settings presented in Tablespace are the result of my desire to present a unique collection of dishes without the framework of a specific meal. Visually I was interested in using dishes to compose a picture and emotionally I was interested in having these dishes talk about intimacy and conversation.

I have always been fascinated with Wunderkammers, or Cabinets of Curiosities. I love thinking about the psychology of curating and how individual aesthetics are honed. On the one hand I see my collections of pots as three dimensional snapshots, similar to a still life, but they are dishes placed within a tablescape. They suggest nourishment and sustenance, and due to the intimate setting for two also imply familiarity and conversation.

The “conversations” I have staged are layered. First there is the literal conversation that materializes during the dining ritual between friends and family. Then there is the abstract conversation between the individual elements in the setting and the overall pieces as a whole. And lastly there is the visual pun or marker of the green “thought bubble” placemat referencing a graphic conversational convention.

Finally, recent events in my own life (starting a family, maintaining a studio practice, negotiating and satisfying needs, and treading in the water of life); have made me cherish the once plentiful times with my love. Although these moments rarely take place around the dinner table anymore, I see the table as a metaphor for the emotional space of these cherished occasions, and memories as a beacon of what to strive for as life moves along.