BFA Thesis Exhibit
Kit May
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Artist Statement
My artwork and mental states have an uncanny way of intertwining. Each piece in this group of coil-built vessels acts as a timestamp that captures and records the moment of creation fingerprint by fingerprint. Through the use of sound, I turn these fluid, organic volumes into clay resonators. I capture moments of personal introspection that would have otherwise been lost.
Through the use of clay, I am able to translate my mental states into a physical vessel. The organic, fluid forms reflect the method in which they are built. This consists of the rolling and pressing of coils by hand. The process takes time and commitment in order to better reflect these evolving states. The pieces gain their own life through the emotions present during their birth.
Even with this new life they remain empty, lacking a voice. When I introduce sound, that emptiness disappears. Electronic waves act as a voice that reverberates through the clay forms. Sound originates from various music genres -- Classic Rock, Grunge, Instrumental -- Then they are altered and distorted to become ambient noise with hints of human voice floating through. When sound and form are working together, they portray moods ranging from light-hearted and euphoric to heavy and dark.
Through the use of clay, I am able to translate my mental states into a physical vessel. The organic, fluid forms reflect the method in which they are built. This consists of the rolling and pressing of coils by hand. The process takes time and commitment in order to better reflect these evolving states. The pieces gain their own life through the emotions present during their birth.
Even with this new life they remain empty, lacking a voice. When I introduce sound, that emptiness disappears. Electronic waves act as a voice that reverberates through the clay forms. Sound originates from various music genres -- Classic Rock, Grunge, Instrumental -- Then they are altered and distorted to become ambient noise with hints of human voice floating through. When sound and form are working together, they portray moods ranging from light-hearted and euphoric to heavy and dark.
Click to view Small coil built vessel that looks as though the top has been squeezed like a water bottle. The texture of the piece itself is made through the pressing of coils. The work itself stands on a table covered with stretchy black fabric. The glazes used are earthy shades of glossy brown, red and some yellow with hints of blue and orange. The sound is broken up to play intermittently within the piece. As for the tone, it leans more toward ambient noises with a mix of gathered music and voice. Full-Screen
Squeezed // Red clay, glossy glaze, speakers, sound, wooden stand, black fabric // 22 x 12 inches // Duration: 38:58 minutes
Click to view Alt text: A medium sized coil built vessel which stands on two speakers. The texture on the piece is created by the pressing together of coils. It has various colors and textures as well due to the glaze. These range from earth toned glossy glazes to blue, pink, green and white puffy texture glaze. In the piece there is a speaker which emits a created periodic sound which has elements of voice and ambient and found music. Full-Screen
Prosecutor // Red clay, glossy and texture glaze, speaker, sound, 2 brown speakers // 46 x 15 inches // Duration: 39:26 minutes
Click to view A close up of the piece Prosecutor. This is a more detailed image of the “face” on the piece which reveals an open “mouth”. In the image it also includes sections of other ceramic works that will be in the exhibition. Full-Screen
Prosecutor (Close up) // Red Clay, glossy and texture glaze, speaker, sound // 46 x 15 inches // Duration: 39:26 minutes
Click to view A smaller coil built vessel, the texture of the piece is made through the pushing together of these coils. Again, like most of these, it has an organic bodily form to it. It has two peaks, one is open, the other is not. The main color of the piece is the recurring glossy earth tones brown. On the peaks, it has a white and pink texture glaze. Full-Screen
A Benign Growth // Red clay, glossy and texture glaze // 16 x 12 inches
Click to view A small/medium coil built vessel that sits on top of an old wooden tobacco table. The piece's texture is made through the pressing of coils. The piece itself is bodily and has various openings. The colors range from pinks and yellows to earthy browns. Inside is a speaker which emits periodic sounds ranging from ambient music to bits of songs from various artists. Full-Screen
It's a complicated feeling // Red clay, glossy and texture glaze, wooden table, speaker, sound // 27 x 16 inches // Duration: 35:38 minutes
Click to view A large coil built vessel that is large at the base and gets smaller as it is built up. The glaze itself is a cloudy white due to it being underfired. The piece is raised up due to the fact it sits on a footlocker. The sound is periodic and is made up of light hearted melodies. Full-Screen
Comfort // Red clay, underfired glaze, speakers, sound, military foot locker // 39 x 20 inches // Duration: 38:34 minutes
Click to view A coil built bodily vessel that has three different sized openings. It sits on top of a wooden plant stand so it can be taller than the viewer. The glaze is a blue with hints of white, as well as some thin sections where the clay body can be slightly seen. When looking at it, the glaze makes the piece look light and soft. The sound within the piece is periodic and is composed of an altered voice piece accompanied by found music and instrumental sounds. Full-Screen
Unmasked // Red Clay, Crater Glazes, Speakers, Sound, wooden plant stand // 36 x 15 inches // Duration: 38:15 minutes
Click to view This is a larger vessel that is coil built and starts out smaller on the bottom. It then is built up and gets wider and more bodily. At the top two tubes start to twist. On the piece there are several spikes which have a dark earth glossy glaze. While the main glaze on the rest of the piece is an underfired crater glaze. Which gives it the texture of a fungus. The sound that it gives off is periodic harsh, angry, and sad tones and emotions. In the photo it also features the piece Unmasked and Open Void in the background. Full-Screen
“My chest is caving but I can’t do anything about it” // Red clay, underfired glaze, speakers, sound // 49 x 19 inches // Duration: 39:26 minutes