Center for Craft Creativity and Design

(04/02/09): Hooray I won!

Out of 656 Baltimore artists, 10 were awarded prizes for the Baker Artist Awards. I am one of those lucky 10! I won a “People’s Choice Award” which means I received $1,000 and I will be participating in an exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art! Amazing! Thank you for voting for me, really, this means so much to me. I can only imagine what will come of all this exposure, things are really taking off! Also I was awarded a Studio Assistantship at Penland School of Crafts! I have applied to Penland at least 6 times, and I always get a rejection letter, I guess persistence pays off! I will be assisting Hayne Bayless for a hand building workshop, tuition, room, and board are free! The entire experience will affect not only my own studio practice but my teaching as well. I’ve been itching to take a class and pick up some new tricks. I know this will be a lot of work, but I will learn so much. I’m waiting to hear back from a couple more things, I applied to Watershed for a “Kiln God Scholarship”, I applied to receive the Mary E Nyburg fellowship to fund my Penland and Watershed (fingers crossed) travels, and I also applied to be featured as an emerging artist in Ceramics Monthly, a ceramic magazine. So hopefully in a few weeks I’ll hear back from everything and have more good news on my next post. I’m including an image of a fractal serving bowl I recently completed.

(02/13/09): new work, new show, new semester

Time flies! I cannot believe that the spring semester has started up again. I have 4 classes this term and so far they are all going really well. I think I’m getting better at this teaching thing. The trick is to scare them the first day, so they actually do their work! I’ve started a new body of work in my studio. I’ve embraced my potter roots again. I’m making colanders that have fractal pattern holes, and serving bowls that follow geometric patterns. A gallery in Havre De Grace MD has offered to represent me for a year, which set a fire under me to make a batch of functional wares. Everything at the Baltimore Clayworks is going really well, we were just accepted to have an exhibition at the 2010 NCECA (National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts) in Philadelphia! This is going to be great exposure! The Baker Artist Awards voting has closed, and now I wait with baited breath for the results. The announcement will be on March 25, it seems so far away! I’m trying not to think about it or else I’ll go crazy. I’ve also been spending a lot of time thinking about grad school. I’m itching to apply but I must be patient. The original plan was to apply now, this winter, but then I was accepted as a resident artist at the Baltimore Clayworks. I thought that the best thing to do was to wait an additional year and take full advantage of my residency. That way my application will look better. Also having an extra year of teaching at the college level won’t hurt either, especially since I’m hoping to get a deal of free schooling in exchange for teaching undergrads. So I’ll work hard, making work, applying for everything I can, and trying to be the best teacher I can be. If all goes well I’ll get accepted into the perfect grad school, which will in turn open another set of amazing doors….at least that’s the plan ☺

(12/09/08): 11th National Juried Exhibition

Life is grand! Today is the last day of the semester, its always bittersweet, for during these few months I bond with my class and its sad to see them all go, on the other side it’s a relief that’s its over. I am very much looking forward to a little break from teaching, to get myself rested and charged up to do it again. Last night I received a letter stating that I had been accepted into a The 11th National Juried Exhibition at the Baker Arts Center in Liberal KS. I’m sending out 2 of my painted wall pieces with porcelain attached. There will be prizes awarded at the opening so fingers crossed everyone! The most exciting thing is that this show is not a ceramic or craft show, it’s a fine art show. I’m worried of being pegged as only a ceramicist, where as I want to be seen as an all over artist. Don’t get me wrong, I love clay, but I’m not married to it. I will use whatever materials I need to get my vision across. I want to transcend mediums. The Baker Artist Awards are still going on, funny but I don’t think there is a connection to the Baker Arts Center in KS and the Baker Artist Awards in Baltimore…hmm I’ll have to look into that. Anywho there is still time to cast a vote, even if you don’t vote you should still check out my page, it has all my work there, from drawings to blown glass to sculpture. Thank you all for your support!! http://www.bakerartistawards.org/nomination/view/sarah_house/640 The image I’m attaching is a mortar and pestle set I recently threw.

(11/10/08): Baker Artist Awards

This month I have been quite productive as I have finished a sculpture that can be displayed on the wall or a surface. As well as a dozen pots and a self-portrait bust I made during a Tip Toland workshop at the Baltimore Clayworks. I had the honor of being Tip’s assistant and was thrilled at the opportunity to work so closely with an artist that I admire. I have another opening this month, on November 15 in Seattle, for the 4th Annual Simple Cup Show. I recently learned that one of my favorite potters, Julia Galloway, is also in this show. The idea of me being in a show with such a well-known artist makes me feel like the kid that snuck into the grown up party. Perhaps the most exciting event to talk about is my involvement with the Baker Artist Awards. In 1964, Mary Sawyers Baker established the William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund in honor of her husband. In 2008, the Governors of the Fund established Mary Sawyers Baker Prize to honor her civic involvement & devotion to the arts. Up to three individual artists could be awarded the $20,000 prize. In addition to the juried prize there is the Baltimore’s choice award. Baltimore's Choice is an opportunity for the general public to vote and show their appreciation for the artists' work presented on the site. The more involved a member of the public becomes in exploring the various artists' projects on the site, then more votes can be earned and more votes cast. To have a look-see, go to my page and view my works. If you like what you see sign up and cast a vote, I very much appreciate your support! http://www.bakerartistawards.org/nomination/view/sarah_house/640

(09/25/08): busy busy busy

Whew...time flies when you’re busy, at least I truly love everything I'm doing. I'm still teaching at the Community College of Baltimore County, and at the Baltimore Clayworks. I have moved into my new studio at the Clayworks and I've been making lots of work. My space is so beautiful, I’m really lucky to be a resident artist at the “works” This weekend is the first opening that will showcase a few of my pieces in the "Members Gallery". Also I landed another great part time job as an artist and designer for an event company in Baltimore called Celebrations Unlimited inc. Right now I'm sculpting huge sea creatures out of foam for a million dollar barmitzva. Its good money and I'm learning a lot about building things lightweight and from inexpensive materials. Something that will defiantly influence my work in the future. This month was my opening in Cincinnati at Funke Fired Arts. The installation of my work looked great, but I must say the opening was not well attended. I don’t believe that it was promoted well by the gallery. It’s ok though, I'm happy to get my work out to a different state, you never know who will come in and see it. The image I’m including this month was taken at the gallery. Seemingly out of nowhere I was invited to take part in the "4th Annual Seaward Park Simple Cup Invitational" in Seattle. I'm not sure how they found me as I didn't apply for this one, and also if someone out there knows me for my work, it’s not for my pottery. But I'm not complaining. I made a dozen cups this week and will send out 4 or so, it’s always good to have cups around anyway, after all Christmas is just around the corner. So all in all my life is amazing, I’m making a living making art and teaching art, which is what I’ve wanted to do with my life for as long as I can remember

(08/09/08): new studio!

Hooray! I have been accepted as an Artist in Residence at the Baltimore Clayworks! This is huge! I’m so honored that I was chosen. It’s hard to get a space at the Clayworks because a resident has to move out for another to be voted in, and there have been artists there for 20 years. So it might be quite a while before another space becomes available. I’m very lucky. I move in, in a few weeks, and I’m itching to get started on some new sculptures. I haven’t had a dedicated space since I was in Hungary and that surely puts a damper on my productivity. I’ve been able to make a few pots and some paintings but have not made anything sculptural in months. So exciting! In other news summer camp is thankfully over and I shipped a bunch of pieces to a gallery in Cincinnati, the show goes up in a few weeks, hopefully I make some sales!

(08/09/08): new studio!

(07/06/08): busy busy busy

I can’t believe that it is July already. My show at the Yellow Dog Tavern was a huge success, I sold 4 pieces! Many friends and family came out for the opening to show their support. A gallery in Cincinnati, Funke Fired Arts, has invited me to participate in an emerging artist exhibition at the end of the summer, so all those works need to be packed up and shipped out. I’m excited to have my work in an actual ceramics gallery, I feel pretty lucky. Other than that I’ve been teaching many classes at the Baltimore Clayworks. Most of them are children’s classes and a few are adult. In al honesty I don’t think I will continue to teach children, having a room full of kids under my control makes me feel anxious. It is good experience, however ultimately I want to teach at a university, so there is only so much I can learn from teaching the youngins that will further my career. I do however love teaching the adult classes and am very grateful for the opportunity. So that’s about it, moving right along in my teaching career and making work every chance I can, as long as I can find a space to make and a place to send the work when its finished.

(05/29/08): spring!

My first semester of teaching is over and I couldn’t be happier. It was a valuable learning experience and I had a lot of fun, but it was tiring and stressful to teach 5 classes, at 4 different school my first time around. I unfortunately didn’t win any prizes at the International Silicate Arts Exhibition, but you can’t win them all I suppose. I did however get the catalog in the mail and it hasn’t left my side. I install my show in a few days and I will be very relieved when it’s up. Then Summer Camp starts and I go right back to teaching way too many classes. I’m starting to believe that I need a hectic life style to feel sane…go figure.

(04/30/08): another great month

The exhibition is up in Hungary and I’m waiting to hear if I am one of the winners. The suspense is killing me! I’m trying not to think about it. I should have no trouble taking my mind from the competition on account of how busy I’ve been. Teaching has gotten easier as I gain experience. Some of my classes end next week and I welcome the short break before teaching summer camp at the Baltimore Clayworks. This month I was invited to display 2 pieces at the 2008 Spring Faculty Show at CCBC (the community college where I teach). It was a good turn out and I felt honored to be there. My solo show is also around the corner and I think I’ll be ready, I’ve never missed a deadline and I don’t intend to miss this one. I’m excited about the work I’ve been making, I think it’s progressing nicely!

(03/05/08): exciting news!

Life is coming fast and things are going well. I received word last week that the sculpture I submitted for the 2nd International Triennial of Silicate Arts was accepted!!! There will be a big fancy exhibition in Hungary (shame I cannot be there). A catalogue will be published and I will have my own page with a photograph of me, and of my work, in addition to my biography and artist statement. My first international show! My first publication! I’m very excited! Now I have a chance to win a funded residency for 3 months, I will find out in a month or so if I have won the prize (cross your fingers). You can learn more about the exhibition at www.kitsa.org. Other than that I’ve been very busy teaching and working on my new body of work. My classes at the Community College are both rewarding and frustrating at times. I find myself wondering how much energy do I put into teaching someone who doesn’t want to learn, as opposed to a student who strives? I think I’m learning just as much as my students. I am also teaching some classes at The Baltimore Clayworks. These classes and workshops are more free and fun as there are no grades and homework assignments. I greatly value the experience of teaching at both schools. I have a solo show coming up in a few months and in my free time I’ve been painting and experimenting with the forms I cast in Hungary. I’ve included an image of one of the new pieces. So, all in all, life is grand!

(02/15/08): let the teaching begin!

I have settled in Baltimore and have begun teaching. I am currently teaching 2 classes at the The Community College of Baltimore County, which is one of the best community colleges in the country! I feel very lucky to be in a position to influence and guide aspiring artists. I am also teaching a class at the internationally recognized Baltimore Clayworks. As of now I’m teaching an adult beginner potters wheel class, but soon I will be involved in the Community Outreach program and the Summer Camp program. These two programs focus on children, but are also open to senior citizens. I feel a bit overwhelmed at all the classes that are coming my way. Teaching art is ultimately what I want to with my life, and I almost can’t believe that it’s happening. Luckily I am able to use the studios when there are no classes, so in my “free time” I’ve been continuing my own work. I have a month long show in June so I am taking advantage of every moment in the studio. I am taking my work in a new direction, combining drawings and paintings with my ceramic installations. I have been thinking about this mixed media work for a while now and began to explore the idea in Hungary, now I’m running with it. I have included an image of one of my classes working on their projects. I’m so proud of them!

(01/01/08): back home

My residency at the ICS has come to a close. Looking back I feel good about the time spent in Hungary. This was my first time in Europe, my first residency, and my first chance to be an artist and not a student. The experience has changed me forever and I know that I will feel the influence for years to come. It is impossible to know and name all the ways I have changed from my international experience. Some however are immediately obvious. I learned how to manage my time and develop a productive studio practice without the influence of a professor. This is something that initially was a challenge for me, as I was accustomed to following instructions and fulfilling assignments. My life outside of the studio was also influenced. Prior to this residency I harbored a fear or travel, but now I have caught the “travel bug” and now feel confident to go anywhere. Having never traveled in the past I have not experienced another culture. After being immersed as a foreigner in another country I have a greater appreciation for other peoples and customs, and sympathy for those of other cultural backgrounds who come to America. During this time I produced the forms for two large-scale installations, and one sculpture, which I donated to the permanent collection and the ICS. The next step for me is to begin teaching ceramics and drawing at the local community college. During the next year I will also continue my research and development of my works. My short-term goal is to develop my portfolio while teaching, ultimately preparing for graduate school applications.

(01/01/08): back home

(12/01/07): silicate competition

I have just finished a sculpture, which I plan to enter into the 2nd International Triennial of Silicate Arts. Ceramic, glass and concrete artists from all over the world will be entering. The prizes range from a cash award and a solo exhibition, to a 3-month residency here in International Ceramics Studio. The piece I am entering is constructed using porcelain, monofilament and hula-hoops. The central porcelain form was constructed with slip cast parts. It is suspended with about 1,000 strands of fine monofilament in the center of two hula-hoops. I am hoping to win a residency, which would allow me to continue my work and better prepare for graduate school.

(10/30/07): production mode

After a few weeks of settleing into a new place I'm now in production mode. I have 2 instalations in mind and I've been cranking out my forms. I have been going through so much casting slip! I have only been here for a little over a month and alreasdy I have befriended ceramic artists from all over the world, some of which are quite well known. The few resident artists here are using their time to develop a body of work, there are also student groups that come here for a few weeks or a month. I think that most see this as more like vacation, but then again everyone is different. Well, I must go back to work!

(09/29/07): first week in Hungary

I have been in Hungary for one week now and I can already see how it has changed my life. There are many Hungarian students here working as part of an exchange program, as well as other resident artists from Denmark, Sweden and one American professor. I feel very lucky to be working side by side with artists that are well established in the ceramic community. The opportunity to focus so intensely on my work, while using the finest materials, is one that will stay with me always.

(09/29/07): first week in Hungary

(08/31/07): Leaving Miane

My car is packed and I’m starting my way down the coast to Baltimore. I’ll stay with my family for just over 2 weeks and before I fly to Hungary. I’m interested to see the differences between Watershed and the ICS. These two facilities are places where self directed ceramic artist come to work for a period of time. However Watershed only offers 2 week residencies as opposed to the ICS where artists can stay for several months. I’ve noticed that artists who come to Watershed tend to treat their time there as a vacation, or a chance to make something they would not normally make. I believe that the artists at the International Ceramics Studio will spend time developing an existing body of work. That is, at least, how I will spend my time there. My experience at Watershed was infinitely valuable. I absorbed so much these last three months. I had the opportunity to meet over 100 ceramic artists from all over the country and world. We freely exchanged ideas techniques and stories. I used my free time there to make sketches, models and prototypes for my next major work. My goal is to complete 2 installations in Hungary for a gallery show in Ohio next summer. So I’m closing an amazing chapter in my life as a ceramic artist and getting ready for the next big step.

(07/30/07): Life at Watershed

I could not imagine a better summer. I've been working very hard as the Studio Manager at Watersehd. My days are full of making clay, fixing whatever breaks down and keeping the Resident Artists happy. When not on the clock I've been working on my own art in the studio. I'm currently working on 3 installations and making pots when I need a break from sculpture. I'll continue these projects when I go to Hungary in less than 2 months! Recently, during Watershed's annual fundraiser known as Salad Days, the summer staff turned the old beehive kiln into a gallery to show our work. The beehive kiln was used to fire bricks when Watershed was a brick factory. It is a beautiful round room 26 feet across! The show was such a success that space will be turned into a permenant gallery. So, as the summer winds down I'm taking full advantage of my surroundings to make as much work as possible, then I'll pack up my studio and fly to Europe to set up another studio and do it all over again.

(06/09/07): Life at Watershed

I have been hired as a Studio Manager at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts in Maine for the summer. My days consist of making clay, fixing kilns, and keeping the place running. I've been granted a great studio and a private bedroom, in addition to free materials and firings. All summer I’ll work intimately with established ceramic artists. I know that this experience will influence me more than I can imagine. The community and atmosphere are amazing. At the end of the summer I leave Maine and start packing my bags for Europe. I have been accepted as an Artist in Residence at the International Ceramics Studio in Hungary. I'll be living there for 3 months making art full time. I've been doing research and learning a Hungarian in the little spare time I have. Going to Europe for the first time alone is a big and scary step, but I know that a residency abroad will change my work and life forever.


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