The Underground
A newsletter that bridges art, history and community together
2023 |September
You are the best part of my art! - Zandra
Welcome to the Underground! We are approaching the busiest time of the year for families, artists, and retailers. Before we open our wallets, I want us to open our hearts and eyes to diversity's significance. October is Diversity Awareness Month. I encourage you to read these words and embrace the meaning and importance of diversity. Our preconceptions should never limit opportunity and possibility.It's a time to celebrate and honor the beauty of our diversity while raising awareness about its importance. This month we celebrate clay; what could be more diverse! From dirt to vessel, to statue; clay is a very diverse medium. I am honored to introduce you to the fabulous and talented Harvey Flowers in this issue. He is a ceramist, meeting diversity head-on with his ceramic creations.
Three Distinctive Artists
Let us begin our journey with three distinctive artists using clay to tell their stories. Each artist uses clay differently to promote, investigate, and mold their understanding of the world. Christopher David White, Ai Weiwei, and Vanessa German are the top picks.
Christopher David White
Meet Christopher David White, whose artwork mirrors the decay of wood, rusted metals, and other objects in different stages of deterioration. Through his intricate sculptures, he explores the interconnectedness among the environment, humanity, and the inevitability of mortality, all depicted with astonishing hyperrealism.
Image: Split
Ai Weiwei
Have you heard of Ai Weiwei? He's a renowned global political activist and artist. I highly recommend checking out his exhibition "Ai Weiwei on Porcelain." This incredible showcase combines his art, combining elements from Chinese and Greek pottery ornamentation and Egyptian wall paintings.
One of his most famous installations is 'Sunflower Seeds.' It featured a staggering 100 million meticulously handmade and painted porcelain sunflower seeds, weighing around 150 tons. These seeds were created by skilled Jigdezhe artisans, known for their traditional techniques involving a meticulous thirty-step process.
Ai Weiwei's use of traditional porcelain approaches challenges the notion of "Made in China," sparking thought-provoking conversations about the labor aspects of work. Please take advantage of the opportunity to explore his thought-provoking work!
Exhibit: Porcelain Sunflower Seeds
Vanessa German
Now let me introduce you to Vanessa German, widely recognized as the Citizen Artist. She effortlessly wears multiple creative hats - sculptor, painter, poet, and performance artist. Through her exquisite artwork, Vanessa German taps into the power of femininity to delve into themes of strength, love, and justice while skillfully addressing the complex history of race in the United States.
Her artistic expression catalyzes redemption and healing. Notably, Vanessa German has been chosen as the lead project artist for the 70th anniversary celebration of the Brown vs. Board of Education.
The Great American Roller Coaster Ride, 2017
Kasmin Gallery
Timeless Diversity in Ceramics
Ceramics is a timeless art that intertwines earth, water, and fire gracefully. It surpasses mere utilitarianism, transcending into a medium for boundless creativity and profound expression, resonating throughout the ages. This captivating journey commenced approximately 28,000 BC in the Czech Republic, where artisans crafted the Venus of Dolní Věstonice figurine using clay and bone ash, meticulously firing it at temperatures reaching a blazing 800 degrees Celsius.
The history of ceramics is a remarkable testament to human ingenuity and boundless creativity. Each pot, vessel, or figurine weaves a vibrant narrative of our collective human existence, fostering inspiration and serving as a solid foundation for contemporary ceramists and avid enthusiasts.
Pottery, an artistic craft that emerged during the Neolithic era (approximately 10,200 BC to 4,500-2,000 BC), underwent a remarkable evolution. Initially, it took the form of rudimentary coil pots, gradually progressing into intricate wheel-thrown vessels of exquisite craftsmanship.
The earliest pottery fragments discovered in China can be traced back to 20,000 BC. Across centuries, the Chinese honed their skills in high-fired ceramics, ultimately achieving mastery in creating porcelain—an incredibly unique and beautiful material often likened to ivory or jade.
Featured Artist Spotlight
Fibers, Fabrics, Paper to found objects to metals where two dimensional design meets the convention of three dimensional form.
Meet Kathy Pflaum
Get ready to be blown away by the incredible talent of local artist Kathy Pflaum! Her stunning fiber mixed media artwork will completely change your perspective on what art can be.
Starting as a traditional quilting artist, Kathy has since exclusively evolved her craft to focus on fiber art. Using folded and hand-dyed fabrics, along with print-making techniques and metal, she creates mind-blowing mixed media pieces.
But Kathy's creativity doesn't stop there. She experiments with silk roving, silk fibers, wool, alpaca, and other non-fabric fibers to add depth and other non-fabric fibers to add depth and dimension to her work. It allows her to create both breathtaking two-dimensional and jaw-dropping three-dimensional pieces. Read entire article.
Artists Tips. . .
Unlock Your inner Artist! - Keep Drawing!
Drawing is never as simply a simple drawing. I love art but I am not a natural drawer, so sometimes I find myself resisting the practice. But lately, I decided to just started with simply making marks in my sketch book and remarkable things begin to happen.
I refuse to label the process because I want to stay loose. I did not want to overthink the process. The only goal, make a mark on the paper and consistency. See I was trying to create a habit so that I can continue to improve my skills and only my artistic journey.
Hey there! Did you know that regular drawing can bring some amazing benefits? It's true! Drawing can improve your hand-eye coordination, help you concentrate better, and even enhance your fine motor skills. That's why I always encourage my fellow artists to make time for drawing as often as possible. Don't let the urge to avoid it take over! Remember, all of your amazing ideas and creations are waiting for you to bring them to life through drawing. So let's make drawing a regular part of our routine and enjoy the rewarding experience together. Happy drawing!
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