Discovery Gallery: Flourish

April 9 – May 21, 2011

Flourish

An Exhibition of Decorative Ceramics by Connie Pike

My clay journey started in 1971 and since 1978 I have been working as a professional potter and ceramic artist in Alberta, Canada. My approach to working with clay evolves as I investigate function and aesthetic (an appreciation of beauty). Shapes and designs build upon themselves and new versions of form and decoration filter through the body of work and refresh the process. I’ve developed many ways to decorate my functional and artistic pieces and want my work to have a strong contemporary feel. This contemporary direction comes from extensive glaze development and commitment to clay while exploring many aspects of its technical challenges. I love the rich colors that cone 10 glazes (high fire 2380°F) give to my white porcelain clay body and I enjoy the discovery of opening every kiln load. Will the glaze reveal texture on a piece? Will it run on a vertical piece if combined with another glaze? What kind of a piece can I use this new glaze on? The answers to these questions come from exploration and more testing.

My love of detail and drawing is the major influence on my new work. My focus is on using texture and line. For texture impressions on clay, stamps and rollers can be made from bisque clay or by carving a lino block tile. I create my designs on paper, then transfer it and carve the tile. I am able to use this as a stamp many times and in different ways. Drawings can also be developed further on the computer such as reversing and duplicating the image. The tile is laid on the soft clay and rolled with a rolling pin, with firm pressure, to make the impression. I first used this process on small bowls and continued developing it for use on larger vases and art pieces. I’ve also used the lino blocks to make framed art prints and so far have expanded this process to decorate tiles, trays, book covers, boxes, vases, mugs, glasses, jugs, and vessels. I’ve enjoyed using and developing this process. It has inspired me and opened new directions and ideas for exploration. One of these printed vases in the Clay 2010 show, was purchased for the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. - Connie Pike