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“MAGICAL, MYSTICAL” WOODFIRED CERAMICS
Ceramist Nick Schwartz shares his experiences with woodfired ceramics at the Second Saturday Gallery Reception for "Earth, Fire and Ash."
On October 8, the Mendocino Art Center opened the “Earth, Fire & Ash” ceramics exhibition, and invited exhibiting artist and master ceramist, Nick Schwartz, to give an artist talk for the Second Saturday Gallery Reception. It was a great success with more than 50 audience members and artists in attendance. Other artists who spoke were Jessica Thompson (Nick’s wife), Doug Browe and Nakona MacDonald, representing different local wood-fired kilns. The discussion focused on the dynamic process using wood fired kilns to create a myriad of magical, mystical effects for each piece of pottery. This process is primarily done within a community of artists, with a dedication to the firing process that takes upwards of a cord of wood per day, and up to 10 days of firing time.
Each artist spoke about the subtleties of wood fired ceramics, and how it becomes a sacred process and journey, from the placement of ceramics in the kiln, to the start of the fire, from using different types of wood for different effects on the ceramics, to stoking the fire 24/7, keeping the temperatures from fluctuating, to the build up of ash, to the kiln community participation, and finally, to the diffusion of flame and temperatures, where there is often a ceremony held after the pottery has processed. These wood fired pieces end up reflecting a variety of colors, textures and glazes, depending upon the wood and mineral elements used in the firing. As Nick stated, sometimes you’re able to see a multitude of galaxies in just one piece of pottery… it becomes a spiritual experience.
This very special exhibition of wood fired ceramics from 12 local artists continues through December 30.
If you missed October’s Second Saturday, we welcome you to attend the next reception on November 12, 5pm to 7pm, and experience a rare opportunity of wood firing in our very own kiln on the MAC campus, 6:30pm to 7:30pm. It may be a bit chilly, so dress warm, and we’ll be serving some hot drinks with treats in the kiln yard. Feel free to bring the kids, and don’t miss this special event!
MEET THE MAC GALLERY STAFF
MAC’s gallery staff: Arlene Nunez, Joey Nicolaides and Katie Applebaum.
Joey Nicolaides sold her home in the suburbs of Philadelphia in 2016, packed her car, and headed west. Having been familiar with the area, eventually she found her way to the Mendocino Coast, unpacked her car and made the north coast her home. Always happiest when near the ocean, Joey enjoys her job as Manager of the Mendocino Art Center Gallery Store and feels honored to be a part of the MAC. When she is not working, she enjoys get-togethers with friends, cooking, gardening, music, photography, long walks, a good book, road trips and a healthy dose of the absurd.
Arlene Nunez was born in Sonoma County and grew up in Fort Bragg. She’s very passionate about her studies in Psychology and is working towards her Master’s Degree. She loves living on the Mendocino Coast and seeing the beautiful views on her drive to work. Whenever possible, she enjoys getting together with friends, traveling to new places, spending time with family, or catching up on sleep!
Katie Applebaum is from a small town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains, in northern California. They graduated with a Bachelors of fine arts from California State University Chico in 2019, with a minor in environmental science/sustainability. Katie has worked in multiple galleries, from large universities, to small local non profits. In their youth they spent a great deal of time finding treasures, garage sailing and antiquing with their parents and grandfather. This permeated them and years down the line the treasures and implements translated into their work.
“In my work I like to replicate forms that bring to mind different memories for each individual. The objects I choose to glorify or replicate are often antique. I feel the variable conditions of atmospheric firing plays well with these “antique“ forms, as age and patina are often variable. I fixate on hardware, fixtures and details.”
FREE "ART IN ACTION" AT THE MENDOCINO OPEN PAINT OUT
Najeeb Abdulrahiman painting his award winning Mendocino Open Paint Out Quick Draw painting, “Main Street.”
The Mendocino Art Center hosted three prestigious featured artists – Maeve Croghan, Ryan Jensen and Carolyn Lord – and 60 participating artists, from throughout California, as well from Illinois and Pennsylvania, as part of the Mendocino Open Paint Out, a plein air festival, September 19-25. The event presented the public with free opportunities to view artists painting en plein air, see featured artist hosted demonstrations, shop “wet paint” sales, with new oil, pastel, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media paintings hung each day in the galleries, and watch the Quick Draw Competition and cast a vote for the winning piece. This year’s event culminated with an “After Party,” with live music by Mendocino’s own Mama Grows Funk.
During the week, the artists painted more than 350 works of art, plus an additional 48 paintings created in the two-hour Quick Draw Competition on Main Street, Mendocino. A MOPO celebratory Awards Reception was held on Saturday, September 24, to present 17 awards valued at more $10,000 in cash and prizes, with the paintings juried by the featured artists.
Mark your calendars for the 2023 Mendocino Open Paint Out, scheduled for September 18-24!