Summer Workshops

I'm teaching 2 workshops this summer in the Jackson, WY area:

Book Arts | Teton County Library, Jackson, WY | June 24, 10:30am - 12pm

Start out with an old book, leave with a trinket box!

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Drawing Off The Page | Teton Arts, Driggs, ID | August 4, 11am - 3pm                                       

Sometimes ideas are better expressed through a blend of drawing and sculpture. In this one-day workshop we will approach drawing through a mixed media angle while building on pattern and line exercises. Contour drawing and shading techniques will combine with wire and shadow drawings to create interest through depth and atmospheric perspective. Make your drawings come to life and jump right off the page!

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Wonder Spot

Part I: The Gathering

For the past several months I have been working on a large-scale project: creating a sculpture capable of living outdoors for 6 months. The Wonder Spot is 10 feet tall X 6 feet wide and stands about 10 feet off the ground along highway 191 as it winds north into Jackson, WY.

This tiny maquette is a simplified view of my vision. You've just arrived in Jackson (or you are heading to work) there might be summer traffic slowing down your progression... what's that? A group of clouds have gathered on a sign?

Here is the first installment of the process behind what will be a month long installation... The Clouds are Gathering.

I started out by making hundreds of ceramic balls, using plastic bowls as moulds. This has been a great way to use up the mounds of recycled porcelain piling up in my studio. 

My husband, Sam was the muscle behind bending the steel rods (our landscaping came in handy) and has helped brainstorm and problem solve at every step.

The porcelain orbs are beaded onto the steel armature. Then more are strung within the cloud structure to help fill the space. After a long day of troubleshooting and heavy lifting, we were tired and when the weather turned nasty we had to call it quits. (I didn't even have the energy to take a decent photo!)

I'm finishing the huge cloud that will go on top, plus making tons more ceramic orbs to help fill in some gaps in the 2 small clouds. In a few weeks we will meet for the final install and the clouds will finish gathering. In the meantime, they subtly hover on the Wonder Spot.

I had a team of awesome helpers- thank you! Now I'm looking forward to finishing the next step!

Penny Lane Cooperative

An exciting new store is opening in Jackson on June 1st and I am so happy to be part of it! 

A space where fashion meets art, the front portion of the store features chic affordable women's clothing while a mix of local emerging and established artists fill the rest of the space. The finishing touches are nearly complete and the artist are moving in.

Sneak peeks of the pottery that will be for sale in my area... yes, teapots and cake stands!

I asked my dad to build a little stand to display my ceramic hair pins. Talk about quick service- it was finished and in the mail about a week after I sent him the sketch! I painted and assembled it the very next day. Now my hair pins have their own little area and are much easier to see.

Longing | Porcelain, wire, ink

I'm using my space at Penny Lane Cooperative to showcase all sides of my art: pottery, drawings, sculpture. Since they all talk to each other I am excited to see them in one space. 

Come visit, the shop opens on June 1 and is located at 185 Scott Lane in Jackson, WY. For details check out Penny Lane Cooperative here: Facebook & Website.

Also, stay tuned for more details- a Grand Opening Party will be held on June 17th!

Maker Faire

Today Sam and I are participating in the Jackson Hole Mini Maker Faire. If you are in Jackson, come by the Journeys School from 12 - 4 and check out this celebration with over 40 makers!

Sam will be teaching small groups how to weld, stop by his booth to make your very own garden tool.

I will be using clay to create a community still life. Come by my booth to learn basic hand-building clay techniques. Make an object to pose and photograph amongst items created by other participants. At the end of the day all the clay will be recycled, so have fun with the process and the moment.

Check our facebook page to see photos from the day! 

Pottery in Grand Teton National Park

I'm excited to announce that my stoneware pitchers and mugs are now available for sale in two Jackson locations! The gift shop at the Miller Ranch, located on the National Elk Refuge and also Menor's Ferry in Grand Teton National Park. 

The lidded stoneware pitcher and mugs are inspired by the enamel coffee pots and mugs that would have been found on ranches across the west. Be sure to stop by these locations if you find yourself in Jackson Hole, Wyoming this summer, or if you are looking for reminders of past campfires!

Life is a Game

There's nothing like a deadline to help an artist actually finish something.

In January I was invited to create a piece for the Laramie County Library Book Arts Invitational. While that is plenty of time, I spent a few months puzzling over the theme for this year's exhibition: The Game of Life. After hashing out several ideas I finally landed on actually making a game.

Onto 52 cards cut from a very heavy watercolor paper, I assigned each card a topic from the following categories: Life Event, Helpful Tool, Surprise. 

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I started each drawing with an ink wash, then layered the details in with a pen. After cutting my thumb, even the bandaid got into the spirit of the game and dressed up like a ghost.

As you might expect, this set of cards has many more surprises than tools and events. And probably more bad surprises than good. Zombies, sharks, snakes, a giant spider but there are also surprises like a fancy cake, vacation and presents. 

I kept most of the drawings open to interpretation: a desolate desert road- are you lost or traveling in a foreign land, luggage- are you going on a trip or moving out? 

This has been a big project, but also portable. I took the cards with me for a tea break between teaching classes last Thursday. It's also hard to stop a project when I'm really excited, so it has been nice to take them with me.

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Some surprises are good while some are bad- Surprise... Your shoe has a hole in it! Others are really bad... Pterodactyl!  

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A few life events; Too much work / Baby / Camping trip

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Now I'm working on the final details; sanding the rough corners and testing some ideas for the back of the cards.

The cards will fit into a box; here is a hint as to the final presentation.

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So, how does the game work? I have no idea. Since life does not come with instructions, neither does my Game of Life.

By next weekend the game will be finished (or ready to be played?) I will put images on my website under Other Projects.

If you are in Cheyenne this summer, be sure to check out the show and see how other Wyoming artists interpreted this theme!

Laramie County Library, Cheyenne, WY

Exhibition dates: June 9 - August 7, 2016

Opening Event: June 17

Kimchi Update

Last week I started a batch of kimchi to test Sam's fermenting crock (check out last week's post for details.) After 5 days of semi-patiently waiting and looking at the crock sitting on the counter...

I took off the lid to find a delicious batch of spicy veggie kimchi! The crock worked well and also gave us ideas for design improvements. While this crock holds almost 2 quarts, I think a 1 quart capacity would be helpful. We also have new ideas for how to make the weights.

Whether you are just starting out or have been making kraut for years, let us know if you have any suggestions or ideas that would help your process, crock size, handles, width of top opening... Leave a note in the comments or send an email: dowdhousestudios@gmail.com

What's next? I'm branching out and will soon be starting a batch of Curried Cauliflower Pickles. I'm totally hooked. 

Around the House

I always tell my ceramics students to try out their work. It's an easy way to learn how objects function and also make future improvements.

Often I am asked to make items that I normally do not use or in some cases, have not heard of. While I enjoy the challenge and research behind making new items, I feel a little uncomfortable making an untested form and sending it out into the world. I always ask for feedback, but also follow my own advice on testing.  

A few years ago we started getting requests for fermenting jars. I happily let Sam take on the research behind this form and he came up with some beautiful pots. Every time someone asks for these jars or we sell one, I get a little nervous. I know nothing about fermented foods. So I did some research and bought a cookbook: Ferment Your Vegetables. 

Yesterday I started a batch of kimchi and am testing out this small fermenting crock. In a week or so I'll let you know what happened...

The Garlic Keeper also started out as a request. I did a little research, made a cute little jar for a customer then just kept making more.

This jar helps garlic stay fresh longer thanks to holes that allow air to circulate. We use a lot of garlic, so when a jar came out of the kiln with a tiny crack in the bottom, I decided to put it to use. Not many things match in our kitchen, but I am also using one of my utensil holders- seen in the background of this photo.

Speaking of the kitchen, I looked around and found that I regularly use several of my pots. I made this stovetop spoon rest for my first apartment while in college. The soap dispenser was another form that I wanted to test before selling, and as a bonus the cute stars brighten up the sink area. 

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Sam and I both make a lot of little bowls, we keep several in our kitchen for cooking prep as well as serving garnishes and dips. Most of our dishes were made by other potters, but I did recently keep 2 of my favorite form- an 8" salad bowl. These are perfect for so many meals.

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I learn a lot from using my pots and the work of other potters. Plus it's a great excuse to use beautiful objects!

Upcoming Classes

This week my spring teaching schedule began and I suddenly realized that means summer classes are right around the corner! For the next several months I will be teaching a variety of ceramics classes (for adults & kids), beginning drawing and professional practices for artists.

Space is still available in the classes that will begin in just a few weeks:

Beginning Drawing

Thursday Afternoons | 1 - 4pm | April 28 - May 19 | Taught by Jenny Dowd

Some things should not have wheels

 The Clay Surface: Color & Pattern

Tuesday Evenings | 6 - 9pm | May 3 - 24pm | Taught by Jenny Dowd

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Glazing: From Ho-Hum to Hooray!

Friday Evenings | 6 - 9pm | May 13 - 27 | Taught by Sam Dowd

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Lots of classes are coming up this summer... handbuilding, clay sculpting / portraits, beginning drawing plus ceramic classes for kids! Check it all out at the Art Association and for a full list of our classes check out the Events page on our website.

Lids & Lessons

This week an accident led to a nice memory as well as a reminder to plan ahead. 

While glazing several bisque-fired honeypots I broke a lid. The loop handle, while cute and functional, is also rather fragile. When a lid breaks, usually that is also the end of the vessel. Clay shrinks during the firing process making it nearly impossible to re-create a lid with a good fit. 

This lid issue reminded me of an indirect lesson I picked up from Yoshi Ikeda while I was his student at Kansas State University. He would make lots and lots of lids- separately from the teapot forms. Once the teapots came out of the kiln Yoshi would go through this collection of lids, trying each one until he found the perfect fit and design for the teapot. If a lid broke, there was always another one in the box.

At the time this seemed counter to what I was learning about craftsmanship, not to mention eccentric. Now this sweet memory reminds me of process, the evolution of ideas and problem solving. It has also encouraged a planned approach to lidded forms. 

Yoshi Ikeda | Teapot

When I started making honeypots a few years ago I would keep the jar or lid if the other part broke or didn't fit well after firing. This led to a box of random parts, but nothing ever fit and they kept piling up. I finally realized that if I made the opening of the jar the same diameter every time and made the lids the same diameter, then they would always fit! For the past year I have used this technique, so this time, I'm pretty sure my replacement lid will fit.

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If you have one of my honeypots and have broken the lid, let me know. I might just have a replacement lid that fits!

Repairs

Things break.

Last fall I made a series of porcelain pendant light shades for the brand-new Jackson, WY restaurant, Picnic. It's not often I have the opportunity to make something for a public space, or that what I make is experienced by so many people. Picnic is a great spot, and has quickly become my favorite place to meet friends. And I have to admit, every time I see the cloud-inspired light formation I'm a little surprised. 

I will post an update soon with better photos of the installation.

I knew there was a possibility of a shade breaking, but I was still surprised when a tall person stood up with arms overhead and broke a low-hanging shade! I made a replacement, and this time, several extras.

Porcelain paperclay was perfect for this project. An addition of paperpulp to clay adds strength before firing- during which the paper burns out, making the form slightly lighter. The clay needed to be thin in order to be translucent; the forgiving nature of paperclay made these otherwise fragile forms possible. 

This is my super high-tech process for making clay, a small batch made in my driveway.

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Once the clay is dry enough to work with, I roll out thin slabs and cut the sides to shape using a template. I enjoy projects that push me to figure out interesting design solutions, in this case I needed to dry the clay into the shape I wanted, making sure the lightbulb fit inside without touching the sides of the shade. In this case, I made heavy-duty tarpaper cones and clamped them to a work table.

Another benefit of using paperclay is that wet clay can be attached to dry clay, this is something that usually ends in heartbreak. Once the sides were stiff enough to stand on their own, I attached a little clay to the top in order to change the shape. 

Firing the fragile shades is tricky, I found that the two sides needed to be fired together so they would still fit together after possibly warping in the kiln. Not many fit on a shelf, and with their height the most I can get into my small kiln is 5.

While I had admired ceramic light shades I had never considered making them! I am glad for this challenge and the ideas that have been generated through trial and error. Now I'm looking at lights a little differently...

NCECA 2016

Last week we traveled to Kansas City for the 50th Annual NCECA Conference (National Council on Education for Ceramic Arts.) Now home and excited about new ideas, I should be eager to get back to work. The studio is clean and ready... instead I'm tired and feel as though I'm staring at a humongous blank canvas. I've spent this past week reading, planning, mapping project deadlines and mostly processing a vast list of new ideas for myself and my students... all while thinking about the amazing artwork I saw in the galleries during the conference. Sometimes it is nice to feel stuffed full to the brim, as soon as I sleep it off, I'll be hungry for more.

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My work was included in the exhibition Around the Corner. This show highlighted the art of several graduates from the University of Missouri-Columbia as well as our professor and mentor, Bede Clarke. I took this opportunity to experiment and make a large modular piece: That moment, an attempt to capture the very instant attraction takes place. The show is beautiful and I'm so happy to have been included, if only I had taken more photographs of my colleague's work.

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Sam was included in an exhibition at the Thornhill Gallery at Avila College, Yoshi and Friends. This exhibition honored the legacy of Yoshi Ikeda and his students from Kansas State University. Yoshi made a big impact on both of us, myself as an undergraduate at KSU and Sam as a graduate student. We miss him but attempt to pass his humor and dedication on to our students.

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Sam Dowd | Crossing the road just got harder

We saw so much art in such a short amount of time, here are just a few of my favorites:

Kate Roberts | Porte

Donut Goshorn | Body Map

Cary Esser | Veil

Fred Johnston | Fish & Fowl Bowl

Kirsten Stingle

Christina Erives | Lo Que La Partia Me Dio

Professional Practice in the Arts

Good business is the best art. -Andy Warhol  

In just a few weeks I will be teaching Professional Practice in the Arts for Central Wyoming College at the Jackson campus.

I am looking forward to this class more and more as it approaches. While helping my students set short and longterm goals, learn the process of portfolio and application preparation, brush up resumes, statements, learn about social media tools... I need to be sharp! I keep thinking about all those things I thought I'd get to over the winter, computer file organization / streamlining, editing and organizing images... I even have boxes of old slides to weed through and digitize. 

As with all classes I teach, I have the opportunity to learn along with my students. So, I'll be setting goals for myself while brushing up on all the topics we will cover. I'm excited for the questions that will be brought to the class and I have high hopes for my students (and myself) during the 5-week crash course. 

I picked up a great book that I think might help form part of my approach: Better Living Through Criticism: How to think about Art, Beauty, Pleasure and Truth by A.O. Scott

My first goal is to finish this book before the class starts. So far, I don't think that will be a problem!

The class will be meeting from 5 - 7:30pm for 5 Mondays: April 11 - May 9 at the Center for the Arts. For more information, send me an email or contact CWC: 307.733.7425              

Pottery at Market

This week brought the opening of Market in Jackson, WY and I'm excited to announce that my black & white pottery is right at home among a variety of local products! 

This unique store is located inside Vertical Harvest. I have been watching the building of this incredible vertical greenhouse for a few years, the story is powerful and exciting with mouth-watering promises of year-round produce grown right here in the mountains of Jackson Hole. Find a tasty preview (the grand opening will be May 21st) at the Jackson Hole Foodie.

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Ready for glazing: porcelain wheel thrown plates with sgraffito designs. 

Something New

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Remember when                                                                                                                       

Jenny Dowd  

2016, 6" x 6" Porcelain, velum, ink, wire  

Something new is always happening.

Balancing sculpture / drawing / pottery / teaching / odd jobs creates intense and interesting days in and out of the studio. This journal will provide a forum for sharing both news and experiments. 

The image above, Remember when, is a small wall sculpture (6" x 6") that I made for last night's Whodunnit? event at the Art Association of Jackson Hole. This anonymous show and fundraiser presents the frustrating challenge (for me) of working on the wall in a small square format. However, I often find limitations beneficial in the process of working out new ideas. While incorporating drawing into my pottery I've also been puzzling over a method to layer drawings into wall sculpture to increase depth. This project allowed me to sketch out these thoughts, I think something new may come from this.

Meanwhile, this journal will be updated at least weekly with news from Dowd House Studios: places to find our pottery, exhibitions, classes & workshops, new forms and exciting projects.

So it's time for something new, let's see where it takes us!