Fun and Functional

Thinking of art as something that hangs on the wall or sits to be admired is correct in some situations.  At other times, however, art is also something that is used every day.  Clothes that we wear, dishes from which we eat, toys with which we play, jewelry that adorns us... all of these things are created by artists and serve an important purpose in our everyday lives.  The artist shown here is working to form functional pottery pieces, which she will be able to use each day, and which will serve as a reminder of her creative talents and ability to make something from a mere lump of clay.

Functional art is concerned with how something works, as well as its aesthetic design.  Incorporating these two elements can be challenging at times, and requires the ability to balance concrete and abstract thinking.  Working toward a specific purpose and having a set goal in mind for the product, while also designing a creative pattern or pleasing color scheme for the piece, is how this artist blends the fun and funky technique of hand building into a practical use of the material.

Making objects that contribute to one's daily life or to others', if they are given as gifts, can be very rewarding.  Rewarding not only in the moment of creation, or when the clay is fired and glazed, or even when it comes back with shine, sparkle and color.  But, rewarding when the piece is used over and over again, making further meaning for its user and the connection to the artist who crafted it.  By cradling the clay itself, an artist can pass that gentle feeling as a form of protection, for both the contents that might be held in the piece and for the underlying feelings that might go along with it, from which it was created.

  

This artist has engaged in free flowing creativity and, at the same time, has increased her proficiency in constructing bowls, baskets, and other containers.  Using shape and contour, she has taken advantage of the clay's flexibility and added twists, bends, spirals, and knobs to decorate her sculptures.  In forming these functional pieces, the artist becomes inspired and contemplates how she will glaze them to make them even more fun.