Artist of the Month

HappyWhosits

2009-06-11T05:21:00.000-07:00

Well HappyWhosits is a partnership that I have been learning a lot about. The ladies are very creative and do not stop there. What they will not tell you is they are also extremely active when it comes to Festivals and working with other local artists of all shape and size.

This is their Profile as found at happywhosits.etsy.com.
Happy Whosits is a fun adventure for two yarn-a-holics who have day jobs in IT. Here at Happy Whosits we can let our creative side loose to create delightful critters -- we specialize in cute!

Sue and Eileen bring you a variety of toys, baby items, decorations, and wearables. We have been working together for many years, and we complement each other well.

We have started publishing the patterns for some of our creations as well, and will be adding more as the year progresses.

Sue
I learned to crochet when I was seven years old (God bless grandmothers!) and I am the main "critter crocheter". Personally, I can't finish an afghan to save my life (check out Eileen's beautiful babyghans), but I’ve made all sorts of crochet animals for 20+ years and enjoy "bringing them to life" with whimsical faces from both my own original patterns. I have started to introduce a line of my own unique patterns. I also enjoy special order - they can be challenges -- like crocheting a pool ball set to put on TOP of the pool table cover. I am "mom" to a small zoo -- three pound puppies, two cats, and two Tennessee Walking horses. You can follow me on twitter as @sueszoo.

Eileen
I enjoy all sorts of crafts, especially anything that uses yarn. I crochet, knit, needlepoint on plastic canvas and cross stitch. My specialties are beautiful, unbreakable Christmas ornaments and baby items, particularly soft, intricate, crocheted baby blankets. I have started working with beads as well, and have completed several beaded banner ornaments and icicles. I am very excited to now be making some of the critters that Happy Whosits is known for. I have my own etsy account for making purchases http://MommaE.etsy.com
Darn Yarn
We also maintain a "de-stashing" etsy shop. Having collected craft supplies & designs for YEARS with all the good intentions of "getting to them", but not having the time, please help the overflow find a new appreciative home by visiting http://darnyarn.etsy.com.

Recently I myself have taken in one of the Family of Whosits. Albert has added his expert advice to our little family, and has made himself a great home. I hope to add a few more Whosits to the growing family soon.

The Next Step

2009-06-05T05:18:00.001-07:00

While I have seemed from the outside to be far less active in my work of late, I have been working on a problem that has been plaguing me for a number of years. My project at the moment is still in the planning stages, though is tentatively being called “Steps”.

Steps will me a series that will grow from a former set of sculptures that I have created. The “Stepping Out” being the key piece of that set. These new works will be far larger, closer to life sized works. They will work with the idea of transition from one plain to another. However unlike past works I will not have this work being based on the table top. This will be my first full Wall Series. Accumulating in a project many of you have heard me speak of about with a ceramic “Wall” or slab measuring I hope close to 7ft tall and 10ft long with at least 5 figures being featured in a state of transitional motion.
Like many large ideas like this I understand that this could take a number of years to come about, though now is the time that I am starting. These figures have been living in my head for so long that they have started to become real to me. I would like to start making them real for everyone else.

Lisa Sowers

2009-04-08T05:07:00.000-07:00

Lisa Sowers of LASPottery. Her work has come to my attention of late.

Q1. How would you describe the work that you make, both in Ceramics and Jewelry, and how do they relate to one another?
I would mostly describe my designs as functional. As a graphic artist by trade, I tend to like geometrical and functional forms. Several years ago I grew tired of being chained to a mouse all day. When I found pottery it put me back in touch with what I had first loved about graphic design – being hands on. I strive to achieve balance between style and function in all of my work.

Q2. What difference do you find if any in the scale of your pieces; the separation of your large works vs. your smaller ones?
The larger forms are much more forgiving. It is easier to be free with your work and easier to hide creating marks. With the larger pieces, I work to alter basic hand thrown shapes and sculpt them into other forms, for example the Cat Planters. Smaller pieces need to be more precise with more attention to detail, with less area to view every detail is important to the design. Some of my pottery such as the Angel Candle Holders and the Cat Planters, the larger scale is just more dramatic and they just take on more personality.

Q3. What inspires you in your work?
I am inspired by nature, things I love to do, and graphic shapes. I am a windsurfer at heart and love the water, wind, ocean, and nature. This influences the colors I like, the textures, the themes, and the function. I use these elements in my designing process in large pieces and in the jewelry pieces.

Q4. What do you feel is your single greatest accomplishment so far as an artist?
That’s a hard one. The reaction of someone falling in love with piece you create gives a great feeling of accomplishment. Or creating something that you thought you never could do. My single greatest accomplishment is having a sculptural piece that I created purchased at a juried art show. I received a wonderful letter from the buyer letting me know that they had purchased my art for their private art collection. It was a great feeling.

Q5. In this day and age of digital and technological innovation what is it that you feel drives yourself and others to “return to the earth and mud”?
As much as I love the digital world and love designing computer graphics, getting down and dirty and feeling the clay in your hands is just a great outlet. I feel when I create in clay, I am getting back to basics in a traditional process. We have been making functional form out of clay forever and when I create something I almost feel like I am making an antique; and hopefully something that will be used and passed down for generations to come. So in the age of technology is it nice to remember our roots.

Q6. What is one piece of advice for one that wishes to open a studio?
Go for it! I truly believe that having your own studio is the best way to improve, to master and promote your clay passion. It’s the best way to find your style. Also, strive for originality and great craftsmanship and your work will sell itself!

Of couse if anyone is wanting more information on Lisa one can find her at her online shop LASPottery. Also she will be showing at a local Festival at CPCC on the 25th of April.

Christiane White

2009-03-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

I am sorry for any delay for this post, I have been having a bit of difficulty with my computer, but we are back up and running. So I would like to introduce everyone to Christiane White's work.

Oh gosh. Talking about me... gahhh. :D

My name is Christiane White, and I have more facets than a gemstone. [I can also write a good tagline!]
I guess one of the most important things that you can know about me is that I've been submerged in the Arts since I was wee. I've always joked that I'm good at everything that isn't good for making a living - although I've worked hard to challenge that! I went to college for Theater Arts, and I have a deep and abiding love for Performance Arts of every kind, but my real success has come in my herbal-based bath and body creations, and now my work with fiber, both in spinning and knitting. I firmly believe that your job should be more than what you do to pay the bills - it should somehow uplift your soul and give you a feeling of doing something worthwhile. Spinning yarn and working with herbs does that for me, because not only do I feel a great connection to the generations of our female ancestors who developed and honed these traditional skills, but I also get the pleasure of offering wholesome and nurturing delights that are much more sustainable than
what's generally found on the market.

I've recently found a way to meld my love of Fiber and Performance Art, too! I've started creating "knitted graffiti" or "yarnbombs" as they're sometimes called - ephemeral, whimsical street art that you boldly leave in public with a kiss and a prayer. My first "installation" was gifted to the City of Shelby, NC, where I live. I knitted a sleeve with fringe, attached it to a lightpost in Uptown Shelby, and included a tag with a link to the website http://www.shutupandcraft.com where I talk about the purpose of street art. I hope to inspire others to join in with
my street art installations, and I plan for Shut Up And Craft to be a collective of artists who dare to step outside the boundaries.

If you'd like to see more about me, I have a blog at http://www.threeravens.net, or you can read more about my yarnbombs at
http://www.shutupandcraft.com.

*******

If you need something different, or for me to expound more [or less!] just let me know! I'm going to attach some photos, too. La la la! ;)

There's also some photos at
yarnbombing
fiber work
my bath and body stuff

- Xi

CHD:WCK!

2009-02-02T15:00:00.000-08:00

Artist Statement

I am an incredibly visual person, so it’s only natural that most of my art work is visual art. I have come to enjoy the beauty of seeing the world from the perspective of others. Wanting to invite others to see the world from my perspective is what leads me to create. I make art that reveals what I think is beautiful.

In my photography I capture images of people or things that I find stimulating or interesting. I enjoy stopping to look at common things and finding something unique in them. When people respond to these images, it reminds me that my unique way of seeing things resonates with people and is important.

Through my work I aim to connect with people and make a positive impact on the world I live in. Themes that appear repeatedly in my work are: women and standards of beauty, music (often hip hop and jazz) and its cultural influence, and nature as it reflects God. Much of my work is process oriented. I find working with different processes in a single piece makes each project more engaging for me. It also adds texture and depth to my work. When I finish a piece, I reexamine it and allow it to tell me something about myself and what I should create next. It’s an interesting exercise in self-expression and self-reflection.

I’m constantly exploring new media and working to overcome my inhibitions creating art. In the future I will begin to merge my photography into my mixed media work.

chdwck80.blogspot.com

2009-01-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

I will start this month Simple with an explanation of what is to be expected. I hope to start doing basic interviews with local artist, and purhaps some not so local. I will be posting monthly on those that I have a chance to work with. This month I am only doing a example peices, short and simple. I will not have a vid or anything else to start with being that to prevent the first months person from being the guinnea pig and having the short end of the deal.

Virginia Smith

Statment: Though high school I ran a ceramic studio that my family was kind enough to back me with. Though later it was to be closed when I moved away. Having lived most of my life in a small town in North Carolina, I moved to Charlotte area to attend UNCC for architecture. Though later finding the pull of the studio work to take more of my time then the construction aspect, I made the decision that art was a far more appropriate interpretation of my calling.
I now am an instructor in ceramics at one of the only YMCA’s in North Carolina that offers a fully functional art studio. I use this studio for my work, and a place to inspire others.

Bio:In a world of instant messaging, mass marketing, and digital reality the society has lost the ability to connect to the earth. I return to the earth, to the clay. The simplicity of the material reflects through the form. When one can bring the natural world and history into their life they can find balance.
My work is not about geometry but of the natural. Organic forms, growth, and flow. From the earth comes growth, from growth comes change. This is for both sculpture and functional pieces. Both bring this natural and organic style into the home and other environments that would normally be overrun by mass productions.

Resume:
Virginia Smith
Ceramicist

Education

2003-2008 BA Studio Art Ceramics University North Carolina Charlotte

SELECTED ART EXHIBITIONS:

Group Shows

2006 Green Rice Gallery, Charlotte NC

Solo Shows

2007 Johnston YMCA, Charlotte NC

Juried Shows

2008 Inspire Ballantyne, Charlotte NC

Related Activities

Simply Ceramics 2000-2004
Managed Public studio, sales associate, and Event coordinator
UNCC Studio Assistant 2004-2005
Glaze and clay mixing, kiln firing
Johnston YMCA Arts
YMCA Ceramicist, instructor

Atist of the Month

2009-01-03T14:36:00.000-08:00

This is a Monthly Acknowledgment of mostly Charlotte NC artist that have made an imprint on the community around them. Inspired by the NODA Community and its love of new artist I have decided to allow a number of them to shine in their own way. Though not all of these artists are from this area I wish to embrace the feel of the Art Community here and promote those that make a light in the world.