Central Carolina Community College Sculpture Program's lead instructor, Phillip Ashe, is exhibiting his latest body of work in the PAF Gallery at the North Carolina Arts Incubator, 223 North Chatham Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344, opening November 18, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. The exhibition, "Syntheticism", will run through December 23.
His contemporary sculpture and paintings are a culmination of the last four years while at CCCC and are an exploration of odd juxtapositions of material, both synthetic and natural, as metaphor.
Phillip received his B.F.A. in Sculpture from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina and his M. F. A. in Art from University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He began his teaching career as an adjunct at Mitchell Community College teaching sculpture, design, and ceramics while gaining experience as a practicing sculptor. In 2007 he became lead instructor at Central Carolina Community College's Sculpture Program.
We would like to invite you to view this challenging body of work While here visit the CCCC student gallery at 138 North Chatham Avenue to see the latest sculpture and pottery produced by the current class.
On August 19 Central Carolina Community College Sculpture program will feature an exhibit of stone work by students in the Professional Arts and Crafts: Sculpture courses. The gallery is located at 138 North Chatham Avenue in downtown Siler City, North Carolina and is open 6:00 to 9:00 the third Friday of every month during the Art Walk sponsored by the North Carolina Arts Incubator. At other times visitors are welcome Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 9:30am to 4:00pm.
"I have really enjoyed stone carving.When carving the black soapstone, I used curved shapes as well as straight edges to create variety in the piece. I left raw edges at the top and bottom of the stone to provide contrast with the smooth areas. I especially liked finishing the piece; smoothing the surface to bring out all the natural color and grain lines in the stone. Debbie Englund
“I had a number of pieces of raw stone to choose from. I chose this one because it was very different from all of the others. Narrow and wedge shaped. It really did call out to me because of that difference.
“After I had made my choice I set the stone on a table and just looked at it for a while walking around it, studying from all angles. I knew that I wanted to leave areas of the natural surface untouched. I was going to treat the worked surfaces to bring out the deep luster of the stone, to help create an even more striking contrast between the worked and natural surfaces.
“I finally decided that I wanted to make the piece seem bigger than it was, to add volume, to let the inside out. I wanted to be able to see more than what was there, so I decided to open up the piece, but I wanted to do it in a way that would make the inner space as much of a focal point as the exterior.
“The connection between the two sides was a way of joining all the surfaces together in one continuous flow and directing the eye to move around and through the final work.”
Brian McGowan
Alabster, Trish Welsh
“I had never worked with stone before and absolutely loved it! I loved the carving and the process of deduction. This piece started out as peas in a pod but evolved into something abstract. The process was lots of work and lots of fun!”
Trish Welsh
“From the pebbles in the streams I wandered at as a child, rocks broken or stacked in walls as a young man, or drafted in my career into facades of marble and granite: the sensuality and beauty of stone has instilled in me an abiding love of the "bones of the earth". My avocation has allowed me opportunity to study and analyze many works crafted from that marrow and marvel at those whose hands created them through the ages. These pieces represent an humble attempt at the reinterpretation of those studies synthesized with modern techniques and language.”
Greg Bailey
Soapstone, Greg Bailey
“What I love about working with stone is how I can get completely lost in it. When I am working with clay or metal, the process includes creating lots of small individual components and building them on top of each other to create depth and design. Like a chess game, my mind is constantly thinking at least three or four moves ahead as I build my way to the finished sculpture.
“With stone carving, the process is strictly subtractive and to create texture and layers, I have to take away from the stone. However, I only take what the stone will give me and I determine this by following its natural shape and grain. The result is very different from what I’m used to because I’ve given in to my medium almost completely. The result is very organic and I like to think that the stone’s actual soul is now willingly exposed for the world to see.”
How to register: Registration begins 8:00am August 3, 2011; call the CCCC office in Siler City at 919-545-8663 or 919-545-8033 in Pittsboro. You may pay in person or with a credit card by phone.
Tuesday nights, 6—9pm. Clay Studio. This class will provide hands-on learning of basic pottery skills in a structured, supportive, fun setting. Students must bring tools; beginner’s kits cost around $11.00*. Cost of course $80. Materials fee $10. includes 25 lbs. clay & glaze, to be paid at registration
First Session: August 16 through September 27 (7 weeks). (C-3756)
Second Session: October 4 through November 15 (7 weeks). (C-3757) *Note: Clay tools may be purchased at any pottery supply or hobby store.
Intermediate Wheelthrowing, Instructor, Ray Edwards
Wednesday nights 6—9pm. Clay Studio. This class will challenge students with some wheel experience by providing more time to practice and improve skills and techniques.
Cost of course $80. Materials fee $10. to be paid at registration. Bring clay tools.
First Session: August 18 through September 29 (7 weeks). (C-3768) Second Session:October 6 through November 17 (7 weeks). (C-3769)
Fall About Pots (Advanced Wheelthrowing), Instructor, Jennifer Siegel
Saturdays 10am—2pm. Clay Studio. Students will explore new forms, design techniques and methods of glazing. Bring clay tools and dust mask.
Cost of course $65. Materials fee $10. includes 25 lbs. clay & glaze, to be paid at registration.
First Session: August 20 through October 1 (6 weeks). (C-3764) Second Session: October 8 through December 3 (6 weeks) (C-3765
Clay Open Studio, Facilitator, Staff
Open to current degree students and those registered in Continuing Education classes.
Saturdays 2:00—6:00pm. Clay Studio. Cost $40. Clay must be purchased at either campus prior to Saturday. Students bring supplies.
First Session: August 20 through October 1 (6 weeks). (C-3773) Second Session: October 8 through December 3 (6 weeks). No classes November 5, 12, 26 (C-3774)
Blacksmithing for Fun, Instructor, Lucas House (C-3775)
Saturdays 10:00am—2:00pm. October 8 through October 22 (3 weeks), Siler City Center
Students will learn to continue blacksmithing on their own through basic to advanced forging and fabricating techniques. Design and history will guide the students through their projects.
Bring safety glasses, ear protection, and wear non-flammable clothing. Cost of course $71.25. Materials fee: $20.00
Beginners Welding for Art & Hobby, Instructor, Kevin Kuhnel (C-3751)
Mondays 6:00—9:00pm, Siler City Center. September 12 through November 14 (10 weeks) Cost of course $136.25, Materials fee: $30.00
Students will learn the basics of MIG welding for the purpose of art and hobby. Students will understand the use of shop tools and machinery in a safe environment.
Bring a welding apron, welding gloves, safety glasses, and work boots.
Metal Sculpture, Instructor, Kevin Kuhnel (C-3752)
Wednesdays 6:00—9:00pm. Siler City Center. September 14 through November 16 (10 weeks) Cost of course $121.25. Materials fee: $30.00 (continued to page 4)
Prerequisite: welding experience; not for beginners. Through hands-on individual projects
students will complete a saleable work of art.
Bring welding apron, welding gloves, safety glasses, and work boots.
Workshops
I Spy Salt, Instructor, Jennifer Siegel (C-3763)
Orientation: 5:00—6:00, Tuesday, August 23
November 4, noon—4:00pm; November 5, 10:00am—10:00pm; November 6, 11:00am—9:00pm; November 12, 8:00am—midnight. Clay studio. Cost $121.50. Materials fee $10.00.
Designed to familiarize students with the steps required to successfully fire a 100 cubic foot salt kiln (gas), work includes glazing cone 10 ware, making wadding, kiln wash, kiln prep, loading and firing. Successful completion will prepare student for a life-long love of salt-fired pottery.
Bring cone 10 bisque ware, personal glazing tools, gloves, dust mask, protective eye wear, two 4-pound boxes granulated salt.
Pottery Tool Making, Instructor, Raymond Edwards (C-3766)
Fridays 2:00—6:00pm, September 16 through September 30 (3 weeks), Clay Studio. Cost of course $50.00.Cost of course $50.00.
Students will learn to work with power tools to produce wood tools for working with clay.
Intermediate to Advanced Woodturning, Instructor, Rich Goldberg (C-3332)
Saturdays, 10:00am—2:00pm, September 17 and September 24 (2 days). Cost of workshop $76.25. Materials fee $30.00.
Students will gain proficiency in intermediate-to-advanced level woodturning skills with a hands-on learning approach. Bring safety glasses
Raku: Red Hot Sculptures, Instructor, Raymond Edwards (C-3251)
Friday, October 28, 3:00—7:00pm; Saturday, October 29, 9:00am—5:00pm, SAGE Academy. Cost of course $66.25.
Students will learn aspects of firing Raku and using different ingredients for reduction. Bring: bisque ware
Carbonton Wood Firing, Instructor, Raymond Edwards (C-3767)
Thursday, November 3, 3:00—6:00pm, clay studio; Friday, November 4, 9:00am—2:00pm; Saturday, November 5, 6:00am—6:00pm; Sunday, November 13, 1:00—4:00pm, Carbonton, NC. Cost of workshop $66.00.
Beginning with instruction in using appropriate glazes and temperatures, students will learn the aspects of firing with wood in an historic groundhog kiln.
(Courses may be audited by those not requiring college credit, but does not count as a prerequisite.)
Registration for the fall term: August 16, 9:00am—7:00pm Pittsboro Campus 919-542-6495
Semester begins August 19 and ends December 19, (16 weeks total)
Class Descriptions:
Art 283-S01 Ceramics I
This course provides an introduction to three-dimensional design principles using the medium of clay. Emphasis is placed on fundamentals of forming, surface design, glaze application, and firing. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate skills in slab and coil construction, simple wheel forms, glaze technique, and creative expression. This course will focus on centering clay on the wheel and throwing basic forms. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for transferability as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.
3 credit hours; meets Mon/Wed. 9:00—11:40am. Clay studio
ART 285 S01 Ceramics III
This course provides the opportunity for advanced self-determined work in sculptural and functional ceramics. Emphasis is placed on developing the technical awareness of clay bodies, slips, engobes, and firing procedures necessary to fulfill the student's artistic goals. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a knowledge of materials and techniques necessary to successfully create original projects in the clay medium. This course covers the important elements of designing and producing utilitarian pottery such as bowls, mugs, plates, casseroles, stemware, and bottles. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for transferability as a pre-major and/or elective course requirement.
3 credit hours; meets Mon/Wed., 9:00—11:40am. Clay Studio
PCC 121-S01 Handbuilding I
This course introduces students to the basic hand building processes of creating three-dimensional functional and sculptural vessels in clay. Emphasis is placed on using design elements and principles for the purpose of forming and decorating ceramic vessels. Upon completion students should be able to demonstrate skills in pinch, coil, and slab methods as well as function and creative expression.
Daytime, 3 credit hours; meets Thurs. 9:00am—1:50pm. Clay studio. PCC125-S01 Clay Casting Prerequisite: PCC 110 or ART 283
This course introduces the different ways of shaping ceramic items, leading to the use of plaster molds and process of “slip- casting”. Topics include model and mold-making, block and case mastermold, gypsum, resins, clay selection, mineral
additives, flocculation, thixotrophy, deflocculation, rheology, specific gravity, and casting rates. Upon completion students should be able to cast in molds, remove, de-seam and clean greenware maintain molds, and layout studios.
2 credit hours; meets Tues., 9:00am—12:50pm. Clay Studio
PCC 132-S01 Glaze Formulation
This course provides an in-depth study of glazes used on pottery. Emphasis is placed on performing glaze tests, analyzing glazes, mixing a variety of glazes, and correcting glaze faults. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an understanding of glaze chemical qualities and formulate new glazes.
This course introduces the basic principles, elements, vocabulary, and process of two-dimensional design within the context of professionally produced crafts. Emphasis is placed on general design concepts and vocabulary, conceptual thinking, design process application, and observational skills. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate enhanced observational skills and a working knowledge of design vocabulary, concepts, and processes.
2 credit hours; meets Tue. 8:00 to 11:50am. Clay Studio.
PCD 211-S01 Professional Craft Design (Marketing)
Prerequisite: PCD 110—This course covers the development of customer- or site-influenced design and the development and design of craft marketing promotional materials. Topics include customer-guided, site-specific, and other design influences and development and design of logos, hang tags, web sites, brochures, and related promotional materials. Upon completion, students should be able to design within site, customer, or other limitations and complete a design package for their personal marketing needs.
This course is an introduction to the proper equipment and tools of the metal shop and welding methods for the artist. Topics include welding, cutting, forging, fabricating and finishing, and studio safety. Upon completion, students will be able to demonstrate efficient and safe use of metal shop tools and equipment.
Once a year we invite a guest artist from the surrounding community to show in our gallery in order to expose students to varied styles and media, which helps fulfill the mission of the gallery. Beginning on July 15 (Downtown Art Walk, 6:00 to 9:00pm) our visiting artist will be potter, Joseph Sand.
Joseph (b. 1982, Austin, MN) trained as a sculptor at the University of Minnesota, received a B.F.A. in 2006. During his undergraduate courses, he studied for one year in Italy, followed by another year in England, after receiving a very competitive, college-wide scholarship. While in England, he worked alongside many prolific potters, including Svend Bayer and Clive Bowen, which heavily influenced his direction as an artist, taking up functional pottery as a means of personal expression. He completed a three-year apprenticeship with Mark Hewitt in 2009. While finishing his apprenticeship at Hewitt Pottery, Joseph was featured in Craft in America. He now resides in Randleman, North Carolina. His work combines the styles of traditional, Southern alkaline glazeware and East Asian design, among others. Using a wood-fired kiln, both salt- and ash-glazed wares are produced.
“I aspire to create items that will adorn people’s homes that they can enjoy, whether they use it or just appreciate it as a piece of art. Bringing people happiness through my work plays a central role in my artistic endeavor. Currently, I am focusing my efforts on making utilitarian ware along with larger, decorative items. I select local clay that I know will react well and glazes that will be enhanced by slips to create beautiful patterns in a salt-fired atmosphere. Special attention is paid to the placement of pieces throughout the kiln to achieve the desired results. By carrying on a tradition created by Bernard Leach, passed down to Michael Cardew, and then to Mark Hewitt, who has shared it with me, I am looking at the past, adding all the skills and ideas I’ve been taught, creating something new and interesting, of beauty and vibrancy.
“Currently, I am working on a series of new glazes showing an array of colors and texture that will enhance the pottery forms that I make. Utilizing my newly created test glaze kiln, which was partly funded using a grant that I received from the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro, I have tested numerous glazes in search of those select few that really make my pots exemplary.”
Joseph Sand Pottery property near Randleman, North Carolina is now up and running, and Joseph is making functional and sculptural pottery full-time. Most recently, Joseph was a recipient of the Ella Fountain Pratt Emerging Artist Award through the Durham Arts Council, which provided funding towards the construction of his kiln. Kiln opening sales are held three times each year, typically in April, August, and December. Otherwise, the pottery is open by appointment only.
The CCCC student gallery is open for the Third Friday Art Walk in conjunction with the North Carolina Arts Incubator from 6:00 to 9:00pm—other times: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 9:30am to 4:00 pm. 138 North Chatham Avenue, Siler City, North Carolina 27344
