Seniors Display Work at National Ceramics Conference
Senior clay students are displaying their work at Carnegie Coffee Company from now through March 17 as part of the National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts Conference (NCECA). The Ellis student exhibition titled Selected Work: Senior 2018 has been led and organized by Amian Sandhu, Class of 2018, and Yolanda Zheng, Class of 2018, who have selected, curated, and set up the show in its entirety for their senior project.
A clay student since her freshman year at Ellis, Amian decided to explore ceramics because her older sister, Preea SANDHU ’14, loved the class and urged her to try it. Since then, Amian has discovered her own artistic voice and vision, thanks to Visual Arts Teacher Ceil Sturdevant. “Ms. Sturdevant encouraged me to get in touch with my inner self in the studio and explore my artistry. I’ve become more in tune with my style and have learned that I really like working in sophisticated, simple lines,” said Amian.
Ms. Sturdevant will also show her work at NCECA in the Touching Earth: Women Creating Communities exhibit which “celebrates our differences as individuals uniting through empowerment that comes with being women, being artists, being ceramicists.” Ms. Sturdevant curated and organized the exhibit to highlight and share the work of women ceramicists from across the nation with over 5,000 clay enthusiasts who will attend the conference.
Selected Work: Senior 2018 and Touching Earth: Women Creating Communities are now open and free the public until March 17. View the exhibits at Carnegie Coffee Company from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday–Saturday, and on Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Class of 2018 Artist Statements:
Natalie Beattie
This is my fourth year in advanced clay at The Ellis School. I have learned, by spending my time in the clay room, that the art form is more than just something to do or a way to relieve stress, but a process that contains important steps and values. I have been taught the importance of the history of clay and learned the story of how clay was first discovered by the early primitive people! Clay also has an effect and embrace on the human body. As the student, you have to be one with the clay and channel your energy into what is forming in front of you. I have been taught that clay can feel what you are feeling and have an effect on the piece, and I strongly agree. Clay also demands a strong core, especially at the wheel. Using the strength of your core and pushing with your hands is how the final piece will come together. I have loved these lessons about clay that I have learned and it gives me a greater appreciation for the art. I hope next year, in college, I can continue developing my brain with the knowledge of clay and continue developing my projects.
Gabi Boyiadzis
This is my fourth year taking clay. During these four years we have been given different assignments that not only allow us to be creative and express ourselves, but also push the boundaries of our imaginations and allow our ideas to come to life. Working in the studio is the favorite part of my day. The studio is the place to go to unwind and use your hands to create something amazing. Throwing on the wheel is a full body experience for me that channels my creativity and focus while using an intuitive touch.
Oliver Burnett
This is my fourth year working in clay. I enjoy the medium because of its “hands on” quality, as well as the freedom that comes with being able to (almost) constantly rework my pieces. Bringing my ideas to life in a three dimensional form is so fulfilling, and is absolutely worth the hours I spend doing it. The studio is my place to relax. Whether I want to take a break from thinking about stressful things or just clear my mind in general, working on my pieces always seems to calm me down.
Marisa Busquets
I just started doing clay this year. So far, it has been a learning experience, but definitely one I have enjoyed. I have learned a lot over the past few months, and I have met so many amazingly talented people. I feel that I have really grown over the past few months as an artist and as a person. Being apart of this community that I didn’t even know existed six months ago has taught me a lot about who I am and who I can be.
Natasha Kossovsky
I work with clay because it challenges me to translate two-dimensional ideas into three-dimensional works. I love that clay has the potential to become any figure, texture, or function. Most of my works are detailed pieces that make use of layered glaze and play with the viewer’s perception. How a glaze turns out is at the mercy of the kiln, so I’ve developed a love of experimentation. I hope you have as much fun viewing my work as I had making it.
Naveena Nanda
This is my second year of clay. It has become a way for me to focus on something that is, for the most part, disconnected from the other aspects of my life. I can leave the day and turn my attention to a piece. As a result of this, clay serves as an opportunity for me to try to do something well for its own sake (without the usual motivations and repercussions). So, despite the frustrations that sometimes come up when pieces turn out badly or start breaking three weeks into their making, I ultimately feel fulfilled by clay.
Ashley Lynn Priore
This is my fourth year in Clayworks at Ellis, and I have enjoyed every minute of the experience. After witnessing my sister’s beautiful creations in Advanced Clayworks, I had a strong desire to learn, study, and discover the techniques in clay. I enjoy the process in which a clay piece goes from a ball of clay into a work completely your own. For most of my pieces, I create a poem or other form of creative writing to accompany it. Together, these artforms are one and tell a story. Last year, I spent most of my time learning the feeling of clay and becoming comfortable with it. Most recently, I have challenged myself with several different techniques including layering glazes and using different tools in the process
Noa Reiter
I am a senior clay student who has been taking clay for all four years of high school. The experiences I’ve had in the clay room are ones I’ve come to value tremendously. Clay has allowed me to celebrate my creativity and has granted me the ability to challenge myself not just academically but artistically. I enjoy sculpture as it pushes me to think outside of the box and let go of preconceived ideas and adapt to the clay. While the pieces I create are always very different from what I envisioned they’d be, I’ve learned to appreciate the excitement that comes with the uncertainty.
Amian Sandhu
I have been a ceramic student at the Ellis school for the last four years. The artworks are influenced by my travels to Europe and the Caribbean with my family. A variety of colors, scripts and designs are incorporated into the artworks that remind me of the multiple cultures I have seen. I want people to feel as though they are transported somewhere different with each series.
Meg Wolfe
I have been enjoying clay since Lower School, but I have appreciated it more since I started high school. With high school, my workload and stress level have increased. Clay has helped me relax and refocus my thoughts. During the last four years of taking clay I have improved my skills and found my artist voice in clay. I take great joy in making art with clay, because to me and my life full of work, clay is meditative.
Yolanda Zheng
Transforming ideas and thoughts into projects has always been a great pleasure for me since I was young, and clay allows to me to achieve this while exploring something new. I have now been taking clay for four years, and I enjoy working in the studio with friends. This class helps me not only to develop techniques in order to improve my skills, but also to relax and enjoy the moment by putting myself fully concentrated on the piece that I am working on. I enjoy working with different objects since they allow me to continue enhancing my technical ability. I have learned so much from this class, and I look forward to meeting new challenges in the coming years.
Envision Her at Ellis
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