Journal Postings: Lauren Quinn O’Neill
| (04/16/10): Spring 2010 | | I cannot believe that it has already been a year since I found out I received the Fellowship! So much has happened and I am finally beginning to process all that I experienced and learned up till now. I am just drawing to a close my last class of the Spring semester, Methods and Process in Gallery Installation, which culminated with installing the Massachusetts College of Art and Design 2010 Annual Benefit Auction. I am so happy I found this course and wish it was a full semester long. The Professor, Robert Gainfort (who is the preparator at the Dondis and Godine and Bakalar Galleries at Massart) was amazing and has so much knowledge to share about the proper way to build walls, to lighting, painting and just about everything. I learned so much not just about install but also how to prepare my work for showing and preservation. So now, it is almost summer time, and I am hoping all most a year after my trip to Ireland I will start to slowly creating a new body of work. I got a great new sewing machine and a camera, and an awesome back porch, so I will be sure to share anything new and exciting.
Thank you again to every one that chose me for this opportunity, it is an experience like no other. And congratulations to all the new winners! I am already excited to look at all your work!
If I become slow at updating here, check me out on my blog:
laurenquinnoneill@blogspot.com |
| (11/20/09): Fall 2009 | | So my class has been going well, very interesting. It is making me think about objects in a way in which I previously never before had. In turn it is making me think about all the unconscious factors that get filtered into my work with out ever even realizing it. Weird. Anyways, I wish I had some pictures to share with you guys of new ideas, drawings, inspirations, but unfortunately my camera died the last week I was in Ireland (thank god it was near the end) and I am still in the process of obtaining a new one. I will share with you all as soon as I can. |
| (09/15/09): Folk Art, Folk Craft and Material Culture. | | I stared my graduate class yesterday; Folk Art, Folk Craft, and Material Culture. I think it is going to be really interesting. We are going to focus on a number of different folk art and crafts from around the world and defining the definition of what craft and folk art really is, and for that matter how it is changing. We are going to look at things such as Native American story cloths to New York graffiti murals. I will keep you posted on other happenings as they progress. |
| (07/29/09): Jim Turner | | I visited with Jim Turner one morning for a quite interesting conversation. Jim showed me around his studio, riddled with pieces and parts, kilns, glazes, etc. everything in a bit of disarray. He informed me that he hadn't been making any work in six months or so. He felt terrible that he had no work to show me, we did get to see his studio and have a long conversation about the current state of the global economy and its effects on the craft world. In some ways the conversation could have been more valuable because it made me realize just how difficult it is right now for artists to continue making any profits off their work right now the way things are, and that it really has to be a personal drive to keep creating. You can check out Jim Turner here:
http://www.virtu-art.biz/jturner.htm
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| (07/27/09): Jane Jermyn | | One of the main components of my proposal was visiting with artist Jane Jermyn. I contacted her through email last December and she was more than willing to let me visit. In fact, she invited me to stay at her house for a week and drive me around to see different artists and galleries. Even though she just moved, took down her graduate show, and was in the process of going to Croatia for a residency she was more than friendly and inviting. Along with all we got to see in the ceramic world, her plethora of books and resource information was astonishing. Because of all her moving I was unable to get any pictures of her work or studio, but here is a link to her webiste;
www.janejermynceramics.com
It is worth checking out. |
| (07/26/09): Returning Home. | | I have completed my journeys through Ireland and meet some wonderful crafts people. Now that I have time to reflect, and have steady internet access, I will be dedicating several posts to the crafts people that I have met while I was abroad. Simultaneously, I am in the process of registering for a Grad class called Folk Art, Folk Craft, and Material Culture. I am really excited about this class, as I feel it really incorporates some of the things I have been researching, and even claims to included a section on Northern Ireland. |
| (07/26/09): Mandy Parslow | | Mandy was quite an inspiring person. She owns a pottery shop/house, studio off the back and a huge wood fire kiln. All of which she built on her own with the help of friends. What was interesting to me about Mandy was her commitment to making it on her own, being a studio crafts person, making a living off what she loved. But add to that, she decided to back to school for a degree in Crafts and Material Culture. There is something beautiful about making elegant work, but the conversation that we had about context and knowing the history of what other crafts people had been doing for centuries really struck me. It was a perfect blend of intellectual and really well made pottery. |
| (07/26/09): Mandy Parslow | | Mandy was quite an inspiring person. She owns a pottery shop/house, studio off the back and a huge wood fire kiln. All of which she built on her own with the help of friends. What was interesting to me about Mandy was her commitment to making it on her own, being a studio crafts person, making a living off what she loved. But add to that, she decided to back to school for a degree in Crafts and Material Culture. There is something beautiful about making elegant work, but the conversation that we had about context and knowing the history of what other crafts people had been doing for centuries really struck me. It was a perfect blend of intellectual and really well made pottery. |
| (07/09/09): The First Leg of the Journey | | I have been traveling non-stop and enjoying every minute of it. I have had the chance to meet with several wonderful potters in Ireland and will be posting some information on them, along with some photos and things. I hope you find them as interesting as I do. |
| (07/09/09): Sarah Flynn |  I had the opportunity to meet with Sarah Flynn and her husband Stuart (who also doubles as a glaze magician and studio tech.), in Leap West Cork, Ireland. Besides the subtle beauty that is immediately apparent in Sarah's vessels, what intrigued me even more was her sketch book. In a conversation about concept versus form and craft etc, I was able to get insight into her mind with a look into her drawings. A lot of Sarah's new work is being presented in groupings, and her sketch book was filled with images of how different people interact with each other. Families in relation to strangers, thousands of people or only one or two, tall people next to short ones. I could go on, but I will stop there. I have included some pictures from my visit. I will keep you posted as things develop. |
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