Monday, November 9, 2009

Instructor Introduction: Mary Drabik

Please tell us a little about yourself; your name, background, education, and a fun fact or two.
I grew up in Michigan, a little town just west of Detroit, where I completed all of my beginning education. I recieved my BFA from Michigan State University where I studied under Brian Bolden, Blake Williams and Jae Won Lee, although I learned a lot more practical information from our ceramic tech Michael McCune. I actually did not plan to get an art degree, my orginal major was environmental botany, but at some point I realized that I could not see an enjoyable future in it.

How long have you been working with clay and how did you get started?
I started with ceramics when I was a little girl, finding iron deposits in my backyard and making little vases that dried in the sun. I went on to learn the basics of ceramics in high school and from then on had always found it to be something I really loved. So when my I dropped my botany major, I picked up sculpture.

What are your influences, both inside and outside of the clay world?
Now, I have been out of school for four years, living in Chicago and I find that my motivations have completely changed in the work I create. I feel like my work has become more humanistic and a reflection of the people around me. Also, managing a small cafe, I have become well versed in the habits of other people. I am also still trying to find a balance between work at the cafe, my other arts, my social life, traveling and working at the studio. But I think there is always a see-saw affect in life in general. Maybe that can also be seen reflected in my work where I find my work at the time a bit dualistic, comparing my hand pinched nesting bowls to my playful, thrown sets of porcelain dishes. It has the elements I see reflected from myself, a more serious, romantic side balancing with an outgoing, almost fun outlook on life.

Do you sell your work? If so, how can one find it?
I am currently working on a more cohesive body of work, that hopefully soon will be sellable but I haven't really sold anything in Chicago.

What advice can you give to students of the ceramic arts?
My advice to any new student is to try and control your frustrations when first starting to work with clay. One can learn alot about onesself with clay and it has the ability to be very rewarding.

Any parting words?
So my parting words are, I have grown to love Lillstreet. I started as a floor cleaner 3 years ago (which I still do) and soon will be teaching first time potter. I have really come to appreciate the space and the community and the time I spend there.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Instructor Introduction: Chris Chaney


Please tell us a little about yourself; your name, background, education, and a fun fact or two.
Hi, my name is Chris Chaney. I spent my early college career doing all kinds of art, but ultimately received my BFA in ceramics from Northern Illinois University in 2001. Go Huskies! Fun fact...had I not studied art, I probably would have gone into aerospace engineering. Really.

How long have you been working with clay and how did you get started?
Um, I've been working in clay for about 10 years, give or take. While taking a break from university, I took a pottery course at a community college. Once I touched the clay, I knew it was what I wanted to do. Very serendipitous. I was extremely lucky to finish my college career by studying under a very demanding yet supportive ceramics professor at NIU.

What are your influences, both inside and outside of the clay world?
My influences change with the seasons. I look at everything from historical to contemporary pottery. Nothing is off limits. Currently I am studying the teawares of China, Japan, and Korea. Needless to say I'm making a lot of teapots and teacups...Outside of ceramics I look to military, aviation, and aerospace history and images for inspiration. I'm also a big fan of custom cars and hot rods as well as tattoo culture.


Do you sell your work? If so, how can one find it?
I sell my work periodically through craft sales or the odd holiday sale. I'm currently building an Etsy site which will create another outlet for direct to customer sales. I also sell thru Dancing Loon Gallery in Michigan during the spring/summer/fall seasons. I can always be reached at chris@chicagopotter.net for sales queries.

What advice can you give to students of the ceramic arts?
Practice, practice, and more practice. It's the only way you are gonna get better. Trust me on this one.

How do you spend your time when not working with clay?
I take care of my 1+yr old daughter during the day, which is more than a full time job. I also manage the Lillstreet soda firing program and am the blogmeister. Every now and then I'll go for a bike ride.

Any parting words?
Ceramics is pretty fun, but can definitely be frustrating. Just remember that we all (read: your instructors) started at the same place. Stick with it! Learning to work with clay is a lifetime endeavor. Just when you think you have it down, the next exciting technique will come along!

Website: http://chicagopotter.net