CREATIONSCREATIONSFUNCT IONAL

C A T A L O G

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION

Functional Creations is an exhibition curated by Savannah College of Art and Design Master of Arts in Arts Administration candidate Hillary Eustis.

The exhibition features ten local artists who work in fiber and ceramic mediums. Each artist creates works of art that are functional items in our everyday lives. From ceramic cups and plates, to quilts and chairs, Functional Creations showcases many unique pieces of functional art.

The purpose of this show is to highlight the artistic qualities of works that are often looked at as “crafts.” Similar to the way in which we look at high fashion as not only functional, wearable clothing, but also works of art, we look at the works in this show as examples of creative works by very talented artists.

ARTISTS

Lisa Alvarez Bradley

Cecily Charles

Mitzi Nicole Davis

Jessica Enfinger

Doris Grieder

Roxanne Lasky

Jillian Luse

Jordan Lynch

Erica Pierce

Rebecca Sipper

Lisa Alvarez BradleyLisa Alvarez Bradley is a full time studio potter and owner of Savannah’s Clay Spot, a community studio. Her work has been shown in regional and national galleries through numerous juried and invitational exhibitions. Images of her work have been published in reference books, cookbooks, and in a variety of periodicals.

Lisa earned a BFA in Ceramics from Kent State University. She has spent the last seventeen years coordinating and managing art programs as well as instructing adults and children in a variety of settings. Through her quest and desire to create a strong collaborative clay community in Savannah she opened Savannah’s Clay Spot studio in 2011. When not creating herself, Lisa’s interest is in sharing her passion for clay with others.

“My work is a visual walk into my imaginary Candyland garden. I create functional wheel thrown porcelain wares that are decorative and celebratory. Nostalgia fuels my desire to make pottery which embodies the ideas of history, family, and special occasions. My images reference patterns I grew up with and live with daily. I use fun pastel colorful glazes to reference sweet candies and combine them with forms that reference garden, together creating an imaginary candy garden where flowers grow referencing lollipops. To make my work is an act of “making special.” I create so that interactions with domestic objects in our everyday routines become special and joyous moments.”

1 Red Flower Brick 2 Red Flower Desert PlatePorcelain, Underglaze, Glaze Porcelain, Underglaze, Glaze8” x 12” 6” x 6”$140 $40

3 Large Blue Flower Plate 4 Orange Flower BrickPorcelain, Underglaze, Glaze Porcelain, Underglaze, Glaze12” x 12” 8” x 12”$75 $140

5 Flower Teapot 6 White Pedestal PlatePorcelain, Underglaze, Porcelain, GlazeGlaze, Luster 4” x 5”12” x 8” $35$120

7 Yellow Flower Desert Plate 8 Salmon Flower Desert PlatePorcelain, Underglaze, Glaze Porcelain, Underglaze, Glaze6” x 6” 6” x 6”$40 $40

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Ruby100% Rayon Chenille Yarn in Black, Ruby, and Red; Cotton Gold Yarn; 100% Black Polyester Fabric; Floor Loom71” L x 32” WNot for sale

Cecily CharlesCecily Charles is a Trinidadian-American designer from Pearland, Texas, studying her B.F.A in Fibers at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Driven to become an artist through her love of books, film, and the entertainment industry, Cecily’s creations are inspired by the art of storytelling. Everything has a story. Everything is art.

“Ruby” is a cloak designed and inspired after the character of ABC’s hit show, Once Upon A Time. Ruby is their Red Riding Hood character who redefines herself as a stronger wolf-woman. The woven repetition of the circular overshot symbol mimics the ancient symbol for “the powerful woman:” the circle. The antiquity of this symbol, in turn, mimics the ancient power of Ruby’s wolf clan. The black wool she trails behind her on her cloak represents the color of her fur in wolf form while the gold shadows the glow of her eyes. Ideally, this would be Ruby’s second cloak. The cloak would symbolize her growth and acceptance of her-self. Have you accepted your true self yet?

Mitzi Davis“My work expresses my happy, whimsical recollections of my childhood and explores the concept of shelter. I am interested in various interpretations of protection, home and freedom, whether physical or intangible. I gain inspiration for my artwork by watching bugs skittering on a concrete pavement, children laughing while at play or colorful flowers growing under a hot sun. I use combinations of these stimuli and my fond memories to communicate my ideas through ceramic art.”

“As I am creating my pottery, design elements like function, form and surface are all aspects that I consider. Most of my work is first developed using the potter’s wheel, but I incorporate mold making, slip casting and hand building techniques to expedite my ideas as well. I add color and relief to my porcelain clay body, and fire those pieces in an electric kiln in my home studio.”

“Clay is an ancient medium that generates feelings of being secured to one place and grounded in significance. This awareness along with a connection to craft and utilitarian art became a natural channel for me to explore. I am a tactile person, so the slippery quality and impressionable nature of clay intrigues me. To put it shortly, the entire process clay endures in order to have a finished product compels me, and this is why I create functional ceramics.”

Website: www.mitzidavis.com

1, 2 Goat Cup with StripesSlip cast cone 6 porcelain with underglazes, carving, cone 6 glazesFood-Safe;Dishwasher Safe, Microwave Safe4” H x 4” L x 4”W$40

3, 4 Pig Cup with StripesSlip cast cone 6 porcelain with underglazes, carving, cone 6 glazesFood-Safe;Dishwasher Safe, Microwave Safe4” H x 4” L x 4”W$40

5, 6 Chicken Cup with StripesSlip cast cone 6 porcelain with underglazes, carving, cone 6 glazesFood-Safe;Dishwasher Safe, Microwave Safe4” H x 4” L x 4”W$40

7, 8 Chicken Tumbler with StripesSlip cast cone 6 porcelain with underglazes, carving, cone 6 glazesFood-Safe;Dishwasher Safe, Microwave Safe6” H x 4” L x 4”W$45

9, 10 Goat Tumbler with StripesSlip cast cone 6 porcelain with underglazes, carving, cone 6 glazesFood-Safe;Dishwasher Safe, Microwave Safe6” H x 4” L x 4”W$45

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1 Charlotte Chair / 2 DetailReclaimed wood chair with handwoven 5/2 bamboo, pure linen, wool, prima cotton32” H x 20”W$250

3 Elaisa Chair / 4 DetailReclaimed wood chair with handwoven 5/2 bamboo, pure linen, wool, prima cotton32” H x 20”W$250

5 Laura Chair / 6 DetailReclaimed wood chair with handwoven 5/2 bamboo, pure linen, wool, prima cotton32” H x 20”W$250

7 Madeline Chair / 8 DetailReclaimed wood chair with handwoven 5/2 bamboo, pure linen, wool, prima cotton32” H x 20”W$250

Set of Chairs for $750

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Jessica Enfinger“My name is Jessica Enfinger, and I am a senior fibers major. My concentration in the major has been functional and utilitarian design of home products such as table runners, bed comforters, dog beds, and most recently chairs. For Functional Creations, I am showcasing my Four Sisters collection chairs. This collection consist of four different dining chairs that were all bought from a second-hand thrift store. I then recovered the cushions of these chairs with hand-woven fabric that I designed with 5/2 bamboo, pure linen, wool, and prima cotton.”

“The Four Sisters Collection explores the placement of materials and colour in a single and constant woven structure. Even though all share a common structure and pattern, each “sister” has a unique look and personality that is derived from the interchangeable placement of colour and material.”

Doris Grieder“Growing up in Switzerland, I was taught to knit and sew at an early age. At 21 a bend in life’s road brought me to the States and for many years fiber art stayed dormant. In the nineties I started quilting. With queen-sized ambitions I made a bedspread with over 1600 pieces, all hand sewn and quilted! Only perseverance got me through this four-year project!”

“Appliquéd wall hangings gave me much more opportunity to be creative. Over the next years three of my works were accepted in international shows.”

“In Europe, the nineties revolutionized threads & fibers. The beauty of the variety of texture and colors took my breath away! As business took me all over the world, I started collecting yarns and fibers for the joy of owning them and relished the possibilities of future projects.”

“Once retired, there was no stopping the “fiber seeds” I had planted over a decade of collecting. I discovered a unique way of creating scarves and accessories using my stash. Embellishing them with beads opened another world of creativity. All the childhood years of loving and dreaming to work with fibers and crafting have now become a reality.”

Website: www.dorisgartistry.com

1 Snippets BasketCut-off fibers from scarf fringes10” x 3”$40

2 Brown BasketVarious crocheted fibers4” x 4”Not for sale

3 Green BasketVarious crocheted fibers8” x 5”Not for sale

4 Red Basket (Fire)Hobby yarn, Novelty yarn from Switzerland12” x 6”$125

5 Blue Basket (Ice)Hobby yarn, Novelty yarn from Switzerland5” x 10”$125(Fire and Ice as a set for $200)

6 Green Scarf100% Merino Wool8’ x 3”$50

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1 Gees Bento Quilt / 2 DetailCottons, Vintage Silk Kimono and Obi, Lace, Beads, Threads41” x 41”$2,000

3 Chuppah / 4 DetailCotton, Linen, Reclaimed Vintage Materials84” x 84”Not for sale

Roxanne welcomes commissions if interested in purchasing a similar work.

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Roxanne Lasky“My work realizes my primal journey toward truth.”

“With or without a sketch, I gather scraps intuitively. The pieces - hand-dyed cloth, things made during prior experiments, photographs, words, paint, threads - become significant as they find their places in the composition. I map the relationships among the pieces into a narrative that represents the nature of memory. It is often blurred, obscured, muted, stained with glimmers of color and clarity. The work becomes a window into mystery, meaning and paradox, reflecting personal history and navigating toward new discoveries.”-The chuppah is a traditional article used in the Jewish wedding ceremony as a canopy for bride and groom. It represents the home they will build. The number 7 is repeated throughout, addressing its symbolism of “wholeness” and the practice of reciting seven blessings (sheva brachot) during the ritual. It is seven feet by seven feet and the tree of life motif has seven lights. I used old and new fabric, hand embroidery, appliqué techniques and beaded embellishment. It took 1and 1/2 years to complete and was stitched entirely on a 1951 Singer Featherweight.

It’s design was inspired by the traditional patchwork technique of Korea called Pojagi/Bojagi. Typically, it is one layer of many pieces, precisely seamed to reveal the back through the front. It is a study in the complexity of shape relationships.-This quilt uses a Bento Box patchwork for the border with a center panel inspired by the organic compositions of the Gees Bend quilters. Cotton indigos surround vintage kimono and obi scraps. Some pieces were hand dyed. Traditional and original embroidery stitches and beads, embellish the center panel.

Website: www.roxannelasky.com

Jillian LuseJillian Luse holds a BFA in Art Education from the University of Georgia. She practices art in many forms, including book arts, painting, jewelry, and ceramics, never defined by one style or medium and often combining them in unique ways. She currently works at Telfair Museums and Christ Church Anglican, serving the community and building a lifelong career in the arts and education. Inspired by faith and life, her work is ever-changing as the tide is to the coast.

“Flowers are everywhere, seemingly commonplace, yet each with a unique structure and connotation. Here, they are void of their color, scent and texture. All that is left is their impression, their shape part of a larger form. They are ghost-like in appearance, temporal in nature, and lasting in memory.”

“The more I practice art, the more it remains in my consciousness. It’s a haunting process that reflects in content. I focus on the development of work and later recognize its meaning, without being bound by a certain style. I draw inspiration from faith and life, using a variety of materials to render what I see and experience.”

1 Flowers on the Side (Bowl)Clay8” L x 8” W x 6” H$35

2 Flowers to Go (Cup)Clay4” L x 4” W x 7” H$25

3, 4 Floral PlatesClayNo larger than 10” in diameter$10 - $30

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1, 2, 3 Coffee Creamer and Sugar SetSlip cast with blue and clear glazesCreamer - 4” x 3” x 4”Sugar - 2.5” x 4” x 3.5”Not for sale

4 Getting a Handle on the MorningClay on wheel thrower and red glaze3” x 3” x 4” eachNot for sale

5, 6, 7 Classification BowlsClay on wheel thrower, amaco underglazes, clear glaze, decal details7.5” x 7.5” x 7.5” eachNot for sale

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Jordan Lynch“My name is Jordan Lynch, I am from Florence, Alabama and a Senior Production Design student at SCAD with a minor in Ceramic Arts.”

“As a child, my parents immersed me in the arts. Anything from the classics, finger painting and Play-Dough pinch pots, to guitar lessons and painting lessons with an accomplished local artist. Most people assume that a degree in the arts isn’t going to take you anywhere in life, but I have been blessed with incredibly supportive and encouraging parents who have always told me to follow my dreams, no matter what. I plan to continue to do what I love and continue to create beautiful art.”

“I have always loved making functional ceramics. There is a sense of pride when you can pour a cup of coffee into a mug you made yourself or serve dinner guests their food onto plates you handcrafted. I enjoy sharing my talents and hope to continue to do so after graduation.”

Erica PierceErica Pierce is an Illustrator and Ceramist, whose work is inspired by the feminine, antique and natural qualities of life. Erica was born and raised in the city of Savannah, Georgia where she continued her art education at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Erica is expecting to be graduating SCAD in June 2016 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration with a minor in ceramics.

Through her work Erica strives to depict the small details in life that continuously inspire her. Using Illustration as a platform for her work, she creates not only illustrations in a traditional manner but also transforms ceramics as a place to further her designs.

“This set is considered functional due to the technical properties of the piece themselves. To me though, functionality is not only based off of the properties of the piece but also the beauty and aesthetic that is created. Functionality of a form allows for art to reach beyond gallery walls and to tell a store to a larger audience. By combining illustration and functional ceramics that is what this piece as achieved.”

Website: Erica Pierce’s Art on Facebook

1, 2, 3, 4 Blue Botanical Set1 Dinner Plate - 10.5”2 Dinner Plate - 13”3 Serving Bowl - 13” x 6”4 SetRed Earthenware, white engobe, underglaze, underglaze pencils, glaze$130 for set

5, 6, 7, 8 Pink Botanical Set5 Dinner Plate - 10.5”6 Dinner Plate - 13”7 Serving Bowl - 13” x 6”8 SetRed Earthenware, white engobe, underglaze, underglaze pencils, glaze$130 for set

9 Vintage Garden PlateBisque Slip Cast Ware, underglaze, underglaze pencil, glaze12.5” Dinner PlateNot for sale

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1 Hey Good Lookin’Porcelain, hand painted, slip trailed, scraffitoMason stain and underglaze on porcelain, clear glaze20” x 8” x 1”$320

2 You’re the Right One for MePorcelain, hand painted, slip trails, scraffitoMason stain and underglaze on porcelain, clear glaze20” x 8” x 1”$320

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3 43 Old Fashioned Love SongPorcelain, wheel thrown,hand painted, slip trailedMason stain and underglaze, clear glaze, cone 611” x 11” x 1”$600 for set

4 Wanna be on Your MindPorcelain, scraffito, black underglazeClear glaze, cone 610” x 7.5” x 1”$400 for set

Rebecca Sipper“In my work I use ceramic vessels, fibers and print making together and separately to celebrate time and place, specifically my time along the Georgia Coast. Celebration of history and tradition, past and present combines with love of nature and people in utilitarian art.”

“I often use people in my life as inspiration for symbolism in the work as well as nature. This combination of people and places in utilitarian work allows my pieces to become a useful part of everyday tradition along the Coast. Each piece alone celebrates an aspect of everyday life, when together they recreate and compliment the beauty of open marshes, faded blue skies, and the life that inhabit them.”

Website: www.artistinthemarsh.com

About the Curator

Hillary Eustis is currently completing her Master of Arts degree in Arts Administration at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Having graduated from Syracuse University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Art History, Hillary went on to continue her studies at SCAD in order to better prepare herself for a career in the arts.

She has always loved art, in every form, and upon completing her bachelor’s degree, decided her interests lied in the business and administrative world of the arts, whether that be in the not-for-profit or for-profit sector.

Hillary has curated, planned, marketed, fundraised, and executed this group exhibition to complete her master’s degree. It has given her the opportunity to exercise all the skills which she has developed over the past five years of post-secondary studies.

She hopes you enjoy the exhibition and welcomes all feedback.

If you’d like to support the exhibition, please visit Indiegogo.com and find “Functional Creations Exhibition.” Or scan the QR code below! Functional Creations was made possible

by the support of friends and family of the curator and the artists.

Thank you to all those who supported this event. We greatly appreciate your generosity.

THANK YOU!