"Stay Home" collaborative ceramic project by CAC Artist Sally Ng
“Stay Home”: a collaborative ceramic project by CAC Artist Sally Ng documenting our collective COVID experiences.
Several weeks ago, in March 2020, I started to stay home and created a "Stay Home" clay house. (See image) Being stuck at home during the Covid19 virus. I wanted to create something related to that experience. I wanted the clay home to be simple and geometrically balanced to express beauty and playfulness. Achieving simplicity can be challenging but that makes it interesting. That was what I had in mind when designing the “Stay home.”
During this stay-at-home time, I thought it would be fun to have a “Stay Home” collaborative project and ask my friends, families, students, and artist communities these questions:
1. What object (or up to three objects) would you like to put in the “Stay Home" clay house during this Covid19 stay home time?
2. Would you like to participate and make the object(s) in the size of 1"x1"x1" so it can fit inside the "Stay home" clay house? Materials can be clay, Sculpey/polymer clay, air dry clay, or any craft materials.
When the “Stay home” order is dismissed I will be in touch with the participants to coordinate and exhibit their beautiful creative objects for the “Stay Home" Project. Exhibit location to be decided.
So far these are responses from the artist communities on Facebook, not in order of importance:
“Hope, Coffee, A heart, Toilet paper, Sewing machine, A cup of tea!, Book, Padded room!, Pottery wheel, Cuddly cat, Grandma, Delivered pizza, Chicken, Tiny mug, Hand sanitizer bottle, Disinfectant wipes, TV, Dog, Chocolate, Lots of bright colors, Tequila for sure, Wine, Bird, Plants, Flowers, Antivirus eater!, Love, Talenti, Bottle of adult beverage and a computer, More bunnies, Garden for bunny, A hug, A mask, A bag of flour, Definitely a musical instrument!, I love this!”
More about the home’s insides:
The rectangular nooks in the “Stay Home” serve as an outdoor space within the house yet preserve the exterior view. The house has three sections. Each section can stand alone. Together they form “Stay Home”! This separation reflects the distance and isolation imposed on us by the current pandemic.
The inside of the “Stay Home” is trapezoidal and can serve as three separated vases. This allows for fresh flowers and /greens to be put in the house as a sign of hope. The indented rectangular nooks not only are an outside space, but also create a terrace area inside and more objects can be lounging on that terrace!
As for colors, I would like “Stay Home” to look warm & inviting by using natural, calm, & soothing colors. Each object should be made playful & fun to look at by using more bright colors.
Toilet paper roll, heart, and bunny made by Sally Ng to be placed in the Stay Home project, 2020
A tiny roll of porcelain clay toilet paper was the first small item I created for “Stay home”. This is supposed to provide a little comic relief from the panic buying we see. A tiny Rabbit was the second item I created. Rabbits represent kindness & intelligence to me. Acts of kindness help people to go through tough times and smart action helps to have good outcomes. A tiny heart is the third item. Love is from the heart. For me, all good intentions are from love. My “Stay Home” items reflect my expression of these meanings.
Creating with clay allows me to express my own experience and feeling. Art is a way of communicating when words cannot fully express one’s feelings. “If I could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.” said Edward Hopper. As an experienced clay teacher, I know many students, young & adult, find creating to be relaxing and soothing. Creating has positive effects not only for the psyche but also it is a way to share our experiences during difficult times.
I know “create” has positive effects on children and adults so let’s continue to create. Please feel free to share this info if you know others who may enjoy creating an object or two to participate in this "Stay home" project and have them email me directly at sallycac@outlook.com.
Thank you. I cannot wait to hear/see more responses as to what creative object(s) will be in the “Stay Home” house project. Stay Positive, Safe, & Healthy!
Sally Ng
2020 Covid-19 Time
A bit About Sally Ng
I am a ceramics artist and teacher who loves to express beauty and humor with porcelain clay in simple and geometrically balanced forms. I create both functional and sculptural works. Ceramics to me is a way to express, connect, and share experiences. I often refer to the Clay Art Center (CAC) as a second home where I can express, connect, share and more. The CAC community consists of artists, teachers, students, and others from all walks of life who support one another. I remember when an artist needed help to go through health treatments, the community came together to provide a helping hand with rides, meals, etc. for the artist & her family. This is the kind of community I want to stay in touch with. “Stay Home” is my way of documenting this Covid19 pandemic in a creative way. It also gives me an opportunity to connect with families, friends, students, and communities I care about and invites them to participate and create objects for “Stay Home”.