Stories from Rising Stars
Clay Art Center students Alex Marie and Shelia Jackson shared the inspiration behind their Rising Stars pieces and the tips they’ve learned along the way.
The Rising Stars Annual Student exhibition brings together the work of students at all stages in their ceramics journeys. The show offers a great opportunity to get inspiration for your next project, get a sense of a new glaze combination, or even discover a new teacher you want to work with.
Alex Marie, the artist behind The Little Black Pot, has been working with clay since last October, when he first took a handbuilding class with Artist-in-Residence Christine Raposas. As a creative person, Alex has enjoyed the new challenge of ceramics, as well as the supportive environment at Clay Art Center: “I am always exploring new art forms and I love the versatility of this material, the possibilities are endless. I also enjoy the community aspect and access to the studio for personal work. There is so much to learn from others and a great friendliness within the studio.” The Little Black Pot was Alex’s first lidded vessel, and he found inspiration for the combination of the rattan and the matte black glaze online. Alex has this advice for anyone attempting a similar project: “I did not do it for this piece but have tried since: using the leather hard box bottom, place the lid on top of it to trim it. Easier than trying to trim the lid directly on the wheel.”
Shelia Jackson’s Tree Lamp is one in a long line of tree-themed projects for the artist. Her self-described obsession with the tree motif has been a consistent part of her work since she returned to ceramics, starting with her cups. After making a tree sculpture in 2023 that looked like it could be a lamp, Shelia set out to make a tree lamp. The first attempt, like many of her earlier projects, took a very literal approach to crafting the branches, which gave it a realistic look, but ultimately resulted in the delicate branches breaking in multiple places. On Shelia’s second attempt, she made the branches less realistic and more robust, which survived the kiln but prevented commercial lamp shades from fitting correctly. Undaunted, Shelia made her own ceramic lamp shade to match her tree lamp, resulting in a unique, functional piece. Her advice? Whatever you decide to make, make a plan first: “One thing reinforced in making this piece, something many instructors stress, is think through your pieces as much as possible. In the case of a lamp, in addition to the design, start with the lamp kit and shade (or not) or shade form and design or make a standard style base with no obstructions to a purchased shade. All your choice.”
Alex and Shelia’s work, along with the work of so many other talented Clay Art Center students, is on view in the gallery through February 15th, 2025.
