Honors Thesis: Movable Parts

My last year has been preoccupied mainly with the completion of my honors thesis work, a series of collectable figurines housed in 5 toy vending machines. Movable Parts refers not only to the fact that the figures are individual pieces that can be manipulated at whim, but also draws attention to the movable nature of the vending machines. Placed in a gallery, as they were for only one night, the machines defy traditional conventions of an art show: each piece is priced so that every audience member can become an "art collector". When the machines are separated and placed in public locations, they themselves become mini-galleries in unexpected places. 

Unlike other shows at the John Sommers Gallery (in the UNM Art Building), the public was not allowed access to the show until the end of the first week.

More Parts after the jump.

More news from nowhere...

Wow. Long time no see. This last year (in which this blog remained silent) was a doozy for me. My time as Director of the ASUNM Craft Studio came to an end, I did a short but fruitful internship at 516 Arts, finished my honors thesis show (more on that to later), and now I'm finishing my my final semester at UNM, and also doing an internship at the Tamarind Institute. Whew. 

Besides my thesis project, artistically, I've been trying to juggle productivity with work and school, as usual. While last year was incredibly productive (as I'll illustrate in my next post), I didn't really have a chance to work on projects just for fun. I did participate in a large group show at Winning Coffee, with a creature theme for the month of October. I used old techniques that I've come to love, but also added some new elements, including the addition of crystals and sea urchin spines to pieces. I was actually very pleased that this piece didn't sell....because I loved it almost too much to part with it. 

The Healers, 2014. Clay, crystals, sea urchin spines,

wood, acrylic, gold leaf.

I've also continued to work on my ceramic Blobbies, which are piling up faster than a mound of tribbles. So for now, I'll end with this photo of some (but not all) of the blobs hanging around my living area. More updates SOON.

New blobbies in the Etsy shop!

I just listed these 6 new blobbies to my Etsy Shop.

As an incentive for my friends to purchase my goods, I've also created a 20% discount code which is good through the 19th of November: FWENDSGOOD

For anyone who likes/admires my shop and makes a purchase, I will also throw in a surprise goody!

The Blobbies are taking over!!!!!

These things are multiplying like Tribbles.

This is an older picture of some of the blobby sculptures I've been working on this year. They are made from New Mexico Clay's Cashmere porcelaineous clay body, with various cone 6 glazes.

I've sold a few of the ones pictured here, but many remain in my house. And still I make more. They are taking over much of my free space, and because I can't stand to shut them up in boxes, I will be triple-ing my efforts to get them posted to my Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinTongued .

Be on the lookout for some sweet incentives in the shop to take these off my hands...discounts...free goodies...plus, they are so nice to hold and fondle. Updates to follow ASAP.

Newest work!

Lately, I've been creating little ceramic dishes. They all have a textured underside, which holds glaze very nicely. On top, I have used underglazes to draw various designs. Pictured here are: Mountains vs Clouds (Red and Yellow), Dippy (Blue), and various Eyeballs (light green). They are each about 3.5 inches across. The last picture shows a dish eyeballin' my Sunday cuppa tea.

Soon to be added to my Etsy shop:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/TinTongued