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    Clay in the Classroom

    One of my students requests a bag of clay from me each year to use in her 3rd grade classroom in an under-served community for a chance to experience clay. Most of these students have never touched clay before. She shows them videos, gives them basic instructions on attaching pieces and the thickness requirements and then lets them get to work creating. This year I got a handwritten thank you note from each student, the general correspondence goes something like this:

    Dear Jenni Ward,
    Thank you for donating clay to our class. The clay felt squishy. I made a pot. I painted my art red, blue, purple and black. What I liked most was how the clay felt. I am going to give my art to my mom and dad.
    Sincerely,
    Student

    These notes are so adorable and heartwarming but my favorite part is that they drew pictures on the back of them making their pieces or of me or of what they thought my studio and kiln looked like even though we haven’t met and they haven’t been to my studio. I love that an experience so small but so special can bring out so much creativity in each student. Clay donations are funded by the sale of Art Hearts which support philanthropic art projects locally and abroad. Enjoy their drawings…

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroomJenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | clay in the classroom

     

    Art to Go Video

    Take Aways: Art to Go opened this Sunday at the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery in Watsonville. If you were at the opening, you know it was swamped with artists and art supporters and work was flying off the walls. I took a quick video walk through of the exhibit but I think I captured more people than art- so you’ll have to check the show out for yourself. Remember that this exhibit is constantly changing as work is sold, new work replaces it, so check it out – often!

    Art Hearts for your Loves

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | feeling the loveYou really don’t need to wait for Valentine’s Day to give an Art Heart to the ones that you love! But February 14th is just around the corner and ceramic art hearts are the perfect gift for the loves in your life.

    Each one is hand-made and uniquely designed by sculptor Jenni Ward and available as an ornament or on a stick. As each heart is individually designed, we will select a style or a bouquet of styles for you when you order. Special requests or color preferences are always welcome but they may take longer to ship depending on our stock.

    A portion of all art hearts sales benefit philanthropic arts projects, click the link to learn more and thank you for your support!

    Do you feel the love?

    Featured Work: Specimen Series

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | featured work: specimen seriesRemember collecting shells on the beach as a kid?

    You would collect hundreds but have to whittle down your collection to a few special ones because your parents wouldn’t let you bring the whole beach home with you. So you’d get home with your prized finds and keep them in some kind of box or container that would showcase them but also keep them safe.

    They would always be a reminder of the day, the quiet focus, the search and the excitement of finding something special.

    The Specimen Series is inspired by the memory of those finds, unique pieces organized and boxed for display. The online shop has 15 pieces from the Specimen Series that are looking for a new home and these bento box style works are small enough to fit in nearly any space.

    Work in Progress: Bone Series

    It’s been a while since I’ve committed to building some larger forms but this week I’ve been back in the studio working on new forms from my bone series. These pieces started as a mock up in miniature (pictured here), the largest piece is smaller than an egg. I’ve been contemplating this form over the past few months as it sat on the shelf, wondering what I might do with it or how it would look if it was much, much larger, I finally decided to go for it.

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series

    I started with some large cylinders and flared them out at the top and bottom to reference the shapes of the lower vertebrae or tail sections in many aquatic creatures. I’ve been collecting bones from seabirds and marine animals as they wash up on the beach and I love the structures and the fibrous textures of them, so I tried to emulate them in the center of each cylinder. I placed round discs of clay into the cylinders on either side, then cut and carved holes in them. Here are a few pictures of the process.

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Work in Progress: Bone Series

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    I plan on continuing to build these pieces in graduating sizes so that they resemble the tapering of a vertebral column. Eventually the final pieces will make their way to the ocean for an In The Field photo shoot, but I’ll have to scout out some locations first.

    Conceptually, I’m thinking about the way that everything is connected- in our bodies, in nature and our relationships with others. These fibrous textures are reaching, blending and connecting to each other but on the other hand are fragile and easily severed. This balance is the intriguing part for me.

    I’d love to hear what you think and I look forward to sharing more as these pieces progress.

    Take Aways Exhibit Opens

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | Take Aways Exhibit OpensJoin me at the Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery for one of their most popular exhibits of the year, Take Aways: Art to Go! 65 local artists will be showcasing work priced under $250. See you at the opening!

    January 13 – February 14, 2016
    Artists Reception January 17th 2-4 pm

    Pajaro Valley Arts Council Gallery 37 Sudden St Watsonville

    Gallery Hours: Wed – Sun 11- 4
    Free Admission & ADA Accessible

    Being in the World

    Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture | the dirt | being in the worldAlyson Stanfield is a coach for artists who are treating their creative endeavors as a career through Art Biz Blog, and not only have I learned a ton from just following her blog and newsletter but she also posts gems of inspiration that help keep me going. This post Art is About Being in the World is one of those gems. She quotes artist Robert Irwin with [Art] isn’t about being in the studio, it’s about being in the world.

    Sometimes I feel guilty for spending to much time out in nature rather than building in the studio, but I have to remind myself that being out in nature is what fuels my entire inspiration for being in the studio in the first place. Spending time among the redwood trees is nothing to feel guilty about. As we launch into 2016 filled with aspirations and creative energy I hope to spend more time out in the world and I hope to see you there!