Where Have All the Umbels Gone?

Where Have All the Umbels Gone? | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculptureMany of you got to see, walk and experience the Umbel Series path since the exhibit Environmental Installations opened in late May and I’ve been so thrilled to hear how much you’ve enjoyed it. I had hoped that the piece would be on display until the end of the exhibit in November but unfortunately we’ve had some incidents of vandalism and the arboretum is also planning on some dirt work close to my installation, so I’ve chosen to remove it early from the exhibit. If you didn’t get a chance to see the piece in person, the drone video of it will give you as close of an experience as possible to being there yourself.

Art in the Arboretum: Environmental Installations still has eight spectacular installations up until the close of the show November 17th and I encourage you to go explore the arboretum and discover these beautiful works.

So where have all the umbels gone?  Right now the flowers are in my studio and are available for sale via the online shop. Next week, the remaining unsold Umbel Series flowers will be making their own pilgrimage to south county. They will be assembled in a completely new formation at Sierra Azul Nursery in Watsonville as a part of the Sculpture IS: 2017 exhibit put on by the Pajaro Valley Art Gallery. Photos of the new installation will follow soon and I hope you get a chance to see it on display there as well.

Thank you for all the positivity that’s surrounded this installation!

Sculpture Slam at the SLOMA opens!

Sculpture Slam Opens at SLOMA | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculptureI’m so thrilled to have a brand new piece from my Bone Series Installation accepted into the 2017 California Sculpture SLAM at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art. The piece was selected out of 195 total entries. The show includes 49 pieces in a variety of works in metal, wood, stone, glass, and fabric by both established and up-and-coming California sculptors.

September 1 – October 29, 2017
Opening reception Friday, September 1, 6–9pm
Awards will be announced at 7pm. Entry is free

On Saturday, September 2 at 12 PM, juror Brigette Micmacker of Sculpturesite Gallery will give an ARTalk and SLAM exhibition tour at the museum. The talk and tour are free and open to the public.

 

For more information about San Luis Obispo Museum of Art and the upcoming SLAM events, visit the museum website here.

What’s going on in the studio

Last week I didn’t add one post to The Dirt, which has become a pretty rare thing these days but that doesn’t mean that I wasn’t busy with both work in the studio and out exploring in nature. So to catch you up, here’s what’s going on in the studio…

I’m working on three series at a time here, as pictured below. The Bone Series discs are now being framed up into smaller compositions of the weblike structures that I’ve done in the past and I’m thrilled with the way these are turning out! The Umbel Series is in experiment mode, I’m trying to create a dandelion flower structure using high temperature wire, this one is in the kiln right now, so fingers crossed it survives. And lastly, I’m working on the Lichen Series, these ceramic pieces are being attached to live edge walnut wood planks, the wood is sealed with a matte stain and will eventually be mounted into metal fabricated stands so that they are standing trees and you’ll be able to walk around them. All of these works will be ready for their debut this October for Open Studios, looking forward to showing them off to you then!

What's Going on in the Studio? | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture
And as far as adventures go, I had to deliver work to the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art for the Sculpture Slam 2017 exhibit so we made a weekend trip out of driving down there and did some off roading in the van which led to an epic campsite high above the fog of Big Sur. Hoping to get a few more adventure weekends like this in, maybe bringing some art with me to photograph in nature. Loving how exploration seeds the inspiration!

What's Going on in the Studio? | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

See you in September…

See You In September | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculpture

 

The studio is closed for our annual end of summer break, we will reopen the week of September 18th for fall clay classes. The online shop will remain open during our break. If you’d like to sign up for fall classes: Create with Clay

 

See you in September!

Last Reminder: $40 off this Saturday Only!

Last Reminder: $40 off this Saturday Only! | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculptureDon’t Miss Out!

This is your last reminder…

Celebrate Jenni’s 40th Birthday this Saturday July 29th with a $40 off coupon!

Use Coupon Code: 40ONLYHAPPENSONCE at checkout with orders of $100 or more.

Coupon is valid online and in the US only.

 

 

Save the Date: Sculpture SLAM at SLOMA

Lucky Number 17 | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculptureI will have a brand new piece from my Bone Series included in this biannual exhibition of sculpture at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art- hope you can come see the show!

September 1st – October 29th
Reception and Awards September 1, 6–9 pm
October 6, 6–9 pm, public reception in conjunction with Art After Talk, a citywide gallery walk

California Sculpture SLAM: Juried Exhibition
San Luis Obispo Museum of Art
1010 Broad Street | San Luis Obispo CA
www.sloma.org

Forty Only Happens Once!

I’m finally turning 40!!!

Forty only happens once | the dirt | Jenni Ward ceramic sculptureYup, it’s official, on July 29th, 2017, I will taking my 40th trip around the sun and I wanted to celebrate the big day with you all!

 

For just one day only, you can get $40 off in the online shop using coupon code 40ONLYHAPPENSONCE 

 

Hit the online shop anytime on July 29th 2017 and use the coupon code to receive your cart discount of $40 off. Purchases must be made online for $100 or more. US only.