getting ready for a show.

[mopinko]

ugh.

[Kind of Blue]

1. That's great news, Mopinko! I'm jealous and happy for you at the

same time. Have fun with it! And please let us know how the show turns out. I know I need all the inspiration and vicarious thrill from other artists that I can get :)

[mopinko]

2. here is the show-

http://twentydirtyhands.com

some wonderful people that i met as a member of the midwest clay guild, a ceramic co-op studio. delores fortuna is the current head of ceramics at the school of the art institute. her "husband" was the head when i was there, many moons ago. i thought, like we all did, that he saw us all as worms. insects. lowly, lowly creatures. got to know her much later, and talking to her realized that he is just a social retard. that he thought highly of me, and the little gang of us that hung in that department.
it is really hard to believe that i am accepted by these folks, but, apparently, i am. crazy.

here is my still under construction website- http://mo-clay.com

and the gravy is that i love galena.

[Kind of Blue]

3. Yes, I can see why they want you in the show.

Your pieces are extremely fluid though well organized in structure and composition. But also a real clean organic feeling to them, seeming sometimes like an archeological find, ancient fauna, but definitely from nature, like "Pink Coat" and the Before series. A LOT to see in your works, Mopinko. I really do like "Bound Together," and "Build the World Around Them."

"Hopes and Fears" is really powerful to me. Using baby clothes, Wow. I still can't put into words how it makes me feel. But I know that one must tug at a lot of people's hearts.

That's so cool you found out differently about Fortuna's husband. And it's even cooler to be involved with a community of artists.

Oh, last thing. Just want to thank you for posting your site. Besides your works, it's really good to read your process. I get all confused when I have to come up with an artist statement. But one thing I did notice is that your descriptions are so honest. I'm thinking that's a good place to start when putting feelings to words.

[mopinko]

4. it's the only starting place i know. first step down the road to trouble, but

the only one i know. artist statements are really hard. but, if you put something into your work, you will have something to talk about. if you don't, no amount of words will help.

thanks for your kind words. glad that you appreciate the site. taking a web design class right now, so i expect to put a lot more into it over the next 10 weeks. i will post again when the before and after series is all documented and up. still working on it, but those are just a couple of pics. those parts fired really nicely, a great, warm brown. i think the whole thing will go around and around a couple of times, at least.

[mopinko]

5. but just an fyi

i am not sure artists statements like mine are really the way to go. to the old school, you are not supposed to talk about yourself in the first person. and you are supposed to pour on some gobbledeegook.
f that, tho. my real central tenet in all this is that art is not about beauty, it is about truth. that is what i am after. some little piece of truth. so, why would i goop that up with a bunch of yada yada? just for money? phhh.