Page 20 - The NOISE December 2015

EMBRACING THE ELEMENTS OF ART
The work of Erin Gooch (left) and Don Fethkenher (right) are among the artists featured in this year’s “It’s Elemental” exhibition at the Coconino Center for the Arts.
STORY BY CLAIR ANNA ROSE
In the beginning there is an element of control. While kneading the clay, shaping it, and choosing glazes and colored slips, the artist decides how the vessel will appear. Salt and soda are added as the pieces are loaded into the kiln to begin the process of firing, and the artist relinquishes control, waiting until the firing is complete to see what changes the heat, salt and soda have made to his work.
Don Fethkenher is one of the selected artists in this year’s “It’s Elemental,” at the Coconino Center for the Arts. On display this year he has a set of three plates fired in a salt glazed kiln. With gold, green, brown and even flashes of deep blue, the artist says, “The plates have a traditional shape in contrast to the abstract patterns of color and texture.”
Mr. Fethkenher uses colored clays to add texture, shapes and lines to his highly decorative and abstract pieces. “For me the creative process starts with the potter’s wheel and ends in firing a salt or soda kiln that enhances the work,” he describes. “Both of these kilns will add interest and decoration on the pieces with salt or soda, and I have very little control in this part of the firing. I really like this uncontrolled aspect of surprise the kiln contributes to the final process. Inspiration for my work comes from the clay itself, its properties of texture, color, and the working qualities, and using the clay in a functional direction with highly abstract additions within the piece.”
The past eight years Mr. Fethkenher has been teaching ceramics at Coconino Community College. In addition to working with clay, he teaches workshops and builds kilns. He says, “It is never too late in life to pursue your dreams, never retire completely, life has a lot to offer.”
On the opening night of “It’s Elemental,” people stream steadily into the gallery. A raven forged from metal soars down from the sky towards a yellow jewel in Tom Williams’ sculpture Raven Steals the Sun. Concrete totems seem to balance precariously, and colorful cake stands are centered on a display that resembles the set-up of a kitchen table.
Erin Gooch, the creator of the cake stands, has been an artist her whole life. Originally from Southern California, she came to Flagstaff to study at Northern Arizona University. “My mother inspired me from a young age to pursue my artistic dreams, leading me to where I am now,” she says. The artist enjoys working with paper and jewelry crafts, but creating ceramics is what she loves.
Her love of working in clay began as a freshman in high school. “I picked up the basic skills fairly quickly and learned all the wonderful things I could do with this path,” she remembers. “I decided to pursue my ceramic interests at NAU and have now been doing ceramics for nine years. I plan to continue my studies at the graduate level this upcoming school year. As an artist, I think there are huge benefits to studying in an academic setting. From the facilities and materials, to the techniques and critiques, each little bit has helped me grow. I would not have gotten where I am today had I not studied fine art at the undergraduate level.”
Inspired by objects and other creative processes, Ms. Gooch says, “I am always looking for patterns and techniques that could help me better my work. Textiles and graphic paper patterns often have strong influences on my work. I also look to other ceramic artists in the field for new ideas and forms to expand upon.”
The direction of Ms. Gooch’s art unfolds as the clay is shaped. “I don’t always know what I want to make when I sit down in my studio, but I always find a way to work with my results,” she describes. “My process is not very planned, in fact, none of my designs are ever planned, the form in my hand
dictates how and where I carve. The colors are where the most thought and consideration come into play. I look at my pots as blank pages in a coloring book, waiting to come to life. Because my pieces are never planned, each one ends up with its own unique elements.”
Her feelings and the designs that are conjured in her imagination determine what appears in the clay on any given day. “Some pieces reference others in pattern, but each one has its own unique elements,” she shares. “I enjoy working this way because it allows me to be creative and see each piece in a new light. Otherwise, I might start to feel repetitive and it would begin to steal my interest away from my work. Not planning keeps me on my toes, and keeps the ideas flowing. The colors are the fun part that I do focus on.”
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Another piece of Ms. Gooch’s on display in “It’s Elemental” is a cream and sugar set which the artists feels is a kitchen item of the past she would like to see revived. “I like the idea of giving it a new life, with bright, cheery colors, and patterns,” she says. “Making the ordinary item a fun and interesting one to interact with.”
Placed on pedestals close to the floor as you first walk into the gallery are the totem-like concrete towers by Sedona artist Steve Bramon. The pieces Old Blue and Relic resemble the balanced rocks found on Buddha Beach alongside Red Rock Crossing, but instead of pieces of sand stone, colorful pieces of concrete have been shaped and stacked.
Mr. Bramon is originally from Missouri, and first became interested in art as a student in Carlinville, Illinois at Blackburn College. He went on to study ceramics at the Tuscarora Pottery School in Nevada. He is a third generation bricklayer, though he now works in artistic masonry. After finishing school in Nevada, the artist decided to take a trip through the Southwest. On his way down the switchbacks through Oak Creek Canyon his truck broke down. Instead of continuing his trip, he ended up getting a job at Canyon Pottery and staying in Sedona.
Work as a historic mason in Key West and as a contractor on Maui gave Mr. Bramon experience in working with concrete. Using artistic masonry he creates stained and/or resurfaced concrete floors. “I am inspired by Fu-Tung Cheng, one of the original designers of concrete countertops, who saw beauty in the imperfections of this previously industrial material,” he tells me. “He uses the term, ‘Wabi-Sabi,’ which encourages us to appreciate the happy accidents and raw character that occur in earthy materials. My background of masonry and ceramics allows me to imagine and build.”
To explore ideas, Mr. Bramon keeps a notebook where he draws out his latest inspirations. “These totems are the result of experimenting with stackable concrete components using different colors, shapes and textures. My background in masonry and ceramics allows me to visualize and to build with confidence. I entered “It’s Elemental” to show that concrete can be
treated as craft.”
On Saturday, December 5 10AM-5PM, and Sunday, December 6 12PM-4PM, the Fine Craft Sale will be set up in the gallery among the work of “It’s Elemental.” Jewelry, fiber art, wood, ceramics and assemblage pieces will be on display and for sale.
Barry Carpenter, who was selected this year for the Fine Craft Sale gives me a tour of his work space, Toad Lily Studio, named after the toad lilies planted outside and still blooming in the late fall. The studio, built from all recycled wood, with a roof that opens to the sky where it meets the walls, houses two kilns. In one small room vessels of different sizes are drying on shelves, waiting to be glazed and fired. The resident rescue pigeon Mr. Carpenter saved when it fell out of its nest can be seen catching a ride on the artist’s shoulder as he navigates the space, and even stays on his shoulder as he works at the potter’s wheel.
Mugs, vases, pitchers and other functional pieces glazed in a palate of blues, browns, greens and other earth tones will be displayed, and he may even bring some decorative pieces. Mr. Carpenter has been experimenting with new glazes and forms and hopes to show these as well.
In the lobby of the Coconino Center for the Arts is “It’s Ornamental,” a tall Christmas tree covered in dozens of handmade ornaments donated to the Flagstaff Arts Council. The ornaments are priced under $35, and all funds raised will go back to the Coconino Center for the Arts and will support future exhibitions. In the Jewel Gallery “Foundations,” displays the work of college students from Coconino, Yavapai, and Navajo counties who were selected by a jury for the show. These two shows will remain on display with “It’s Elemental” through December 19. Flagartscouncil.org
| Clair Anna Rose can often be found near a kit of white pigeons.
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