Melting
My theme is going to be Melting, I will show this by using thick glazes to make it have a melting affect. I chose to do this because I think that all of the thick glazes and colors really bring out the shape and beauty of the clay. I found this idea last year while still figuring out what I wanted to do with ceramics. I think that it worked really well with wheel thrown work, because I love the way that thick glazes looks like on bowls and cups. It represents color because I will be using many different colored glazes to represent this idea of "melting"
Artist Statement
My name is Aiden Kelley. I am 14 years old. I was born in LaGrande, Oregon, but moved to Portland soon after I was born. Sometimes I like to pretend that I am Mr. Steal Your Gurl, but then I remember that I’m Aiden (silly me). Art is a large part of my life, and always has been ever since I went to an arts focus elementary school. I also enjoy sitting in my room alone in the dark with the door locked. JUST KIDDING. My free time is pretty chill; I mostly hang out with friends. I like to watch shows like ‘The Eric Andre Show,’ because he gets naked in public. I like it because he’s a weird guy who does funny things. I won two Scholastic honorable mention awards for my ceramic bowls. That was pretty chill, and Mr. Locke read my name loudly into a microphone. I have been wheel throwing for two years now, and I can easily say that I didn’t throw anything that I’m proud of until this year. Needless to say, wheel throwing takes a lot of practice and patience!
My capstone is 3D Art (ceramics), and my theme is melting. I am interested in how ceramic vessels have the ability to represent the physical transformation of something that is melting, because it’s totally radical. I am inspired by all of the different technical aspects of the ceramic process. When I am throwing on the wheel, I know that I am touching the same wheel as other people, so I use hand sanitizer after, because people spread germs. There is something really cool about the idea of melting. It can be used in so many different ways. In my work, I play with this idea in multiple ways, such as glaze that’s melting off the surface of a sculpture or vessel, or the sculpture itself might look as if it’s melting. My ceramic objects serve as sculptures, as well as realistic objects, like a bowl that you can eat out of. I find that the melting shapes bring a beautiful, yet simple aesthetic to my work. Most of the time when I glaze my work I have no clue what it’s going to look like, because glazes are unpredictable and there is always an element of surprise when you open up the kiln. Sometimes the glaze doesn't turn out the way that I had hoped, but it always comes out interesting. I find that my theme relates to the overall theme of COLOR because in order for something to be melting there needs to be something hot to cause that melting effect, like fire or the sun. As such, color also requires light, either from the sun or from other means such as a light bulb or fire. Without light, there is no color. My work expresses an aspect of who I am, and I hope that you enjoy it.