Carrèment Moi – breaking the square
Thank you for joining us to view this group show presented by members, teachers, and ex-members of ElTorn.
The proposal for this show was to give artists an opportunity to make something entirely new. They were asked to play with one of these two angles:
Squares, rectangles, hard edges, or rounded soft geometry
The square approach:
To expand participants’ thinking, the organizers were looking for pieces that include some kind of square, right angles, straight lines, or surface decoration that fits the brief.
Pieces could be thrown on the wheel and then deformed, hand built with slabs to be square or just geometric. Artists were also encouraged to include other geometric shapes lines or angles.
The collaboration approach:
The second option was to team up with others. Everyone has ideas in their back pockets that they haven’t had the moment to pursue, or a wild dream that they haven’t followed. It was a chance to have fun, share thoughts with a partner and generate together. It produced a melding of concepts and strengths, and something new was born in every case.
The results are here: functional ware, sculpture, jewelry, and wall hangings, some of which are multi media: clay combined with textile, metal, wood….
Carrément Moi means “definitely me,” but it is a double meaning for “square.” We like the strong affirmation of the statement: “I am definitely an artist, I definitely make things. I am present and alive.” And also we see the square as a reflection of the town square, the plaza, a place where members of a community connect. Our modern architecture and square spaces are an invention of human creation and a safe place for our families, friends, residents, and passers-by. By accepting the challenges of being together in this environment, we have the possibility of being and creating more together. We can grow and even thrive in the seeming restrictions of a square.
Again, many thanks for exploring the results of this project. We are greatly appreciative!!!!!
-Aaron and Paula
