Category Archives: ceramics

art, art education, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski, sculpture

Fishing Derby

Image May 1, 2017 Karen Tashkovski 3 Comments

20170413_080034 — Ashlee – winner in 1st period A day

20170413_131438 — Owen – winner in 8th period A day (the 5th grade class)

My clay lesson this semester was the fish sculpture. I decided to do it with every class. My 5th grade, the 8th grade art students and the 8th grade Studio in Art students. It is such a great lesson because everyone starts with the same amount of clay creating a slab first that rolls up then adding the hand built elements.

20170413_135748 — Paige – winner in 9th period A day

20170424_114228 — Nathan – winner in 6th period Studio in Art

20170424_103929 — Lauren – winner in 5th period B day

They are all so beautifully unique! I decided to have a fishing derby. I weighed and measured every fish. Each class had a winner. The prize was a small bag of Swedish Fish, lol. Abraham’s was the biggest fish. He won a giant bag of Swedish Fish! So fun!

20170413_104207 — Abraham – winner in 5th period A day and overall winner!

20170413_124513 — Julia – winner in 1st period B day

20170424_133449 — Anthony – winner in 9th period B day

art, art exhibition, art for sale, art gallery, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media

Gallery Girl

Image February 21, 2017 Karen Tashkovski 4 Comments

Visiting Novado Gallery for the first time was like entering a magical place akin to Oz for Dorothy or the Wonka factory for Charlie in that I had been privy to the adventure of it long before the opening in December 2016. Anne Novado relocated to Jersey City, New Jersey from Syracuse, New York a year ago with a plan to open the gallery at 110 Morgan Street in the Modera Loft building within three months. That plan took additional time due to paperwork and construction. I had visited Anne twice before in that time; the last time I could only peer in the window to see this vast space (3,000 square feet) and imagine what it might look like filled with art.

And…so, on Sunday evening, I got to experience the full fruition of a dream. A beautifully artful space organized by Anne’s keen eye and aesthetic to deliver the Jersey citizens and surrounding area cool people (including NYC, only a hop, skip and train ride away) with many wonderful options of artwork to buy, enjoy and collect. It is a magnificent space filled with a lot to love!

She and business partner Steve Pearlman plan to have monthly exhibitions, as well as a stable of artists’ and artisans’ work displayed throughout. The current show is called Identity and features work by Lacey McKinney, Carrie Will, David Samuel Stern, Brandy Kraft and Alyssa McClenaghan.

The original opening was snowed out due to a bizarrely timed blizzard. It has been rescheduled for Friday, March 3, 2017 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and will include food, drink, entertainment and a ribbon cutting ceremony with Mayor Fulop in attendance!

A portion of the proceeds from sales of the artwork will be donated to Women Rising, Inc. of Jersey City. Identity runs through March 9, 2017. The next exhibit, tentatively titled The Power Show, will feature Jim Ridlon, Dusty Herbig, Brian Gustafson, Rainer Maria Wehner and Maurizio Zuluaga.

Anne is also a working artist. If she is not drawing or painting, she spends her off-time away from the gallery doing studio visits. If you are a local artist looking for gallery representation or interested in more information about the gallery, you can contact her at (201) 744-6713.

Current gallery hours are Wednesday and Friday 11:00am-6:30pm, Thursday 11:00am-8:00pm, Saturday noon-5:00pm and Sunday noon-6:00pm and by appointment. The gallery specializes in industrial and live-edge furniture and contemporary functional and decorative ceramics, as well as mixed-media fine art. For more about the gallery visit www.novadogallery.com <3

art, art exhibition, art for sale, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, sculpture, Syracuse University

Matter of the Minefield

Image January 21, 2017 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

Size Matters is the title of the latest art exhibition at Clayscapes Pottery, Inc. (1003 W. Fayette Street, Syracuse, New York 13204). The ceramic sculptures by Syracuse University grad student Peter Smith will be on display and for sale through February 23, 2017.

The show is a combination of two things – the idea of farm equipment enlarged and age simulated to act as a metaphor for man’s “relationship with the environment” according to his literature, and brilliant-hue glazed ceramic weapons mixed with porcelain gas masks, which I am assuming constitutes man’s willingness to destroy it.

The work is found attached to walls, resting on tables, hanging from the ceiling and strewn about the floor. This, for me and my band of fun artist friends, created a sort of surreal adventure in art wonderland, as we contemplated the minefield of meaning around the space.

It was the dialogue I was having as we posed in these pictures. Guns and missiles glazed in beautiful colors, a wall of blades that reminded me of the backdrop in a knife throwing performance at the circus…. Should we laugh or be afraid? Pretty weapons. Fragile weapons. But still weapons. And the haunting effect of decaying metal artifacts produced a kind of guilt-ridden sorrow.

There is definitely something about Peter’s work that makes you want to start a discussion. I love the idea of that narrative. Love the way the work fits together in a cohesive way and yet any one of the pieces could find a home and continue to resonate on its own. These gas mask castings are priced individually.

It was surreal and beautiful. Like whimsical horror. I just love this meeting of minds, love the way a college student can be such a free thinker, creating art for art’s sake but also as a means to tell a story or voice an opinion of the world as he sees it. It’s all in the perspective! You really ought to see this show.

You can read about Peter in this month’s issue of Ceramic Monthly.

The gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Call (315) 424-6868 for more information or visit their web-site at www.clayscapespottery.com. They are also on Instagram (clayscape_pottery) and have a Facebook page (Clayscapes Pottery)!

art, art education, art exhibition, art resources, ceramics, festival, Karen Tashkovski, museum, sculpture

New Packaging

Image November 26, 2016 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

I strolled through the Everson Museum of Art today (401 Harrison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202). In the basement wing, they’ve flipped the Education Center with the Ceramics section and created a gorgeous inviting space for part of the ceramics collection (the rest, like the Robineau funerary urn, is in storage).

It is spectacular! The art looks fresh again. You can actually enjoy the nuances of individual pieces and appreciate them for their craft. The Everson has a very large collection of ceramics. I’m not sure if it is one of the largest in the country, but something like that. The old shelves made the collection look like it was all in storage, like they never really wanted people to look at it. I remember taking students on a field trip there once and there was so much stuff, it read like junk and nobody looked at anything.

The museum has never looked better! We have this incredible resource right here in Syracuse, NY. So great. I was delighted to see a handful of visitors there. They are charging a fee to get in these days, but it is free for Everson Museum members.

EVERSON MUSEUM OF ART HOURS:

SUNDAY 12-5
MONDAY CLOSED
TUESDAY CLOSED

WEDNESDAY 12-5
THURSDAY 12-8
FRIDAY 12-5
SATURDAY 10-5

Next week they are installing the Festival of Trees, so maybe you can plan an outing for that! Call (315) 474- 6064 for more information or visit their web-site www.everson.org.

art, art education, art exhibition, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, painting, photography, sculpture

The Fair

Image August 28, 2016 Karen Tashkovski 2 Comments

I went to the New York State Fair on Friday night. It was one of those perfect evenings where everything just fell into place. The traffic was reasonable – relatively light for the amount of people at the event. My cousin Jackie and I found a great parking spot within minutes of driving down State Fair Blvd in Syracuse, New York.

We were there for the Toto concert. They played in Chevy Court at 8:00 pm.

We had enough time to hit the bathroom before finding a seat. I suggested my favorite one in the whole place, the lavatory on the second floor of the Art & Home Center.

It isn’t a heavily trafficked area, hence super clean and no queue for a stall. I’m actually not sure if there is an elevator to get up there – I mean, there must be, although it is one of the oldest buildings at the fairgrounds. The Art & Home Center is home to Arts and Crafts competitions with Fine Art upstairs.

Here are some pictures of the art on display. Photography, drawing, painting, sculpture with different divisions based on age. It is sort of a hodge-podge of work. The giant ribbons indicate the winners, but you kind of need your readers to decipher the category and age brackets of said winners.

They make the most of the display area with art hanging in close proximity covering all the walls and doors plus work on stands resting on several tables scattered around.

For those of you who have attended The Fair and never knew this existed, you’re welcome.

Competition is inspiring for the winners, especially for school-aged children, because it offers validation and perhaps a nudge in the direction of the arts career-wise. For adults, it is a chance to add to one’s resume, another award/group exhibition, which could lead to more of the same, as well as future gallery representation. Hey, you never know.

Here is the link to the web-page where you can download entry forms for New York State Fair competitions.

The Fair continues through Labor Day, Monday, September 5, 2016. For more information, visit their website here. Last year, I actually went to it twice after a decades long hiatus. I have plans to go at least twice more this year!

As for the concert, Jackie and I scored 5th row center seats about one minute before the concert began. It was the craziest thing! Later, we walked around with friends who’d messaged me after seeing my face on the giant screens then established a rendezvous point at the wine pavilion, lol. (“Was that you?” “OMG, yes!”) Perfect night. So fun!

art, art exhibition, art for sale, ceramics, Green Lakes, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, painting, photography, products, sculpture

Art & Music!

Image July 30, 2016 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

Yesterday was one of those perfect days where I accomplished everything I said I would do. I did pilates, as well as some light housekeeping then went to my hair appointment (love you, Amanda!), hiked at Green Lakes State Park, and ended up downtown for some great art and music!

For real, lol. I took these pictures and everything (for those of you who maybe thought I was still off my rocker chasing Pokemon).

The AmeriCU Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival is in full swing. I caught the tail end of it last night – the vendors will be there all day today and tomorrow until 6:00pm in Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse, New York. A lot of my friends/Facebook friends are there: Michelle DaRin, Barbara Conte-Gaugel, Peter Valenti, Tim See, and Michael Heagerty, as well as dozens of artisans from around here and out of the area.

There is so much to see. There’s clothing, jewelry and accessories, paintings, ceramics, furniture, soaps…. It is really an incredible experience. And since working the Lavender Fest for Michelle that time, I can appreciate the dedication it takes to spend all day in a small tent in ninety-degree heat with few bathroom breaks in order to interact with customers face-to-face.

I think that is the best part of making a purchase from one of the vendors – that you get to know them and you walk away with an experience rather than just some trinket. You experience the artist’s passion for what they do and you take with you a part of them, the part that contains a vast amount of love.

That is truly special. I love that.

Last night’s music event in Clinton and Hanover Squares was the Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival. More music tonight with the band Atlas taking the stage around 8:00 pm! Hope to see you there!

Summer rocks!

art, art education, art exhibition, art for sale, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski, sculpture

Sizzling Summer Ceramics

Image July 27, 2016 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

My new favorite place: the Half Moon Bakery & Bistro! It is located at 6500 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville, NY (13078).

Cozy…and delicious! The cupcakes are perfection. This place reminds me of every Wayne Thiebaud painting I have ever seen. Proprietor Debbe Titus prepared amazing quiche and salad (and iced coffee!!!) for my friend Bobbi Rock Petrocci, art teacher at Christian Brothers Academy, Dewitt, NY, and me last week when we visited to discuss our upcoming art exhibitions. Mine will be during the month of October 2016. We installed Bobbi’s show this morning.

Bobbi’s former student Beth L. helped too – a recent graduate who will be attending college in Albany this fall. We used the technique I call measuring! Lol – math and art are like two fingers crossed, as are art and every other subject in school. There was a lot of measuring here – to make sure the shelving was of unified height and the same distance apart and to insure the shelves were level. This part took the longest but once the structure was in place, everything made sense and the pieces fit beautifully. It is the first ceramics show in the bakery!

It was really incredible watching Bobbi work out how to decorate this space. It was as if her vision was coming alive before our eyes. She used the small shelves to exhibit her own work alongside student work created during CBA’s Sizzling Summer Ceramics Camp.

Students created these pieces during the intensive one-week event. The work will be on display through the month of August 2016.

For more information regarding this exhibition and the bakery including hours of operation, contact the owner at 315-492-0110 or check out the website – www.thehalfmoonbakery.com

More information to come regarding my show including a plan to have a little gathering/reception, maybe on a Sunday afternoon. I will be showing a dozen paintings. Super excited! <3 And Bobbi Rock Petrocci will be back in November 2016 with a new crop of CBA student ceramic art! 🙂

art, art exhibition, art for sale, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski, painting, photography, sculpture

The Cuban Phenomenon

Image June 25, 2016 Karen Tashkovski 1 Comment

John Dowling’s inaugural art exhibition at the Dowling Art Center is nothing short of phenomenal. I attended the opening reception on Thursday, June 23, 2016 – the show will be up all summer (if you didn’t get a chance to make it there yet). The new gallery is located at 1632 Hawley Avenue, Syracuse, New York (13206). It is home to John’s photography studio where he creates his own art, as well as providing archival inkjet printing and fine art reproduction services, and is home to this impressive gallery space, which he plans to both house art shows he curates and rent the space to artists for shows, workshops and meetings.

The theme for this exhibition is Cuba.

David Creedon is from Ireland. He and a Spanish-speaking assistant travelled to Cuba to photograph the people. John Dowling purchased rights to the photographs and reproduced and framed them for the art show. Although none of the artwork in this show were yet labelled for sale, John said these are available for $300 each.

Here I am speaking with the artist – he told me that the Cuban people were really friendly, happy people. They welcomed him into their homes and allowed him to snap whatever he pleased. The one of the car in the living room is particularly stunning, isn’t it? Viewing the photographs makes me desire a trip there – as Tina Fey says, “I want to go to there.”

David said the food is delicious and the atmosphere is sort of a throw back, almost like a 1950s meets modern-day. The people don’t make a lot of money but there are a lot of free services, like PhD level education, health care, and food and other items are not expensive so it is all relative.

See more work by David Creedon at www.davidcreedon.com.

Abisay Puentes, like John, is one of my Facebook and Linkedin friends. Unlike John though, I had never actually met him until this show. His artwork has a surreal flavor and is hauntingly beautiful!

Here I am with Penny Santy. We are listening to Abisay’s original instrumental music, which accompanies his work. In this way, he creates a sort of phenomenological encounter, engaging all senses. He has videos on youtube that you must check out!

The other artists in this show are a combination of locals who are from Cuba – most of them live in the Eastwood section of Syracuse near the gallery, or the work has been shipped in directly from Cuba! It really is a must see!

Contact John Dowling for more information about the gallery space and this show specifically, including hours of operation – (315) 466-8189 or jdphoto@twcny.rr.com.

art, art education, art exhibition, art for sale, ceramics, jewelry, Karen Tashkovski, mixed media, painting, photography, products, sculpture, Syracuse University

Porches

Image June 19, 2016 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

Yesterday I walked around Ruskin Avenue in the Strathmore area of Syracuse, New York. Art on Porches is an annual event with artisans displaying their wares on the porches of these beautiful homes – as well as under small tents on front lawns and by the sidewalk.

There was music, food and my new favorite thing in the world – iced coffee, provided by Recess Coffee!

Dorothy Wilcox creates these exquisite dream catchers. She gathers vines and allows them to speak to her – to sort of tell her how they want to be woven. I felt like her booth was definitely the most soothing of all the displays due to the breadth of her collection.

It was set up in her front yard! Her company is called Yonder Hill Specialties and you can reach her at (315) 440-2012.

I bought a small print from Jamie Ashlaw. He is an art teacher in the Westhill district. Jamie creates these paintings of local signs that have a vintage flavor. I loved his work! I asked him if he would be interested in exhibiting at the Chittenango Middle School library for next school year and he said yes!!!!

For information on acquiring his work, contact him at his Delavan Center studio at (315) 529-4501 or email him at jamieashlaw@hotmail.com

Ray Kowalski is a professor at Syracuse University. His glazes are spectacular. He said he learned how to layer them by working with his good friend Margie Hughto.

Contact Ray at (315) 420-3113 or rgkowalskipottery@gmail.com. He has a website too. It is www.raykowalski.com.

This is Tim See with his work. I blogged about him once before and he became a Facebook friend! He is part of the IPA- Independent Potter’s Association and sells his work at Clayscapes, the Gandee Gallery and other local venues.

Bicycle chain and tire art is the specialty of Rob Niederhoff. He has an Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/UpCycling4ACause). Fifty percent of his sales go to support orphan hosting through New Horizons for Children!

Barbara Floch had a magnificent little set up using vintage luggage as risers. She creates jewelry in her studio at the Delavan Center (501 W. Fayette St., Syracuse, NY 13201). Her company is called Gypsy Girl Designs. Contact her at (315) 263-3407 or gypsygirl62@yahoo.com.

It was such a beautiful day for this event. Loved, loved, loved meeting all the artists. I bought several other things including another Michelle DaRin bracelet – I have decided I want my arms to look like her display racks. I absolutely love her style! She totally rocks! www.michelledarinjewelry.com.

art, art education, ceramics, Karen Tashkovski

Something’s Fishy!

Image May 26, 2016 Karen Tashkovski Leave a comment

My 8th grade accelerated Studio in Art students created these clay fish sculptures. We used Sax under-glazes with Amaco gloss glaze on top.

I think this is one of my favorite lessons of all time. I just loved how much care the students took to build their sculptures and then to glaze them. We had twelve colors. They had to use at least six (two to three coats each).

Roll the clay out with a rolling pin (each piece was approximately 3″ x 6″). Then place crumpled up paper towel in the center. Close up one side. It will look like a waffle cone. Add clay to the top to smooth out the head then add fins, a tail, eyes, gills and other details. This is done using slip (clay and water) as the glue/mortar that seals clay to clay.

They took about four classes to create and four classes to glaze. I let the sculptures dry for two weeks before the bisque fire.

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