Artistic Expression
Capstone work from Carly Trine ’21 (Ceramics).
Artist statement
“I choose to work with clay because it allows me to explore many different interests such as traditional throwing, hand-building, sculpting, drawing and painting. The work I create is partially about ‘going with the flow’ that the organic materials provide as they often leave each piece looking uniquely rough, whether it's from the clay, the sculpting, the firing or the glaze. I often choose to finish my pieces with a combination of materials including acrylic paint, spray paint, glaze pencils or paint markers. Finishing a piece with these mediums allows me to portray bright colors that glazes can’t always achieve.
“I choose to purposely contrast these brighter colors with dark ones, leaving a loud and bold statement that lets the viewer know I have something important and interesting to tell them. Working in ceramics also adds the wonder of glaze chemistry, which is an excitingly different way of finishing a piece that is strictly unique to the craft. Making art that allows me to express my humor and opinions simultaneously forms an important outlet that I use in expression of my anger, happiness, embarrassment and love. My artwork is a way of communicating to my audience what I think are serious issues through my personality and creativity.”
Below are examples of her artistic expression, from her senior capstone work that was exhibited in spring 2021 at RIT City Art Space.
Photo by Elizabeth Lamark
Left piece — Pottery Fraud: "Entering a profession that has no right answers can be discouraging as you compare yourself to others. I enjoy re-imagining the form, but as I do I can’t help but feel like I'm disappointing my pottery ancestors. Because I'm not a traditional potter I found myself often looking at my work and thinking, 'I feel like I'm committing pottery fraud.'"
Middle piece — If Andrew Cuomo can Pierce his Nipples Then so Can I: "As governor of New York, an individual that is male, straight, white and holds a high position in politics, Andrew Cuomo has body modifications that are often frowned upon by employers and shamed on women. This piece is about double standards, freedom of expression and my own personal fear of piercing my own nipples."
Right piece — Watermelon Sugar High: "As I reached my senior year at RIT I had to decide whether I wanted to be a potter or a sculptor. Because I very much enjoy both practices, I quickly found myself sculpting pots without realizing. I enjoy turning classic pottery forms on their head and the riskier, the better. This piece was built four different times as I learned to build proper reinforcements that would support the weight, size and shape that I wanted."
Photo by Elizabeth Lamark
The pot on the right is titled Henrietta. "It wasn’t until I reached my 20s that I began to realize how much I was like my grandmother," Trine said. "As I grew up in a household that practiced gender roles, I thought more and more about how my grandmother raised six children on her own while working full time and also earning a degree at RIT. Reflecting on a difficult childhood I began to realize that I must get my grit and perseverance from my grandmother, Henrietta. I wanted to make a piece that joined the two of us, so I created this piece that depicts a drawing of her younger self at 19. Covering the eyes allows not only myself to connect with her feminine strength but every other woman viewer as well. This piece is a representation of women empowerment as the classic shape and bold colors are to prove competence and disprove misogyny."
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